BUTTER SUBSIDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2315, 13 August 1921, Page 3

BUTTER SUBSIDY.

CEASES AFTER THIS MONTH.

Wellington, Aug. 11

The Minister for Agriculture attended a conference at Wellington on Wednesday of representatives of butter manufacturers throughout the Dominion. The Director-Gener-al of Agriculture and the Controller of the Imperial Supplies Department were also present. A general discussion took place on all aspects of the question of local -butter supplies, together with various points in connection with the arrangement at present in force on these points. It was stated by the Minister to-day that a. satisfactory agreement had been arrived at in reference to the local butter supplies, after the present price fixing agreement terminates on the 31st inst. The Minister finally announced that from September Ist the subsidy to keep the retail prices at their present level would cease, and the butter factories would be given a free market. He made it clear that the present financial position was such that a continuance of the subsidy was entirely unwarrantable, and local prices must find their own level. It was necessary, however, for factories to sell at no more than a fair and proper price, having regard to current market'values. As regards the retail prices to the public as compared with the wholesale value, that, matter would receive attention, especially in view of what had happened on previous occasions. This announcement met with the approval of the dairy factory representatives, who themselves had desired open market conditions, and they expressed their intention to do their best to aid in making the new order of things work smoothly in the interests of the consumers.

INCREASED PRICE IN SYDNEY

Sydney, Aug. 11

The Profiteering Court has increased the retail price of butter bv lid per U). •