BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 74, 25 October 1916, Page 3

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

THE PRICE OF BUTTER. Representatives of the daii*ying Industry ih the Taranaki district met at rlawera on Saturday to discuss the limitation of the price of local butter as fixed by the Board of Trade. Mr A. Morton (chairman of the National, Dairy Association) presided* and gave a lengthy address, describing in detail the negotiations with the Board of Trade: He outlined the suggestions of the Board of Trade as follows :

(1) The Board recognised that factories supplying the local market are at a disadvantage as compared with exporting factories; (2) it is undesirable that the factories supplying the local market should be at this disadvantage; (3) to meet this disadvantage it is further undesirable that the local price should bo increased ; (4) a reasonable price should be fixed for the local trade; (5) the disadvantages thereby accruing should be spread equally over the entire dairying industry; (6) to do this a small charge will 'bo imposed on the butter-fat supplied to all registered factories; (7) the sum raised by this means will be disbursed pro rata to those supplying the local trade; (8) all restrictions on export other than those necessary to givo effect to this scheme to be removed. The Chairman said the wfta of such importance to t [{ o industry that it was worth trliilc using all the ;means in power tor see if they could vvoid the payment of an arbitrary tax. The Minister of Agriculture and the Board of Trade were par-, i timdar to impress on the committee which had been set up to watch over the interests of the producers that it was not-a tax, but simply taking from one portion of the industry to give to another. The committee, however, considered that it was taxing one 'class in order that all others, whether , they could afford it or not, might, ob- ' tain cheaper butter. They had deemed it wise to acquaint the Minister ,aml the Board of Trade of their opinion, and asked them* to suspend its operation until the case had been [hoard by three judges of the Supremo [Court, so as to obviate any appeal. It jhad accordingly been arranged to 'hear the case on Friday next..byi the iChief Justice and two other Justices, jtf the decision upheld the validity, they had no course but to accept it, ] and endeavour to work in such a way as to avoid any friction. The principle enunciated was a departure from anything that had taken place in j New Zealand. It levied upon the j small farmer an unjust and unfair tax to benefit the rest of the community, many of whom were better able to pay a higher price for their butter than were the farmers, who suffered as much as anyone else through the high cost of living. If they had been asked to benefit the Imperial Government or patriotic or relief purposes they would have considered it wise to assent. He pointed out that Supreme Court actions were expensive, but'if it cost £SOO to rid themselves of the arbitrary tax it would be cheap riddance. He then moved the following resolution: "That this meeting, representing the entire dairying industry in Taranaki, records its emphatic protest against the principle contained in the recommendations of the Board of Trade's report and the regulations made by tile Government fixing on the price at winch butter may be sold locally, and male- 1 ing a levy on the whole dairying in- .

dustry of the Dominion'to contribute the difference between the amount of such local price so fixed and the t.o.b. value for London shipment, and that it regards the principle of the regulations as unjust and absolutely unfair in its incidence and a hardship on the dairying community of the Dominion, comprising as they do practically all the small farmers who* are suffering equally with other classes

of the community, by reason of the increased cost of living, which they

are unable to collect from the purchasers of their produce, but are, on the contrary, compelled to accept the current price therefore in open competition without protection.'* Mr Murdoch (Jolls) seconded. It was resolved to endorse tlie action of the committee in taking steps to test the validity of the action. As an amendment to the Chairi man's motion, Mr W. Powdrell (Kaupokonui) moved that this meeting of Taranaki factories objects to the class tax levied by Cabinet on butter and cheese and without the sanction of Parliament, which amounts to £300,000 per year. This meeting is of opinion that tlie price paid for political purposes and city votes is too great, as same entails a yearly tax of £7 per head on .10,000 small dairy farmers and share milkers , already overworked to benefit our Dominion's population by 3d per lb on butter-fat, Which benefit means a paltry sum of Gs per year or ] 5-13(3 p or week for every citizen in. New Zealand. Mr Ciane seconded the amendment. Mr Marx (Mangatoki) considered that the fd levy was not likely to be the end. If the principle was adopted there was no reason why ill the wisdom of certain people butter might not be reduced to Is or even 9d netlb. 1 Mr Powdrell said the regulation of prices was a n attempt to catch votes at the farmers' expense. The farmers must put on the wlnp, "if : riot-now, at next election, V LICENSING AUTHOR IT Y. '•{ j Per Press Association. Wellington, October 24. The following is issued under the authority of Hon. W. I). Mae Donald (Minister of Agriculture), and is the official statement of tile working arrangement (formulated by Mr TViggß of tlie Imperial Meat Supply Department, in order to facilitate the operation of the Board of Trade's scheme for fixing tlie price of butter to local consumers,. and compensating local butter, suppliers for the difference between' the'price so fixed and the price of: exported butter, also as to export of butter and cheese, for the purpose of giving effect to the Ordor-in-•Couucil "Fixing the maximum price of butter," dated October 13, 1910, and the "Prohibiting tlie export of butter and cheese/' dated October l«#i, 3 lsl {j,. :; General working arrangements have been devised f,or guidance of ;-a!L. concerned, and the scheme becomes operative forthwith.

