PRICE OF BUTTER.
THE TWO CONFLICTING INTERESTS.' The pries of t butter is • complained about a great (leal in tile centres, or population by the yeopie who have to buy butter. In the coun.ry ; the viewpoint is different, and the complaint is ochurwise. •■ ■•I 'llie report of the Industries Committee'of the 1 House, presented yesterday, makes the following "reference to • Hie probbm;— Your-committee has taken evidence in connection with the present method of providing: butter for local consumption below the market price for export, and is of opinion tliav the system of mluc r j iiig the price locally, as at present in vogue. is not sound, inasmuch as it only applies to one industry, and that it will assuredly bring, about a decreased output of butter owing to farmers taking,up the more profitable production of cheese, dried milk, etc. The present f.o.b.' price for export is 181s. per hundredweight, or about Is. 7 3-lGd. per pound, and ,the local* rate at the factory Is: sd. per/ pound, the difference' being a charge on the butter-., producer, amounting to nearly J-300,000 per-annum. Tho allowance of 3d. per pound between the price paid to flic producer and that charged to the consumer'is too.great,, and a- better system nf distribution should -be arranged. Some retailers; are now selling butter at Is. 7d: per pound, or _ld. below the scheduled rate. . •' Your committee is ol' opinion that • the. Governmmt is bound to see'that the retail price of this important article .of diet js kept withh reasonable limits,- but that any reduction, "in the price paid to the producer should be made a" charge on the Consolidated Fund. . • MR; MASSEY MAKES A STATEMENT.. The butter equalisation fund lias been objected to by producers ever since it was established. A question 'relating to it was asked by Mr Mander in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr. Mander asked Mr. Massey whether the Government would adjust the butter -prices by charging the amoant now collected' from the producers through the equalisation fniid to the- Consolidated Fund,; and refund the money already collected back to the dairy farmers. , Mr. Massey said that life attention had' already been called to tins important but very difficult question. ! He wished V sav. however, [hat this butter levy had not been by the Government,' but by the producers themselves.' Ur proposed in the near future to place this matter before - Cabinet, with certain recommendations of his own. He might remind members, also, 1 hat it was the policy of the country tq encourage production. and this was impossible unless the producers were also encouraged. He | knew of no section of the producers so deserving of encouragement as the" dairy farmers of the country.' He could not!, however, go into details on the question until he had made his recommendations to Cabinet; and had discussed the matter with his colleagues.
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 287, 30 August 1919, Page 6
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478PRICE OF BUTTER. Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 287, 30 August 1919, Page 6
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