A QUESTIONABLE ACT

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 540, 15 June 1920, Page 2

A QUESTIONABLE ACT

MR. W. GOODI-EL.LOWS REPLY.

Refening to the statement made by the Right Hon. W. F. Massey J ''that the Governme.it had done no more than follow the custom of recent years" in requisitioning the butter in store which nas been sjid to the Imperial Government, in order to keep down prices in New Zealand, Mr W. Goodfellow, managing director of the New Zealand Dairy Company, told a newspapei representative that the producers took no exception to Government action : n holding back a quantity sufficient for 1< eal requirements until the coming seasons make was available. At present there were 220,000 boxes of butter in New Zealand as compared with 100,000 bst year at this time. The estimated surplus of 100,000 had, in leality, been sold to the Imperial Government, but the New Zealand Government intended to appropriate this extra quantity for the purpose of supplying ihe local market in competition with the new season's make, v.h'ch would be available in increasing quantities after August 1 next. The Government, said Mr. Goodfellow, by tms questionable means, amtinue to keep down the price of butter to a figure verv much below the cost of production The speaker quoted prices ruling in other countries, showing tnat inferior butter was seeing in Australia to-dav at 2s 3d per lb. Canada and U.S.A.* at 3s to 3s 6d, and in England at from 3s to 5s per ib.