BUTTER MARKETING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 186, 7 August 1936, Page 7

BUTTER MARKETING.

Referendum May be Taken in

Australia.

N.Z. PLAN CRITICISED,

SYDNEY, August 6,

Discussing future marketing of butter arising out of the Privy Council's decision in the dried fruits case, a leading producer and exporter, Mr.. R. C. Gibson, speaking at Lismore, said it was doubtful whether in a referendum the people would be prepared to give the Federal Government powers which the Privy Council had stated the Government did not possess at present.

It was likely, however, that an effort would be made at the next Premiers' conference to delegate control of the butter industry to the Commonwealth. A unanimous decision was necessary and Mr. Gibson said he doubted whether the States as a whole would agree. He said the New Zealand scheme would not give local dairymen returns greater than were being received at present by the dairy farmers in Australia.

The value of the New Zealand scheme rested not so much upon higher prices as upon the fact that the dairymen knew in advance what they would get for their product. They had become, in effect, servants of the Government.