THE BUTTER TAX.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1917, Page 2

THE BUTTER TAX.

.MINISTER UNREPENTANT. By' Tfilegrapli .-—Press Asso-ciation. VfllHiigton, last "Miglit.

Replying to-day to a deputation representing the North Island dairy farming interests which complained of the %d j per lb levy on butter-fat as unduly oppressive the Hon. W. I). S. JfacDonaid said that when the Government took action butter -was selling at Is Sd. If !ho had allowed speculators and otlieri 'to-run!the i'isk it would have risen to 2s <id. The Government fixed a fair pricq, about 4%d per lb above the price [ruling the year "'before the war. If it 'ifld not imposed restrictions, the wholo of the butter of the Dominion would have been exported. It was no pleasure | to the Government to harass any section of the community. Many pcoplo did not realise how exceptionally fortunate. ♦New!Zealand was. We had 110 restriction' on food supplies as elsewhere and received higher prices for our produce than ever before. He could not see any great reason why farmers should make st-protest. The Government fully recognised the loyalty and patriotism of those engaged in the prodrJing industry tat Ave were up against a. crucial test in connection with the war.

The Minister indicated that the levy ■would cease ui> the end of dune and Parliament would have to devise some other method, livery available source of taxation would be tapped, because, the Government had to find the money, for war purposes.