THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3527, 14 July 1920, Page 5

THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

HIGHER PRODUCING COSTS.

PLEA FOR A FREE MARKET.

HAMILTON, July 13.

The annual district meeting of Wal—ton suppliers to the New Zealand 00operative Dairy Company, Lt&l., was held in the Walton Hall on Friday night, Mr L. M-app’pl'esiding over a large attendance.

Mr A. J. Sinclair, assistant nl.anage~r of the company, addressed the sup» pliol'S, and gave a full resume of the“ company ’s progress during its first year‘ as an anralgamated concern. The figures showed a. great increase in all departments. He quoted figures to show that as far as the cost'of production at the factory was concerned during the last. 12 months t.hi:~: had very cozrsiderafily increased and, in‘ some instances, the increase was as? high as 30 per cent, compared vvithl the season before. Nevertheless the} economies efifected by the amalgamation had already made -themselves felt. I with the result that the company was able to pay out approxiniately the same price for the season. as had been i paid out the previous year. The directors had decided to ‘make a substan- % tial interim final payment on Atigus%.' 25 next. ” I

Mr Sinclair then submitted figures to show that the cost of production on the farm had also very materially increased during 'the last. 12 fnonths, and the statements showed that under the very best conditions butter could hot be produced on the farm to-day below 1/10 per lb. V At the conclusion of the meeting it was unanimously debided that. a telegram be sent to the Prime Minister. expressing dissatisf.action with the present position, and "urging the New Zealand Government to press the 1131peria.i authorities to grant the dairy producers in this country a. free market for butter, as well as for cheese.