BUTTER SUPPLIES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 266, 30 July 1918, Page 8

BUTTER SUPPLIES

ANI) EXPORTABLE SURPLUS

STATEMENT BY Til I Win Hi

The Minister in CWgo of Imperial Supplies (tho Hon. D. H. Guthrie) made the following statement yesterday regardi«K butter export:— "Some misunderstanding evidently exists with regard to the action the Government is likely lo take in connection willi butter at 'present in store manufactured since April 1(1 last, the da to of tho Order-ir.'Couucil issuc.i .fixing liio maximum prieo of butler. "This quantity amounts to approximately 59,000 boxes, a portion of which is undoubtedly required for supplying the local market. When ihe local market's requirements have been met arrangements will be made whereby the bulnnca may bo diapised of through the Department of Imperial Government Supplies to tho Imperial Government, under the terms of purchase contained itl tho Proclamation of February 2 last.

"This will be the only means available of disposing of the butter for export, except under permit."

The meaning of this statement is that butter which goes into store docs not, «3 is commonly supposed, at or.ee become

"Imperial supplies." It becomes "Imperial supplies" only when the Milliliter declares it. to lie exportable surplus butter. Usually the Minister makes 110 formal declaration to this effect, but it happens ordinarily that the local niarkot is adequately supplied without recourse to the stock's in the stores at the ports. If the local mnrket is not supplied otherwise, then it may be supplied from the stores, and only the residue not required for this purpos? is "exportable surplus."