BUTTER BOXES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 292, 9 December 1936, Page 5

BUTTER BOXES.

PRICE INCREASE EXPLAINED. ACTIONS BY GOVERNMENT. (By Telegraph.—Pr<?»B Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A statement concerning the gubstan>tiai increase in the prices of butter boxes for the current dairying' season and supply and equalisation arrangements for ]937-1938 was made by the .Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. \V. Martin, as acting-Minister of Marketing. He emphasised that even had the GovenTJnent not implemented a policy of increasing wages and reducing working hours prices would have increased to the present level as a result of scarcity ana consequent higher prices for white pine timber in the North Island. Regarding supplies for the 1936-38 seasons, the Government, he said, had secured precedence for North Island box factory requirements over prior Australian commitments, and thus had not only avoided the acute shortage of boxes for the present season, but already had commenced negotiations for ensuring an adequate supply of South Island white pine to meet the North Island deficiencies. During the 1937-38 dairying season it was also proposed to institute a stay order in respect of the type of butter boxes to be used, by which dairy factories now using sarariac ana sub-standard boxes would continue to use the same type of container as during the 193'j-37 season. The Minister added that the Government believed that its actions had been dictated by the necessities of the situation and were in the best interests of the producer. Although the present scheme was now limited to the 193G-38 period, the Government had already initiated inquiries aimed at the solution of ail relevant problems, and as a result of which it was anticipated that the regularity of future supplies, and the quality of the boxes would be improved and prices reduced.