RETAIL PRICE OF BUTTER

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21861, 14 August 1936, Page 12

RETAIL PRICE OF BUTTER

GROCERS SEEK FIXATION MINISTER CONTRADICTS RUMOUR (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) WELLINGTON, August 13. Emphasising the'fact that the policy should be to safeguard, trade as well as the public, a large deputation from the Wellington Grocers’ Industrial Union of Employers waited ort the Minister for Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, and asked that butter prices should ge fixed at a figure designed to ensure uniformity and to permit a reasonable return to the average grocer. It was stated by the secretary, Mr H. J. Stott, that the deputation had authority to represent the grocers throughout the Dominion. The president, Mr J. F. Turnbull, submitting the deputation’s case, said that if the retail price were fixed at the absurd figure, as rumoured, of 3-16 d per lb on the wholesale cost the public would certainly want the grocer to supply at that price and he would undoubtedly suffer in “I would mention that in fixing the minimum price for petjol a price was provided which showed. a reasonable average working margin- ft became uniioxm and has represented the standard price at which' it is retailed to the public. It appeals to us, as lam sure it will appeal to you, that it is much more satisfactory to have such uniformity than to have disparity in trade,” said Mr Turnbull. “My appeal is that you will take into account the position of the average ' grocer in average conditions,” he added, “and fix a price designed to meet the position of giving uniformity and also to permit a reasonable working return for services. he is expected to render to the community.” The Minister; Where did you hear that 3-16 d? Mr Turnbull: It is rumour. The Minister: I never heard of it. Mr Turnbull urged that there should be one price for everybody. Disapproval of Maximum In the course of general discussion with the members of the deputation, the Minister indicated that he was not desirous o. fixing a maximum price or making a fixed price, but he favoured a price below which the product should not be sold. It was just as unfair to sell a commodity below cost as to sell it at a high profit. He indicated that he was not in agreement with the, request that an extra 2d a pound should be fixed, which would be a fixed price. He was not favourable to the man with the big distributive machine making more money. At the moment his thoughts were more concentrated on the fixing of a minimum price. He undertook to consider thedeputation’s requests.