THE BUTTER MARKET.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4403, 19 April 1922, Page 3

THE BUTTER MARKET.

(Published by Arrangement).,

The following is a copy of the circular sent out to all dairy companies by the South Auckland Dairj’ Association :— SOUTH AUCKLAND DAIRY ASSOCIATION. Circular to all dairy companies in the Auckland Province. Hamilton, April 5, 1922. Dear Sirs, — The present position of the butter market was considered by our association yesterday, when tfhe following resolutions were passed : 1. “That this meeting endorses the action of the New Zealand CO operative Dairy Company in deciding to withdraw from the New Zealand Butter Producers’ Association, and that a circular be sent to all butter factories in the Auckland Province, stating the true position. 2. “That the secretary be instructed to write to the Opotiki Dairy Company, emphatically protesting against the action of Messrs Aickin and Sons (the Opotiki Company’s Auckland agents) in publishing misleading statements calculated to create a feeling of distrust among the Co-op-erative Dairy Companies of the Auckland Province.” A report of our meeting will appear in the press, and we would refer yo i to the explanation given by our chairman, Mr George Buchanan. It had clearly been understood that there should be a difference of 2d per lb between Ist and 2nd grade butter. The circular sent out by Messrs Aickin and Sons on February 24 showed that they were selling only two brands of 1 butter, at Is 3%d and Is 2%d, respectively, and Mr Aickin’s admission that the lower priced butter was a flr;st-grade article in a. second brand wrapper proves that his firm were at that time selling firstgrade butter a penny per lb cheaper than the price fixed for the Auckland market. This action was bound to reflect detrimentally on other companies, and in our opinion the New Zealand Dairy Company were justified in withdrawing from the Auckland Butter Distributors’ Association. The friction which exists at the moment is a. matter for regret, but it appears to us that the real question at issue is whether the producers or the merchants should be the dominant factor on the Auckland butter market. After carefully reviewing the whole position this associartion requests the co operative factories or the Auckland Province to support the action of the New Zealand Co operative Dairy Company, which we consider to be in the best interests of the producers. Yours faithfully, * R. English:, -Secretary-