CHEESE.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1916, Page 5

CHEESE.

THE PROPOSED COMMANDEERING. FACTORY REPRESENTATIVES AND PRIME MINISTER OONFER. EXORBITANT PRICES ASKED, (By Telegraph—Special to Daijy Sewi.f Wellington,' June VI. Some weeks ago it was announced that Hie iPrime Minister had received a communication from tlie Imperial authorities which practically amounted to a request to the vN'mv Zealnml Government to commandeer the whole of the Dominion's output of cheese during the forthcoming season, for army purposes. Yesterday Mr. Massey met representatives of factories to discuss the matter and though no official statement has fieen made in . regard to the proceedings x at the conference, some particulars have been gathcred from the delegates who were prn> ent. Mr. Massey explained to the representatives of the factories that he bad power to commandeer the output of cheese in the way that had been suggested,and to fix a price which seemed fair and reasonable in the circumstances, but he had no desire to exercise his authority in an arbitrary manner, and lie would like to the assistance of the delegates in arriving at an eqiutable arrangement. They, of course, should not ignore the fact that the Empire was at war . and needed all the assistance ft could obtain from the Dominions.

A general discussion followed, from which it soon became evident that the North Island representatives and the South Island representatives not agreed as to what would constitute a reasonable price. The Northern: representatives thought that O'/ad perjpound would not lie too much, considering the price ruling in the open market;' while ■ the Southern representatives were ready . • to accept By.d per pound. Finally, a resolution recommending to the, Prime Minister B%d per pound as the pfice to be paid was carried by the Northern majority vote. Mr. Massey said that he did not" think the Imperial authorities would bo prepared to pay more than Sd per poundThis would represent a very considerable advance upon the price paid to the factories last year, and the cost of production had not been materially increased in the meantime. He hoped th>t the representatives would reconsider, their decision, remembering that the cheese was required for war purposes, and that he had authority to take it in a way which might give them even a fmalter return than the one he had indicated. • After some further discussion it was arranged that the representatives should .. confer with their principals on the matter and meet the Prime Minister' again. A PAHIATUA PROTEST; By Telegraph.—Press Association * Pahiatua, June IT. A meeting of representatives of cheese factories in the 'Pn'hiatua and Kketahuna ■ • ■ counties met here this afternoon, and tt-' solved to notify the Government that the proposal to commandeer or to cow- s pulsorily purchase next season's output ; of cheese would place an unfair burden or. the Dominion's cheese producers, unless equal proportions of the outputs fa other partß of the Empire were similarly dealt with. Such an action would help to build up the trade of rival countries and endanger the future of New Zealand a cheese. It was resolved to request the National Dairy Association to convened . i meeting at Palmerston North next week*