BUTTER BOXES.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 312, 18 December 1936, Page 6

BUTTER BOXES.

SOUTHERN PROTEST. Farmers Criticise Action Of Government.

Press Association—Copyright. Palmerston N., Last Night. At a meeting of butter manufacturing companies representing 12,000 dairy farmers of the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay districts to-day’ considerable adverse comment was expressed on the action of the Government and the boxmakers, resulting in increased costs of dairy produce containers. It was reported that Manawatu factories were able to purchase in Australia export white pine butter ■boxes from Ne>w Zealand timber at a much lower price than that arranged for the same class of box by the Government, and that the Boxmakers’ Association, directors present had in their possession definite quotations confirming this paradoxical position. It was resolved to protest against the system of pooling butter boxes to be administered by the Dairy Board and to request the right to purchase as In the past. A further resolution was that, as boxes made of New Zealand timber could be purchased in Australia at prices substantially lower than those now being charged in New Zealand, companies consider the present position of exploitation of dairy industry’ and ask that all regulations against the importation of boxes and crates be removed and that if that was not done then the difference in cost, compared with last year’s price, be added to ithe guaranteed price of butter.