BUTTER EQUALISATION.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 23 April 1919, Page 4

BUTTER EQUALISATION.

■- '■— « —' ' , ' £210,000 DISTRIBUTED. In the last few weeks a sum of about £210,000 has been distributed to butter factories from the equalisation fund in London, and a considerable further sum has still to be paid over. Hon. D. H. Guthrie, Minister in. charge of the Imperial Supplies Department, states that early in February he received a sum of £307,000 from London, representing 50 per cent of the profits earned from the 1917-1 S season's sales. This sum had been paid into an equalisation fund by agreement of the factories affeeted. In the same month he asked the factories for returns of local sales, and when they came to hand ho declared an interim dividend of 1-Jd per pound on exported butter, and l& per pound on. butter sold locally. Payment was then made to all factories that had presented correct returns (about 90 per cent of th» whole number). Tho rest, he states", will be paid as soon as their re-, turns ars in order. It is estimated that a further 3d per pound will be. available for a final distribution when the factories' returns aro audited. Mr Guthrie says that there has been -no delay over the distribution. • Tho Imperial Supplies Department has been authorised by the Dominion Butter Committee to obtain from factories particulars of sales made during the 1918-19 season. Tho necessary forms will be distributed during the next few days, and the returns will be used as a basis for the distribution of this season's surplus profits.