THE BUTTER OUTPUT.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 October 1917, Page 5

THE BUTTER OUTPUT.

ME. OKEY'S SUGGESTIONS,

PREMIER'S OPTIMISTIC REPL*

By Wire.—Our Parliamentary Reporter. Wellington, Last SJignfc. In the House this evening, Mr. H. Okey (Taranaki) asked a question regarding the purchase of butter and cheese. Mr. Okey said the factories were placed in a difficult position by lack of information regarding the intentions of the Imperial Government. They were not in a position to make payments to their suppliers. He suggested that, in order to overcome the 4ifficulty, the Government should inform the banks that the Government would be responsible for any payment made on this season's milk, on deposit at the bank of storo warrants for batter or cheese in stock.

"The position is very much easier than it was last week," said Mr. Massey, "I am now in almost daily communication | with the Imperial authorities as to their proposal to take over the output of I butter and cheese for the present season. It is said to be only a question of price. The requisitioning, judging by the cablegrams the Government has received, will be given effect in the case of both butter and cheese, and I. have no doubt flint during the present'week satisfactory arrangements will be made between the New Zealand Government and the proIducers on the'one hand, and the Imperial authorities on the other hand. I am quite confident of that. We cannot possibly giv? a financial guarantee to the banks as regards any advances they make on account of dairy produce, but I am quite confident that everything will be right, and that arrangements will be'niado before many days, and that I will be iible to make an Announcement to that effect,"