PRICE OF BUTTER

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16963, 12 October 1920, Page 6

PRICE OF BUTTER

ATTITUDE OF RAILWAYMEN.

A largely-attended meeting of railwaymen was held at Lyttelton yesterday morning, for the purpose of discussing the nrice of butter, and other increases in the cost of living. The following resolution was carried: '|That this combined mass meeting of railwayman strongly protests against the recent rise in butter and other commodities, and we request all other organisations. as well as the general public, to endorse a proposal declaring butter consigned fnr export 'black' until it has been reduced to its original prieo or a proportional increase m wages is granted to wage-earners; further, we call upon the Government to take more drastic measures to prevent profiteering, also to take into serious consideration the continual rise in price of the necessaries cf life, with the object of arriving nt some solution of the alarming difficulty; we also urge the executive councils of the three railway societies to press for an increase in wages to meet the increased cost of living that has taken place since the last negotiations under the Labour Disputes Investigation Act." DISCUSSION BY CITY COTOCIL. A short discussion on the cost of living, and the high price of butter, took place at the meeting of the City Cotmcil Inst niclit.

The Waihi Borough Council forwarded the following resolution for endorsement:—"That this Council views with grave apprehension the increased cost of living, and draws the attention of tho Government thereto, asking it to take immediate action with a view to reducing tho high prices now prevailing, and that the co-operation Gf all other boroughs be invited in the matter." Cr. Langley moved that the motion be endorsed, and that a protest bo added against tho enormous increase in the price of butter. The Mayor said the butter question was now before a Select Committee of tho House, and should really not_ be debated just then —ifc was not etiquette to do so.

Cr. Burgoyne, who seconded the motion, said tliat the Committees of the House did no good. Tho people "would have to find a remedy themselves, unless something was done. Cr. Hunter said tho time to protest was before the Committee had reached its decision, but he. believed the whole thing was cut and dried. The people would take action when tho time was ripe. The trouble could not go on indefinitely. Cr. F] R. Cooke moved ns an amendment:—"That tho only way to combat the high cost of living is to municipalise and nationalise the land, industries, banks, ett.-. This Council offers this as a suggestion to tlie Waihi Borough Council-, and is prepared to help nny such consummation." The amendment was seconded by Cr. H. T. Armstrong, who said the producers were entitled to the benefit of an open mnrket. Tho trouble would not be settled • by penalising the producer, who probably was working on borrowed capital. The solution was for the people to collectively own what thev collectively used. Cr. C. P. Agar said he was perfectly satisfied that it cost to-day 2s 8d to produce a pound of butter-fat. He had seen the figures and knew the facts. There was a world-wide shortage of butter, caused largely by tho failure of the Russian supplies, and the only method to remedv tho present trouble was to increase the supply of butterfat. That applied to coal and other commodities, as well as to bettor, .and the Labour people should take note of it. The amendment was lost by 12 rotes to 4, Crs. Cooke, Hunter, Langley, and Armstrong voting for it. • Cr Flesher then moved a further amendment:—"That the letter bo received " , , _ , This ttas seconded by Cr. Agar and carried AUCKLAND MEN'S DECISION. (PP.ESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, October 11. The Auckland railwaymen discussed the question of taking action in reference to tho increase in the price of butter, and resolved not to support the action of the Wellington branches, but to refer the matter to a general conference to bo held in Wellington on November Ist.