TELEGRAMS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 June 1911, Page 2

TELEGRAMS.

THE PRICE OF BUTTER

DEPUTATION TO MR MACKENZIE.

NO EVIDENCE OF A KING

[PBR PRESS AWQOIATIOH.] WELLINGTON, Juno 16 Replying to a deputation from tthc Wellington Trades and Labour Council yesterday, who asked for a reduction. of duty on Australian, butter to allow it to compete in the iooal market, the Acting-Minister of Customs, Hon. E. Mackenzie said the high price of. New Zealand butter was almost entirely _ the result of. the dry summer experienced, causing the factories to close down earlier than usual. He did not think the butter manufacturers oared whether the duty was taken off or not. Butter did not come under the Trusts Act. If it did there might be reasons for removal of tOio duty, but as it did not nothing could ho done .till Parliament mot. Ho would be-in favour of bringing it under the Trusts Act and. putting it under the same position as. flour. He failed to find evidence of the existence of a. ring, but if it did exist it ought to ho checked. Ho did ntot think the proposal to start a State dairy was practicable. There seemed to he something wrong somewhere when New Zealand buittor was cheaper in London tluan in Wellington. Whether a. ring was operating or not, the local prices would always bo regulated by the London price.