H—3B

2

Butter Equalisation Fund, 1920-21 Season. Under the authority of section 12 of the Appropriation Act, 1920, a payment was made to manufacturers in respect of creamery butter sold for household consumption at prices fixed by Order in Council, in order to equalise returns of such factories with, the returns of exporting factories. The maximum rate was fixed at 6d. per pound from the 19th October, 1920, up to the date on which the Imperial Government contract for the purchase of butter terminated — viz., 31st March, 1921. On the Ist April, 1921, the rate was reduced to 3d. per pound, and again to 2d. per pound on the 17th April, 1921. The latter rate was payable in respect of creamery butter sold and distributed to retailers or consumers up to the 31st August, 192.1. Each of the foregoing rates was subject to a deduction in the event of, and to the extent of, the .factories' selling-price exceeding the price of Is. ll|d. per pound bulk in boxes at factory-door, or its equivalent. Interim payments were made to factories based, on monthly returns received from them, and the final payment was made by the Department upon the receipt of each factory's return duly audited by one of the Department's travelling auditors. The total payments made out of the fund for the fifteen months ended 30th June, 1922 ; amounted to £245,099 os. 6d. WOOL. The wool, held in New Zealand on account of the Imperial Governnfent at the 31st March, 1921, amounted to 314,903 bales. Upon the market improving the shipment of these stocks was resumed at the end of November last, and during the seven months to the 30th June, 1922, 260,008 bales were shipped, -leaving a balance of 54,895 bales, which it is estimated will be all shipped by the end of August, 1922. The following table shows the classes of wool contained in the various shipments :—

Ship. Greasy. | Stationscouted. Station Slipe. mentscoured. Government Slipe. Freezing Companies' Slrpo. Total. Date of Shipment. Destination. Mahia Matakana Australia Port Kernbla Maimoa Ionic Otarama Port Darwin Tresithney.. Tairoa Westmoath Kaikoura Mahana Port Albany Somerset Port Curtis Corinthic Port Bowen Treloske Waiwera Dorset Port Adelaide Tainui Zealandio Port Pirie City of Winchester .. VVainrana Port Melbourne Erred Tasmania . . Makalla Port Denison Devon Ionic Matakana .. Port Victor Mahia Huntingdon Bales. 8,340 4,970 15,327 4,316 1,208 2,637 8,763 3,424 2,001 2,052 1,774 2,964 2,273 49 1,607 7,407 3,476 ! Bales. 41 - 457 296 47 500 59 193 8 477 Bales. 59 Bales. 283 2,230 5,127 74 Bales. 2,809 2,027 1,047 Bales. 123 6,154 2,874 421 Bales. 8,787 10,068 29,092 8,711 1,676 5,156 S.S22 7,626 3,182 9,120 3,616 7,047 3,477 49 2,499 8,483 3,476 1,713 11,830 660 920 1,088 1,964 5,333 ■ 4,134 10,439 4,456 3,564 3,441 19,298 12,975 2,576 412 3,704 7,965 4,308 8,819 29,522 16/12/21 17/12/21 21/12/21 15/1/22 19/1/22 8/1/22 14/1/22 21/1/22 21/2/22 9/2/22 9/2/22 17/2/22 1/2/22 11/2/22 31/3/22 10/3/22 11/4/22 5/4/22 31/3/22 31/3/22 9/5/22 31/3/22 10/5/22 29/4/22 26/5/22 25/5/22 20/5/22 ■ 11/5/22 6/5/22 29/6/22 j1/6/22 18/5/22 6/6/22 10/6/22 16/6/22 16/6/22 27/5/22 21/6/22 London. Hull. Liverpool. London. 104 1,597 j 422 102 38 1,173 4,279 1,842 573 236 3,907 I 2,274 { 3,510 Liverpool. Hull. Liverpool. Hull. Manchester. Hull." London. Manchester. London. 90S 1,042 892 3.1. 3 45 207 S.(i4(i 3,184 1,461 Manchester. London. 657 920 1,088 3 4,333 3,825 6,063 2,848 3,515 440 13,577 10,469 1,611 412 1,017 7,816 4,279 4,723 19,719 1,904 990 9 309 1 9 728 457 3,910 880 Hull. London. Manchester. 1 48 2,359 4,330 1,531 277 642 1,390 1 25 950 688 London. 1^975 712 143 Manchester. London. 6 29 3 40 1,597 5,696 680 1,865 1,815 2,184 Hull. London. 1 18 Totals 159,900 2,504 428 44,919 16,374 35,883 260,008