BUTTER PRICES-IN DOMINION.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20986, 14 October 1933, Page 11

BUTTER PRICES-IN DOMINION.

SCHEME OF CONTROL ADVANCED DAIRY BOARD APPROACHES MINISTERS LFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 13. Representations were made to the Government this week by the Dairy Produce Board concerning the proposal for the introduction of legislation to control the price of butter on the local market under what is known as the Sinclair scheme. A deputation waited on the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes), the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. R. Masters), and the Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. C. E. Macmillan), but it is understood that Government action, is not likely until more definite proposals have been submitted. The proposal, which emanated from the annual conference of the National Dairy Association at -Hamilton recently, was to "load" butter at the rate of 2d a pound, with a view to establishing a fund from which a bonus would be paid at the end 6f the season. However, enquiries in departmental circles indicate that the plan as approved at Hamilton has undergone some modification. One of the alternative suggestions was that the "load" should be ljd, instead of 2d, but the whole question is still in the air, and it is understood that the Dairy Board has been asked to put its proposals into more definite shape, with a view to submitting them again to the Government. At the moment, it does not appear likely that the Government will act on the request to alter the Dairy Eoard's Control Act in the direction indicated.

The National Dairy Conference, which met at Hamilton in June last, endorsed its committee's recommendations based on the Sinclair plan for the stabilisation of the local butter market:— "That the sale of butter in both islands be placed under the supervision of a central organisation in Wellington vested with powers to prepare regulations with which all the dairy companies and (or) distributing agents must comply. "That the organisation shall have power to determine (a) the wholesale price to be charged throughout New Zealand from time to time for bulk or pat butter sold for consumption within the Dominion, including whey butter; (b) the amount which dairy companies must charge for patting and distributing butter on the local market; (c) the maximum amount which any agent may receive by way of commission, or payment, for acting as the distributor for any dairy company in the sale of butter on the local market; (d) the number of grades to be placed on the market, the amount to be allowed for returned empty boxes, the discount to retailers for cash payment, and any other matters affecting the price to be received by dairy companies catering for the local trade. "The committee considered that the price differential as between the New Zealand economic level and the world's parity prices, plus marketing costs, should be paid into a central fund to be distributed among the butter-mak-ing companies. "It was further recommended that the committee should be allowed to function with power to act in co-oper-ation with the Dairy Produce Board, with a view to completing the scheme." The committee's report was unanimously adopted.

THE BRITISH MARKET

PROPOSED NEW SYSTEM OPPOSED (I'IiGSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, October 13. Proposals for an amended system of marketing butter and cheese were discussed at a meeting held at Auckland by the recently-formed New Zealand Dairy Produce Free Marketing Association. The meeting is convinced that any interference with or restriction of the absolute freedom of dairy companies to dispose of their produce as they think fit is opposed to the best interests of the industry, and would have the effect of placing New Zealand's dairy produce at a grave disadvantage on the British market. Opposition to the proposals has also been expressed in telegrams received from a large number of South Island companies, which conveyed strong support of the free marketing movement. It was decided to hold a further meeting of the association at Wellington, to form a Dominion-wide association of dairy companies who are supporters of the principles of free marketing.

FORWARD SALES OF BUTTER RESTRICTION OF PERIOD SUGGESTED (SHESS ASSOCIATION TELEGEAJI.) WELLINGTON, October 13. Melbourne newspapers recently reported that the New Zealand Dairy Board had agreed with the Australian Board to restrict the period for forward sales of butter. Mr W. A. lorns, chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, when the question was referred to him to-day, said nothing had been decided yet in regard to the Australian proposals, and the whole thing was still "in the air." A reply had been received from the Importers' Association In Tooley street which showed a unanimity of opinion that it was desirable to put dairy produce on a better marketing basis than that prevailing to-day. Further suggestions of the Importers' Association would be considered at the Dairy Board's meeting on October 25.

EWE HOGGETS COMPETITION IN SOUTH CANTERBURY (special to the peess.) TIMARU, October 13. Mr J. Crawford (Motukaike) won the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association's ewe hogget competition, which was judged yesterday. In addition, Mr Crawford takes £3 3s, a cup valued at a similar amount, presented by Dr. P. R. Woodhouse, and he will also hold Mr H. a. fa. Johnstone s cup, valued at £7 If Jo r o one year - The sec °nd prize S. f , £ T 2 r ?f was won b y Mr J- Stowell, ? s K7 all ?y'£ nd the th ""d prize went to Mr A. Grant, Fairlie, and Dr. Woodhouse. The competition was judged bv Messrs B Withell (Ealing) ind A. Grant (Waimate), the umpire being Mr J. Waddell (Timaru). The first entry was inspected at Hook, and the last at Fairlie. The party was motored round the district by Dr. Woodhouse, president of the association. The opinion was expressed by the judges that the association would do well to consider two classes in future: one for the small farmer and the other for the runholder. About 160 hoggets were exhibited at the farm of Mr H. B. L. Johnstone, Hook, and at Mr E. E. Johnstone's farm at Otaio, 140 hoggets were examined. Mr H. B. S. Johnstone, Otaio, exhibited 400 hoggets, and at Esk Valley Mr J. Stowell penned 101. The penning of Dr. P. R. Woodhouse consisted of 600 hoggets, and at Bluecliffs 100 were put forward by Mr J. Cocks. Mr H. Elworthy, of Craigmore, was represented by 300 hoggets, and Mr J. Crawford (Motukaike) had more than 200 in the pens. Other exhibitors were Mr E. Robinson (Fairlie) and Mr Andrew Grant (Allandale, Fairlie), the latter having 1100 in the pens. The placings were as follows:

SIGNWRITERS AND POSTER ARTISTS

There was a good attendance at this month's meeting of the Canterbury Signwriters' and Poster Artists' Guild, held in the studio of Mr E. R. Leeming. A paper was read by Mr John Buchanan, and members expressed their appreciation. A hearty vote of thanks waa accorded ti*e speaker. In replying, Mr Buchanan expressed his own pleasure at being able to help the guild, and offered to address them further on trade matters at some future data.

"3 w §.2 o o to o or" U H J. Crawford 43 26 16 85 J. Stowell 40 25 15 80 Dr. P. R. Woodhouse 39 24 13 76 A. Grant 34 24 18 76 E. Robinson 38 23 13 74 H. B. S. Johnstone .. 35 22 10 67 H. Elworthy 34 21 9 64 H. B. L. Johnstone .. 33 22 7 62 H. H. Elworthy 31 20 9 60 J. Cocks 30 22 6 58 E. S. Johnstone 28 20 8 56