THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1916, Page 6

THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

MAKERS AGGRIEVED RISE OF 2d ASKED FOR

A long-standing grievance cherished by producers of butter in New Zealand was brought again under the notice of the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald) on Tuesday by a deputation representing Auckland, Wairarapa, Wellington, and Christchurch factory managers. In order to prevent the price of butter from soaring in New Zealand, the Government many months ago put an embargo on export. Butter may now le exported only under license from the Minister of Customs. A good deal of butter is exported, but the obtaining of permits causes vexatious delays, and there are big stocks in store. The grievance of the butter-makers is that the local price is below the export price, and they ask that the local price should be raised by 2d per lb., and that the embargo on export be removed. They are, of course, free now to increase the local price, but snch an increase would almost certainly be followed by a withdrawal of all export permits, a contingency they dare not face. So they approached the Minister of Agriculture to suggest that an increased local price should be permitted, and that export should be allowed to go on unchecked. A rise of 2d per lb, would bring the retail price of butter up to Is lOd per lb. In their interview with the Minister, the deputation quoted figures to show that the factories supplying the local market were getting a less return than those exporting. Wherefore they argued that the increase of 2d per lb. was necessary.