"THE BUTTER BRIBE"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 41, 12 November 1919, Page 6

"THE BUTTER BRIBE"

A WARDIST ACCUSATION

AND A TELL-TALE LETTER

Under the beading of "The Buttei Bribe," the local Wardist journal has been saying some hard things about the decision of the Government, cudorsed though it was by the House, to pay a sum of i3d0,000 to tho butter producers to compensate them for losses through the equalisation fund. The following circular explains itself, and it is an interesting commentary on the declaration of the "Now Zealand Times" that this business was done by the Massey Government as a "bribe."' Most people will be aware that the firm whoso nanio is at the foot of tho circular is not controlled by friends of Mr. Massey.— Wellington, N.Z., September 15, 1919. Equalisation Fund. Dear Sir,—Even at the present niorneut, despite tho strenuous ofiorts that have been made in the direction of securing a satisfactory settlement. in connection with the above fund for the season 1918-19 and the. coming season 1919-20, there 6eems to bo some doubt as to whether success will be attained. Tho Hon. Mr. Massey at tho recent interview indicated n scheme whereby the position would bo righted for the coming season, but would promise nothing in tho way of a retrospective arrangement for the season 1918-19. The matter has to be further considered by Cabinet. Personally, we havo been endeavouring to interview all tho members of Parliament we can, with a view to impressing upon them the justice of the butter producers' request. The matter, however, should not rest there. It behoves every butter company to make a point of writing to the member of Parliament for their district, claiming his sympathy in this request for a payment from tho consolidated revenue, especially in view of the position to Parliament, which will coino under review during the present session. This matter should have earliest possible attention, and the more we have in sympathy with us the better. We would add that members that we ! have seen, including Sir JosepTi Ward [ and the Hon. Mr. Mac Donald, who has I been Minister of Agriculture for„the past | few years, are, Ve understand, favourable j to granting this legitimate remest of tho butter producers. If some satisfactory solution is not ! secured during the present session, then wo should all be careful to watch our own interests in securing the support of members for the next Parliament. One perhaps would not direct attention to this aspect of the matter if it were not for the fact that we are so imbued with the justice of this request. j We intend fighting tho point for all we i aro worth, and feel sure that all butter I companies will add their support in the i way that is suggested above.—Wo remain, j • Yours faithfully, (Sgd.) JOSEPH NATHAN & CO. LTD.