INCONCEIVABLE CONTRACT

Chronicle (Levin), 3 July 1946, Page 8

INCONCEIVABLE CONTRACT

— Press Association

PIJBLIC SHOULD BE TOLD THE FACTS MR. HOLLAND'S COMMENT

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, July 3. The public should be told the price and other conditions ijrelating to the diversion of' NeW- Zealanp butter from the United Kingdom tc the American forces, said tlw Leader of the Opposition, Mr. S. G. Holland, in an interview to-day. "In view of the disturbance of public opinion caused by the Prime Minister's announcement tha* 10,000,000 lbs. of butter was to bc diverted from Britain to the Unifeo States, and in view of the absence of any detailed information as to the price and conditions under which America will make good this loss of butter that was intended for Britain, it is essential that a ,complete, frank and comprehensive statement of the whole situation. including details of the price and conditions, should be made public." said Mr. Holland. . Throughout New Zealand there was strong sympathy for Britain and a willingness to increase supplies of essential foodstuffs for her people, continued Mr. Holland, and it had come as a great shock tc learn in the middle of the food foi Britain campaign that so large a quantity of butter is to be sent tc America for re'packing. Naturally New Zealanders would ask, "If New Zealand butter is to go to America first and then be sent to Japan, why does not America send her own butter to Japan, .instead of sending equivalent 'fats to Britain and obtaining replacement butter from New Zealand and shipping it tc America and then reshipping it toJapan?" Mr. Holland said it was inconceivable that a contract for the ! supply of so large a quantity of butI ter had been made without definite arrangements regarding price, and the deails should be announced without delay. Mr. Holland added that the confusion which arose from v the disparity in the price of butter supplied by New Zealand to Britain at ls 8d per lb. and the present day price in America of approximately 3s 6d per lb. in New Zealand currency should be cleared up at once.