THE BUTTER RING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1209, 18 August 1911, Page 3

THE BUTTER RING.

1 Sir,—The Hon. lieehan's' suggestion through your columns yesterday to the Government on the above subject is most timely, lia the hon. gentleman points out tho price of butter at present is a scandal. In Otnki, Shannon, and other districts the dairy factories have been paying the farmers Is. and Is. 2d. for their butter-fat, and yet tho farmers actually have to yay the factories Is. 2d.' for tho butter supplied to them. Then again, tho factories retail the butter to the merchants at Is. 3d. and Is. 4d., while the latter, charge the public 2d. or 3d. a pound more. One only wants to see the lialance-sheets of these dairy companies and see the enormous that are made each year and tho dividends declared by them—simply robbing tho people to pile up a 'at dividend for the benefit of the shareholders or the bloated capitalist, What is wanted is a Boyal Commission to be set up, not only to go into butter rings, but the meat, tea, and other combines—tho disclosures will without .'doubt prove a veritable eye-opener. What chance has a married man with a family got to make both ends meet when tho accessaries of life are taxeil in tiio way they are at present. l Who is to blame" for the present condition of things? Members of Parliament are aware of the existing state of things, and why <kmt they act in the interests of tlis classcs liiey represent, and frame laws accordingly? Tho present Government, if they liked, could bring about necessary legislation this session to deal with the problem, but. will they? Probably it will be left indefinitely. It is to bo hoped that some of our active members of Parliament will get to work and show the people that they nre prepared to deal with these "rings'" this session, so as to avoid a repetition of what we have had this winter. Thanking you for inserting these am, etc., FACTS. Shannon, August !), 1911. •