HARD FOB DISTRIBUTORS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 244, 12 October 1916, Page 2

HARD FOB DISTRIBUTORS.

.The present position ie undoubtedly a hard one ..for local firms who are supplying city requirements. A representative of- one such -firm informed a representative of the "Auckland Star" this morning: "We are at the present time losing'2d per lb on the butter we sell. .It has to be done to keep, our connection. Naturally we will welcome any arrangement by the Board of Trade and the producers which will reEeve us from the position of selling at a loss." Another' gentleman. ; _. .'the dairying __i—try remarked that it was evident .that cheese ;as well as, butter would be affected if a charge 'were put upon butter-fat. As far "as lowering the rates of butter for .local consumption, he pointed out that the real trouble was that probably "80. per cent of the factories were direct' exporters only, and sot. affected by. the conditions on .the local market. "If would.-never do," he remarked, "to compel the firms who are keeping the local market going to .sell at a loos aiid allow tbe others to go on scooping in the pro—te. The suggestion that the difference should be paid but of the Cten—iKdated'-Wmd-- is', 'all right;'"' from' :a ' producer's point' of view, but the consumers in the towns who are not getting fancy war prices for ti—ir things are not likely to agree to Isneh.*_ proposal." -'.. -W Asked'!how could be -solved, another gentleii— 31 said that the Government had : the power ,to ' compel compliance with its. requesti bccau*s even though an export, tax could noif.be> put on without sanction of Parliament, they- could refuse licenses for export to: firms who did not comply with the scheme suggested by the .Board of irade. "While the producers conML not oe taxed directly, the same result could be achieved by the method of stopping fe_2E?i„. of hoSe wa ° ™>-d not fall