WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 October 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE PRICE OF BUTTER. A PLEASANT SURPRISE. (Our Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Oct. 15. Th report of the Butter Prices Investigation Committee, presented to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, proved a much more cheering pronouncement from the coiisuiners’ point of view than had been generally expected. The “tip” in the lobbies at the end of last week was that the retail price of the new season’s make would be 2s (id a pound. The information had come from members of tho Committee, it was said, and tlie matter was supposed to be settled. Of course there never was any question of the producers receiving less than the export price would give them. The constitution of tho Committee and the trend of public opinion secured them in that. But there was to be a subsidy to cover the retailers’ costs and charges and tho consumers were to have two-and-six-penny butter till the end of the season. ACCEPTING THE INEVITABLE. With this in contemplation the announcement of 2s 3d a pound came as a pleasant surprise. Some of the politicians, who had not the responsibility of finding the money for the subsidy, still talked of 2s a pound' and even of Is 9d, and perhaps there were firebrands on the waterfront disappointed to find their grievances smaller than the one they lmd imagined and were hankering to fight. But the popular opinion today is that the Government has followed the right course-ifTendorsing the recommendation of the Committee. Mr Massey has done something towards reconciling the malcontents to the advance of some 30 per cent in the price by-proposing that the additional taxation made necessary by the payment of the subsidy shall take the form of substantially increased stamp duties. This would ensure the bulk of the concession remaining in the pockets of the people most needing relief.