PRICE OF BUTTER.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17119, 14 April 1921, Page 6

PRICE OF BUTTER.

PRODUCERS CONFER. (special to "the pkess.") WELLINGTON, April 13. Representatives of the butter factories and butter producers met in Wellington to-day to consider further the price to bo charged for butter in New Zealand during the winter months. A conference held at Palmerston North, it will bo remembered, decided that the. factory price should be 2s 2id per lb, and suggested that the retail price should bo 2s Gd. Many of tho grocers decided to charge 2s 7d or 2s Sd. The Government objected to the proposed increase in the retail price, in view of the falling pricey in the London market, and it arranged that butter should continue to be so'd at 2s 3d per lb retail, pending further discussion of tho position with the producers. A new factor in the situation since then has been the offer of the Imperial Government to sell butler now in the New Zealand stores for less than was paid for it, the offered price being understood to be about 2s per lb. To-day the representatives of the butter interests met the Prime Minister (Mr Massey) and the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Nosworthy), and discussed tho position with the Ministers. Subsequently they debated the suggestions of the Government among themselves. They did not_ reach a decis'on, and aro to meet again to-morrow morning. A member of the Producers' Committee informed a reporter that something like a deadlock had been reached, but ho thought it possible that an arrangement would bo made before the conference ended. AN AUCKLAND VIEW. (special to "tkb press.") AUCKLAND, April 13. Strong condemnation of any attempt to keep down the price of butter was made at a meeting of tho executive of the Farmors* Union this morning, when a resolution favouring a free market for this product was carried. Tho subject was brought up by Mr R. D. Duxfield. "We havo always been agitating for a free market," he said, "and wo were told that when the period of control had finished we should get it. Now we have this agitation, and, as the result of outside influence being brought to bear, our representations have been turned down." When tho producers' interests were at stake, he added, they were always sacrificed in favour of the consumer. "When priceu were at flood there were ninny fingers itching to participate in the good things, but when times were adverse the producer was thrown upon his own resources. The Prime Minister, he thought, was too conciliatory, and he moved a resolution requesting a free market. The farmer, contended Mr C. C. Munroe, in seconding the motion, should not have to suffer longer than was absolutely necessary. After further discussion the motion was carried unanimously.