BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 July 1917, Page 5

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

STATEMENTS IN THE HOUSE. •BUTTER-TAX .MAY ■■ CKMIJ *<sfF. INCREASED PRICE -LTKELY POT? CHEESE. (Special to News,) Wellington, Last Night. '•No power on earth can prevent the price of butter coming down," said Mr. Anderson (Mataura) to-day. "The heavy accumulations in store and the shortage of shipping make it certain that the local price will ■fall." The subject was mentioned in the House during the evening by Mr. Smith (Pahiatua), iwbo said that if the Government knew that there was not going to be tonnage to get 'butter out of the country farmers should be told the truth and assisted to make their arrangements accordingly. The Government ought not to delay providing cold storage for batter and cheese. Somo of the cheew -was going bad in tha-stores now. 'Dr. Thacker: Why not let the people cat some of it , Mr. Smith: I am not stopping them. Mr. Buiok: They don't want to pay ; for it. To-day's deputation to Mr. Mawey regarding the butter-fat levy did not draw any definite statement from the Prime . Minister, but meribers are assuming confidently that the levy is going to to withdrawn. It has outlived its usefulness, apart from any question of fairness or legality. The heavy accumulations of butter in store and the continued shortage of shipping are consider. cd by members to afford a guarantee that the local price of butter will tall. There is reason to believe that the Prime Minister, while approving of the measures to keep down the cost of Iffin«, does not consider that the levy was ithe best method that could have been devised. . ~f The position regarding cheese is ait•ferent. The Imperial Government is buy- • ■ inc the cheese and paying 90 per cent. of the purchase price on delivery m store. Hints have been given lately of a possible increase in the price paid for New Zealand cheese by the .ImpmU Government under the scheme. The price at present 11. OAjJ r r pound, f.0.b., but it appears that the Canadian producers are rommg 1* W pound. Mr. Massey has **» £™F" Location with the Imperial wtt"*" ou the point, and there is an i«nP res *!°" ore that a price equivalent to Canadian m- ce will be paid' for New. Zealand cheese Egth* coming season. Farmers may I d the cstra price in order to cover h increased freight charges and the heavy cost of the prolonged storage;