THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 15 October 1920, Page 3

THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

FARMERS RECEIVE FELL BENEFIT. CONSUMERS FAY 2s 3d CASH. In ihe House of Representatives yesterday afternoon Mr ,T. A. Nash, the L-hairman, brought down the report of the Butter Committee as follows: I he Butter Brices Inquiry Committee, to which was referred the question of the present and future prices of butter in the Dominion, has the honour to report: (1) That in view of the fact, that no restriction has been placed on the prices of wool and other products of the Dominion, it. is of the opinion that the dairy fanners are entitled to the full benefit of the market,price of butter, and recommend that a sufficien: quantity of butter (to be taken from the whole Dominion) should be requisitioned for the requirements of the population at 2s till per pound f.0.b.. this being the amount of (lie Irnperia 1 Government ’s offer. (2) Having carefully considered the price to be charged to the consumers, the committee re commends that the retail price be fixed to the 31st day of March, 1921, at

2s 3d per pound for cash and 2s 5d booked. Note.—The estimated cos'of fixing the price on this basis will be £500,000. (3) That it docs not recoinment an export tax o nbutter. (-1 1 Having considered the question of the introduction of margarine, it was resolved to make no recommendation thereon. Mr Nash moved that the re port lie on the table. To enable tli price to be fixed at 2s 3d would require a subsidy of £600,000, the bulk of which would come from the Consol dated Fund. With (lie subsidy now being paid to keep the price of bread down, it would bring the charge on 1h ■ Consolidated fund up -to about £1.000,000. The committee went full; info the question of the introduction of margarine, and came to the conclusion that if was undesirable that thishoald bo done.