BUTTER EQUALISATION FUND.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 September 1919, Page 4

BUTTER EQUALISATION FUND.

LAST SEASON'S POSITION, TO BE CONSIDERED BY SPECIAL COMMITTEE. (By Wire.—Own Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The Butter Equalisation Fund was mentioned again in the House of Representatives to-day, several members urging the claims of the butter producers. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) said the butter producers understood that for the present season they were to re. ceive the full export price for all butter supplied to the local market, but they had not been promised the export price for the season that had passed. The farmers felt strongly on this point, and considered thoy were entitled to a refund of the money they had lost under the equalisation scheme. The Prime Minister said that if he had not had a great deal of sympathy for the butter producers they would not have secured the arrangement that was now being made. He had seen the position, and had considered that the butter producers had not been fairly used. They were now going to bo placed in exactly the same position as the wheat growers, or an even better position. Cabinet had arranged that the producers should get the full export price this season. Last season's butter wa9 a different matter. Petitions bearing upon the subject had been'presented to the House, and would be considered by a committee, which probably would take evidence. He did not propose to go any further until he received the report of the committee. The proposal to make up last season's price to the full export price involved an expenditure of from £150,000 to £175,000, and Cabinet would have to deal with so large a question. "We want to deal with the butter producers fairly and equitably," added Mr. Massey. "I do ask members to remember that the arrangement in operation last year was made by the representatives of the butter producers, or the people who called themselves their representatives. I had nothing to do with the matter at all."