BUTTER PRICES ENQUIRY.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1920, Page 3

BUTTER PRICES ENQUIRY.

j (Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 24

The Parliamentary Butter Prices Committee met again to-day. A letter was received from the New Zealand Alliance of Labour regarding the invitation to give evidence, stating the Executive did not consider the' time ripe for the Alliance to take action. Mr Campbell, Secretary Wellington Trades and Labour Council said the question had not been considered by the Council. While not denying the farmer J full value for his products at a time of high prices, their Complaint was that the working man had not his share in the spoil/ It was admitted tha farmer should have the same price in New Zealand as in the overseas markets. There must be some consideration for the man who had to pay those prices. A discontented man was a nuisance to the whole community. If discontented, the/men would be a grave menace. From ~his own knowledge he knew a majority of working - ' men were living from hand to mouth. The average labourer did not receive more than three pounds per week. An increase in the price of butter by 1/- per pound was a serious .matter to the average working man. He considered if the price of butter were raised, there should be a ' commensurate rise in the wages of wor- ; leers/ He had been asked by members j of the Council to suggest there should be a tax on export and that an adequate supply of butter be kept in the country for the needs of the community

Henry Woirrall, of the Canterbury Trades and Labour Council stated his Council were unanimously of opinion that the price of butter should not be ■allowed to rise, for although an arbitration court might raise wages to .meet the increase there were a great many salaried men and pensioners who would be most vitally ,affected. Seeing the dairying industry find been so much assisted in the past by the State, it was not fajfr to the community that high prices for blitter in ■ should rule in New Zealand. He urged the committee to go thoroughly into land speculation and T|ook especially into the land agency business, which had played a tremendous part in inflating land values. For the sake of sick and the children, butter prices ought not to be allowed to rise His opinion was tlvat if ration tickets were Issued they should lie made general. He objected to working men being given ration tickets and rich people buying as usual. That would be lowering the dignity of labour. Supplies should bo diri- : buted evenly without being affected by wealth.