Price of Butter

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 23, 28 January 1937, Page 10

Price of Butter

NORTH AUCKLAND “REQUEST” AGGRESSIVE TONE CRITICISED WHANGABEI, Jan. 23. The North Auckland Dairy Conference recently discussed a remit from the South Auckland Dairy Conference dealing with the guaranteed price, which will be submitted to the New Zealand Dairy Board Conference in Wellington. It reads: “We consider the guaranteed price is not fair or equitable for the dairy farmers and we demand- an immediate review of tne position and an increase in the price for this season, to cover extra manufacturing and farming costs to which the farmer is subject.” Mr F. E. Cullen (Maungaturoto) that although he was not quite satisfied with the price he considered it would be better to wait until the

whole position is reviewed at the end of the season by the special committee set up for that purpose, when possibly a retrospective payment could be made. Mr E. S. Tremainq (Whangarei), supported Mr. Cullen’s remarks and agreed that the matter required ample .onsidcration. No Right to -Demand” Mr F. Elliott (iiikurangi) said he did not like the tono of the resolution and he thought the farmers had no right to “demand” an increase in a price w hich had already been fixed and which was over Id per lb. more than the price being realised on the English market. Mr C. B. Michie (Kaitaia) said he was pleased to hear the tone of moderation iu the speakers’ views. "Too many demands have been made lately, some reasonable and some otherwise, by other sections of the community,” said Mr. Michie, who moved an amendment that the conference request that at the end of the present season the guaranteed price be reviewed with the object of making a retrospective payment for butterfat to cover all increased costs to which the industry is subject. Mr Cullen said that the Hon. W. Lee Martin had given the impressiod that there might be a retrospective payment, but this had been contradicted by Mr Nash and Mr Savage. The amendment was carried unanimously. Butter Box Question Another South Auckland remit considered waa that the dairy companies emphatically protest against the system of pooling butter boxes to be administered by the Dairy Board and demand the right to purchase butter containers as in the past and, further, that as butter boxes made from New Zealand timber can be purchased in Australia at prices substantially lower than those now being charged in New Zealand, it is considered the present position is exploitation of the- dairying nidustry, and the conference demands that all regulations and restrictions against the importation of butter boxes or cheese crates be removed immediately. The chairman, Mr E. G. Appleton (Dargaville), said that the Northern Wairoa Dairy Company, Limited, had 50,000 boxes as the balance of a contract which the company was not allowed to use. Price in New South Wales Mr A. C. Hingston said he had information that boxes made of New Zealand timber were being sold 200 miles from Sydney at half the price paid for boxes made in New Zealand. Mr F. Elliott (Hikurangi): We seem to be living in a time when contracts can be broken with impunity. It was decided that the conference strongly expressed the opinion that the terms and conditions of all legal contracts for the supply of butter boxes should be honoured and also support the Houth Auckland remit. Other remits carried were that the Commission of Agriculture be requested to expedite its visit to North Auckland to inquire into the zoning of dairy company boundaries; that the Minister of Transport be urged to consider the necessity of dairy companies granted representation at hearings oi the transport authority; and that the director of tho Dairy Division be requested to arrange for each day’s make of butter to be graded separately, and to classify churnings into separate grades, instead of an average being taken over several days’ make in eluded iu any one consignment.