THE BUTTER PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 21, 24 July 1918, Page 8

THE BUTTER PROBLEM

PROBABLE SATISFACTORY SOLUTION

A conference was being held yesterday, and continued to-day, between representatives of butter-makers and the Ministers for Agriculture (Hon. W. D. S. MacDonald) and for Imperial Supplies (Hon. D. H. Guthrie), with reference to 'ah equalisation fund for butter producers; From the chairman of the Dominion Butr ter Committee (Mr. A. Morton), The Post learns to-day that an equalisation fund'is now in a fair way to be established. In this fund producers, who have exported and those who have supplied the local market will both participate. It is expected that finality will shortly be reached.

In connection with the sales of butter in.the local market,, it is worjjE mentioning, Mr. Morton continued, that the contract with the Imperial Government for the sale of export butter expires on 31st July, and that any subsequent arrangements made with the Imperial Government with reference to next season's output of butter will be subject to a decision which was arrived at by the delegates of the.butter producers, who' met in Wellington on 9th May last. On. that occasion it was unanimously- decided ,by representatives of producers that for the coming season an equalisation fund should be established. "This decision," Mr. Morton concluded, "should dispel any anxiety as to the local prices for butter not being, maintained at their present rate, or, as to there being.any difficulty in obtaining supplies of butter for the local market."

Members of the detective force this morning arrested two well-known enemy aliens in the city. The men are to be escorted over to Somes Isalftd this afternoon.

"Conductor" writes as follows:—"I wish to contradict a letter in brief in tonight's Post by 'P.C.A.A.A.' The car was full, and after the conductor had declared it full the young lady, who was very obstinate, persisted in boarding the car. She was not? 1- spoken' roughly to by the conductor. If the young lady lives on the Wadestown line, why should she appropriate the car provided for the Karori people when a Wadestown car was a few minutes behind it? She conld not expect a seat when she was standing I on the centre platform with no room to I move:"' '. ■■.■/ i The depths of degradation to which : some people will descend has been discovered recently by those connected with \ the Red Cross Society at Wellington. j Some little time ago the collection-box'at ! Courtenay-place was forced open and the i contents abstracted. Last night the hut in which the lady collector is accommodated was opened and the box forced. _ How much- the thief or thieves obtained on the first occasion is not known. Last night, however, it is known that nothing i was taken, as the box had been emptied j before the hut was locked up.

I 4. lady who is closely in touch with ! local conditions made a suggestion to a i Post reporter to-day that in her opinion I might 'afford'some relief. In the Botanical Gardens, she said, thero are many acres of dead tea-tree, which is useless at any time and a source of danger in dry summer weather. Why not cut it out and sell it to poor people at the ! bare cost of labour ? Hxmdreds of fam--1 ilies "are really suffering from the lack of fuel, in some cases (particularly o£ : the sick) the conditions are acute, leatree would alleviate the trouble to some extent until conditions, become more pleasant. ■ ■ Colonel N. P. Adams, C.M.G., Com, mandant of Feathereton Camp, who Has ' been undergoing treatment in a .private .hospital in Wellington, is now improvj ing steadily in health. . • ■

During the month of Juno the number of stock slaughtered at, th*> municipal abattoirs amounted to 5584, of which 40 ■were condemned.- The fees received for the same totalled £132 1& 3d, a decrease of £15 16s Id for the same month last ■voar. The total fees received at the abattoirs was £464 10s 6d, .a decrease of £13 8s 3d on tho same monthgof last

year. Members of the Early Settlers' and Historical Association are reminded that "meeting will be held at Gpdber's Booms, Courtenay-place, this evening.when Mr. Amolius Smith will give an address. Their attention is also drawn to the .fact th»t a. social evening lias been arranged for on the 31st of this month, when the tastes of the younger members ami sympathisers will be specially catered for at a dance, card party, an<l general social evening.

The Rev. E. Palgrave Davy is this woek conducting a ypung-lifo campaign in Berbampore Baptist Church. Meetings will bo held this evening and on each evening this week at 7 o'clock. On Friday will be a talk on India, and on Saturday coloured slides will bo.shown illustrating the Pilgrims' Progress. ...

Messrs : Townsend and Paul, Ltd., will soil at auction, on Friday, shelving, timber, etc.