SMALL DAIRY FARMERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1920, Page 4

SMALL DAIRY FARMERS.

QUESTION OF THE SUBSIDY. WILL THEY PARTICIPATE? (By Wire.—Parliamentary Beporter.) Wellington, Last Night. "Provision is made at the present timet for the payment of a subsidy of Bd per lb. to dairy farmers supplying butter to dairy factories, but no provision ha* been made fur the payment of this subsidy to the small fanner in the back* blocks where there are no dairjr factories," said Mr. R. Masters (Strat" ford) in the House to-3ay. Members wished to know whether the farmer pro* during separator butter in places when there were no factories would be granted the same concession as those living ill more favored parts. The Prime Minister said h* wta sot nl>le to make a definite statement on the matter at the moment, though he am predated the point raised. He thougot people who were not within the teaoh of a creamery or a factory required some encouragement, since utjoii theti tho country would in part defend f<H its supply of butter in years to come, He would like to put them in tie sazu position as other butter producers if id could be done, but he would first have to inquire what was the quantity of buttd? produced by the small men in the blocks, ( and whether their butter was fit' for export. He would look into the matter and make a statement to the? House. The Prime Minister announced that members, if they liked to take th« opij portunity, could have the afternoon fog" debating the Butter Committee's re« commendations after other select eom« mittees' reports had been dealt with' The discussion on the land laws, how ever, occupied most of the afternoon sit* ting, and no opportunity arose of dit' | cussing the butter question.