WORK!NO AP.RAXC EMENT. (1) Licensing Authority:—The "Licensing Authority" nominated and appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, in accordance with paragraph .11 of the Order-in-Council dated October 13, 1910, is Mr Robert Triggs, address, Box 371, General Post Office, Wellington. (2) .Export License.—An export license to lie operative until revoked will be issued by the licensing authority in terms of the Ordcr-in-Coun-cil dated October 13, 1910. Any company, firm, or person engaged in the manufacture of butter or cheese, desirous of obtaining an export license, should make application to the licensing authority on the prescribed form, and in terms of the Order-in-Council of October 13, 1.910.

(3) Return of Butter-fat,-In accordance with paragraph 5- of the schedule of the Ordor-in-Couneil dated October 13; 1916, a return of butterfat consumed at any factory or factories after August 31, 1910, must be supplied. This return to b'o furnished on a form marked "A," provided by the licensing authority. This return should be furnished within ten days after receipt of the first grant to a licensee of an export license, accompanied by remittance for the amount of the charge due at the rate of :J-d per lb. on butter-fat consumed between September 1. 1916,

and Sept. 30, 1910, both inclusive. Thereafter this return is to be furnished monthly on "settling day." to be accompanied by :• bank receipt

showing that amount of charge due at the rate, of -,n per ib., or such other rate as may be determined by the licensing authority with the approval of the Board of Trade, has

been credited to the public account ill the nearest banch of the Bank of New Zealand. This method of payment is suggested, but, if it is found more convenient, payment may be made direct by means of a cheque addressed to the licensing authority, Wellington;

(-1) Return of butter supplied for

local consumption, and of butter and cheese forwarded' for export.—Every company, linn, or person engaged in the manufacture of butter and. cheese to whom ;ln export license lias beeil granted will forward to the licensing

authority within fourteen' days after the end of each month, particulars, on form "B," supplied for the purpose, of (a) quantity of butter supplied for local consumption, (b) quantity of butter and cheese for-

warded for export during the previous month, the first return to cover the

period from September 1, 1916, to September 30, 1916, both inclusive. Should there be no butter supplied for local consumption or no butter amd (or) cheese, forwarded for export during any month, advice to such effect is to be enfaced on the form to he forwarded to the licensing authority.

(5) Branding of butter boxes.— Boxes containing butter, whether .intended for local consumption or for export, are to be branded as instruct* od bv the licensing authority, "for export" or "for local sale." as the ease may be. plied by the licensing authority. (6) Transfers.—Whereat any tmie it is desired to transfer butter marked for export or local consumption, or vice versa, it will be necessary to obtain the permission of the licensing authority. . , (7) Adjustments in connection witn hotter supplied for local consumption -Moiievs payable under paragraph 3 in connection with .butter supplied f O V | l)( ,d consumption' will he distributed from time to time by the licensing authority under approval of tlie Board'of Trade by cheque, free oi exchange, payable to the company, firm, or person concerned. (S) Milled butter, whey buttei, dairy butter, and dairy e .eese.-I.be scheme does not apply tolled butter, whey butter, dairy Initter>;Snd dairy cheese. , ,-',.'. Vl ■'' (9) Butter for military Supplies for military §»#»' either for camps or transports, are to ba classed as butter manufactured lor "local sale." (10) Should any unforseen,' circumstances or conditions arise winch are not provided for, and factories be m doubt how to act, it is specially asked that the licensing authority oe communicated with at once Mr Dunn (Farmers' Union) thought that if taxation was needed the proper way was to tax the wealthy a«d those able to pay. not to squeeze the farmer for political purposes. One speaker considered that iarmers were the hardest worked people in New Zealand. Ifi the farmers spent their money in the-same way as the rest of the community butter would now be 0s per lb. Some of the speakers thought the, amendment was hardly politic. Mr Powdrell refused to withdraw his amendment, which was lost on the voices and on a show of hands. The resolution was then carried.

On the motion of Messrs Murdoch and Burgess, Messrs A. Morion, W\ ]). Powdrell', and J. Marx were appointed Taranaki's representatives on the' Advisory Committee, a tribute being paid to the good work already done bv the trio.

| On the motion of Messrs Dingle ' (Stratford) and Rowlands (Mangorei), it was resolved to pledge the factories to bear the cost of litigation pro rata according to output. Before the meeting dispersed, Mr W. 1). Powdrell read the following resolution: 'That this meeting recommend that the Board of Trade be dismissed or retired, on pension, and after next election all retired politicians losing their scats lie favorably recommended for the next reinforcements or any employment "here no hard thinking is required." THE PRICE OF CHEESE. At the same meeting the question of the price of cheese was discussed, and it was decided to send the following cable to Mr Massey: "Cheese sold 10.',d in factory here. Before'iirjything further be done factories b»iconsulted." BumammmimmmtaMMUßmmMM