Butter Plan Queried

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31109, 12 July 1966, Page 3

Butter Plan Queried

(N Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, July 11. A most important omission from the proposal by the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) to sell butter to Common Market countries at 350 s a hundredweight was the quantity involved, said Mr F. L. Onion, deputy - chairman of the Dairy Board.

Mr Onion said he would like to see more details of the scheme.

Mr Marshall said yesterday that New Zealand could sell butter to the Common Market countries at about half the price at present being charged to consumers in those countries.

To sell less butter at a higher price would not altogether solve New Zealand’s problems, Mr Onion said. “We could easily price butter off the market.” Mr Onion said Britons at present paid about 3s 6d a pound for butter, but the new scheme would increase this price and could lower consumption considerably. “If we could sell our present quota of about 170,000 tons at 350 s a hundredweight

it would be a considerable improvement, but we would have to have that guarantee,” Mr Onion said. “However, I think the approach is wise and the Minister has done well to discuss New Zealand’s position officially with the Common Market countries.” Report To Cabinet Mr Marshall today reported to the Cabinet on his trip. He will report to Parliament tomorrow. The full text of the new trade agreement with Britain would not be tabled tomorrow, as a few details still had to be worked out, said the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake).