BUTTER PRICES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 311, 25 September 1920, Page 10

BUTTER PRICES

VOICE OF LABOUR HEARD

TALK OF POSSIBLE HAPPENINGS

"LOWERING THE DIGNITY OF

LABOUR"

The Butter Prices Inquiry Committeo set up by the House of Representatives continued its sittings yesterday morning. The following members were present:— Messrs. J. A. Nash (chairman), Hawken, Poland, Powdrell, J. B. Hamilton, Kellett, Hockly, M'Leod, .Atmore, M'Combs. A letter was read from the New Zealand Alliance of Labour Btating' that wliile appreciating the "kind invitation" to give evidence, it "did not consider that the time was yet ripe for the alliance to take aeHon."

"Very nicely put," commented ;i mew> ber of the committee.

J. Ct. Harkness, secretary of the National Dairy Association, put in statements handed to him by Mr. A. Morton, president of the association, and Mr. Motion, of Auckland, who is prominently connected with the dairying industry. He pointed out Hhat both gentlemen were in Wellington on Thursday for the purpose of giving evidence, 'but as the committee did not sit that day they had returned home.

Questioned by the committee, Mr. Harkness stated that he understood that the figures quoted by Mr. Morton represented the actual cost of running his farm. Mr. M'Combs: It is not a balance-sheot. It is a fanciful sot of figures that are not cf value to the committee. After further discussion it was agreed, 011 the' suggestion of llr. M'Combs, to ask both Mr, Morton and Mr. Motion to appear before the committee in person in order that they might be examined, before their statements were admitted as evidence. John M. Campbell, secretary to the Wellington Trades and Labour Council, put forward the views of that body as representing a large section of the consumer. While not decrying the dairy farmers for asking as much as they could get for their produce, he pointed out that it was absolutely necessary that the Now Zealand consumers should have a, rise in their income commensurate with any increase in tho price of butter. Elaborating o'n this point, Mr. Campbell said that any such bonus granted to tho workers should synchronise with the advent of the advance in the price of butter. Also it would possibly not be a bad course to follow to impose an export duty on butter. He went on to assert that the majority of the workers could not i find the wherewithal to purchase butter ' if the price were increased as suggested, and unless they were granted 6omo offset to this increase the gravity of the situation that, would arise could not bo over-estimated. He himsclt was secretary to a union of. unskilled labourers, and taking into account the time lost through wet weather, he did not think tho majority of them averaged a wage of more than a_ week, lhe average working mail in Not' Zealand was living from hand-to-mouth, and tho average consumption of butter for the average family could be modestly put down at 51b. per week. An increase of Is. per lb. would therefore raise the cost of living in the average family by ss. a week. Where was tho money coming from? Mr. Powdrell: Returns show Jib. per head.

On their present wages—ho referred particularly to the unskilled labourers—they could not, added Sir. Campbell, afford it. _ "No gentleman in this Toom," he continued, "would hesitate to commit even a crime rather than see his wife and family go without food. 01' course, -ss. a week to you gentlemen is very small." Tho chairman; Oh. is it!

"I ask you," proceeded Mr. Campbell, "to consider the grave consequenccs which must invariably result if you goad 011 the population to such an extent that they can't find adequate nourishment for tlieir wives and families. , . ,

From a selfish point of view, if nothing else, you ought to think of the gravity of the situation." In conclusion Mr. Campbell pointed out that it had also been suggested that provision siiouid be made l'or the retention of an adequate amount of butter in New Zealand in order to meet tho needs of tlio_ population—whether the price was raised or not. 110 also emphasised that the fact that fa mi no prices ruled in England should luivo 110 bearing on the local market.

The chairman: Don't you realise tan* if mi export tax were put on butter the farmer would go out of tho butter business and go ill for cheese P

"Witness: Put tho tax on (IICNo m well.

The chairman: What about wool? Witness: The former is making too much money to go out of any of them— butter, cheese, or wool.

_ The chairman: Do you suggest that if a butter bonus is granted to the workers and butter came down next year that wages should also be proportionately reducedP Witness: Oh, ycfl. The chairman: In view of the asscition to tho contrary by the Alliance of Labour, do you consider that this is a ripe time to arrive at a decision in the matter?

Witness: This is the ripest time of ill.

Further questioned, witness said he did not think that any system of issuing ration tickets for butter at cheaper prices would be acceptable to tho workers.

Henry Worrall, representative of tno Canterbury Trades and .Labour Council, said that that body had generally considered the riuestion of the price of butter, and had arrived at the opinion that there should be no increase in the cost to tho local consumer. His council also wished to draw the attention of the committee to the fact that the general community through Parliament had fosencouraged, and strengthened the dairying industry at considerable expense. This boing so, the council held that the farmers had no right to turn you ml and charge the general community in New Zealand famine prices for produce simply because there was a famino in Europe. The witness went on to <wnk nt considerable length on gambling in land values, a factor which ho nrffed should be taken into consideration. Concluding lie remarked: "Tho Canter-bu-y Trades Council is strongly of the opinion that you should not, under anv conditions—if you have the power—allow the i»rioe of butter to go any higher.''

The chairman: Wlmr remedy do you surest ?

Witness, in the courire of his renlv, advocated the establishment of an equalisation fund out of the proceeds of n special tax, either on incomes over .a certain mark, or an export tax, or a special tax on the whole of the land values of the Dominion.

Witness was asked by tlio chairman if he thought that ration tickets .should bo issued to wage workers to enable the poorer people to purchase butter at cheapor prices than those rulinp on the open market.

"1 do not speak with an authority on tho point," replied Mr. Worrall. "but I think that ration tickets would never be accented by the workers unless they were given to everybody—rich and poor alike."

The chairman: But if the system were introduced—not that the committee Ruprgest it—and the Government saw that only tho right people cot ration tickcts, and that people who could afford to pay paid the proper price? Mr. Worrall: No, it is lowering the dignity of labour, and I don't consider that the dignity of Labour should be lowered.

Mr. MT'ombsi You don't want charity? Mr. Worrall: No, we want to keep our self-rosnect.

To Mr. TToeldy: lie did not think it was a fail- thing to ask a striißirt'iiß dairy farmer to supply the wealthy classes with butter at Mow market i-aiue. TTe was afraid, however, that the big man who "farmed the farmer" would reap tTio benefit of any advance in price Tile committee then adjourned till Wednesday morning, the chairman remarking that there wero about six more witnesses to be heard, and if necessary he would sit all that day in order to bring the inquiry to n conclusion.