H.—BBa.

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of that Department by constitution of Imports Committee, which it is expected will be completed in day or two and payment then made. I have asked them meanwhile to arrange with Imperial Treasury for payment immediately. Have informed .Ministry Food that you will charge interest on advances made on their behalf in accordance with terms of contract. Telegram from ibe High Commissioner for New Zealand to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. dated llth December, 1917. With reference to your telegram sth December, on subject of clearance of last season's butter, 1 understand that suggestion made by Food Controller so as to simplify matters and enable him deal with last, season's butter requisitioned on arrival before commencement distribution this season's output. I am informed by Food Controller that it is his intention to requisition all butter shipped from New Zealand on private account which may arrive in the United Kingdom, and that question of price under consideration. Food Controller would like to know quantity of last season's butter now awaiting shipment, and also particulars quantities at present en route and of any further shipments as made. Telegram from the Right Hon. ihe Prime .Minister to ihe High Commissioner for New Zealand dated Uih December. 1917. Butter and cheese : With reference to my telegram of 28th November, reply is urgently awaited regarding insurance. It will be recognized that Imperial Government are interested in this matter to extent of amount of advances, and I trust suggestion conveyed my telegram refi'i'icd lo will be adopted. Telegram from the Right Hon. the Prime Minister lo the High Commissioner for New Zealand, dated 20th December, 1917. With reference to your telegram sth December : I have referred Food Controller's offers for whey and milled butter, dairy butter, and cheese to committees representing producers. Opinions expressed are to effect that prices offered are too low, and that difference between them and those for creamery butter and factory cheese are considerably greater than relative market valuations. While it is not suggested that the offer should be refused, I should be glad if you would make urgent representations to Food Controller to meet producers to the extent of, at any rate, an additional halfpenny per pound all round. Please reply earliest possible. Telegram from ihe High Commissioner for New Zealand to the Bight Hon. the Prime Minister dated 2nd January, 1918. With reference to my telegram of the 21st December, insurance dairy-produce : Now informed by Food Ministry that National Dairy Association intend to insure risk on their butter, cheese from factory-door to f.0.b., and Kood Ministry requests that you will arrange for insurance documents to be lodged with you against advances made. Telegram from the High Commissioner for New Zealand to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, dated 3rd January, 1918. With reference to your telegram of 20th December on the subject of whey and milled butter, dairy butter, and cheese: Have made representations to Food Controller, who now agrees lo increase in prices of halfpenny per pound all round as requested. Telegram from the Bight Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner for New Zealand, dated 21th January, 1918. Butter: The scarcity of dairy salt may necessitate some factories producing saltless butter. Will you please ascertain and telegraph whether the Food Controller is agreeable to allowing the usual trade increase, stated to be 3s. per hundredweight for saltless creamery butter shipped? Cheese: Kindly ascertain and telegraph whether it is desired that any portion of the cheese yet to be manufactured this season for shipment under Imperial Government purchase scheme should be coloured instead of white, and. if so. what percentage. Telegram from the High Commissioner for New Zealand to the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, dated Ist February, 1918. With reference to your telegram 24th January, scarcity dairy salt : Food Ministry willing to pay 3s. per hundredweight additional for unsalted butter on quantity not exceeding 25 per cent. season's output. Telegram from the Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner for New Zealand. dated 12th February. 1918. Butter : With reference to your telegrams of 26th October and I.7th November regarding Food Controller's undertaking to make available 50 per cent, of any profit resulting from the sale of New Zealand butter, 1 should be glad if you would kindly ascertain and telegraph for the information of producers details of the procedure to he adopted in arriving at the result of such sales. Telegram from the Right Hon. the Prime Minister to the High Commissioner for New Zealand, dated 13th March. 1918. Butter : Should be pleased if you could expedite reply to my telegram 12th February, and also offer personal opinion as to probability of profits.