THE PRICE OF BUTTER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2893, 4 October 1916, Page 6

THE PRICE OF BUTTER

9 — ' MAKERS ASK FOR A RISE OF 2d. A loiig-standing grievance cherishcd by producers of butter in New Zealand i was brought again 'under' the notico of . the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald) .yesterday by a ■ deputation representing Auckland, Wai- • rarapa, Wellington, and Christchurch i factory managers. In order to prevent . tho price of, butter from soaring in [■' New. Zealand, the Government many . months ago put an embargo on export. Butter may. now be exported only under . license from tlie Minister of Customs. [ A good deal of butter is exported, but i the obtaining of permits causes vexai tious delays, and there are big stocks t in storo. The giiovance of the butteri makers is that tho local- price is below ; the export price, and they ■ ask that the local price .should be raised by . 2d. per, lb., and that the embargo "on export be removed. They are, of , course, free now to'increase the local [ price, but such an increase would almost certainly ho followed by a with- ; drawal of all export permits, a contingency they dare not face. So they ; approached the Minister of. Agriculture , yesterday-to suggest that ah increased j local price should bo permitted,' and . that export'should'he allowed to go on . unchecked. A rise of 2d. per lb. would . bring' the retail price of butter up to ■ Is. lOd. per lb. In their interview . with the Minister, the deputation quoted figures■to show that tho factories supplying tho local market wero getting a less return than those exporting. Wherefore they argued that' ' the increase of 2d. per lb. was neces--1 sary. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Wardell, M'Clelland, and H.. Pacey. wire appointed to submit facts and • figures to the Board.of Trade, and this • they did yesterday afternoon.. The Minister has not yet received the report : from tho Board of Trade on the subject.