‘Little Substance’ Seen In Complaint On Butter

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30212, 17 August 1963, Page 12

‘Little Substance’ Seen In Complaint On Butter

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, August 16 The latest New Zealand proles, about Britain's policy on butter imports seemed to have “little substance,” "The Times” said today in an editorial. The position was simple Butter —one of the commodities in long-run world surplus—was now in short supply in Britain and some parts of Europe. Stocks bad fallen to Less than three weeks’ supplies, “The Times" said. The shortage bad been reflected in price increases in shops It had not been easy to find spare butter that could be imported quickly. In June, the Board of Trade contracted for an extra 5000 tons from ttie Irish Republic and last month for 12.000 tons from Australia This week the board had authorised another 12.000 tons to be imported as soon ae possible The latest supplies would come from 14 countries—2ooo tons of them from New Zealand "The question at issue is simply whether all this extra butter is needed," ‘The Times” said. The British

Government could support its action by pointing to the low level of stocks and to the fact that prices were at their highest for three years The New Zealand Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) had attacked the imports as seriously undermining the stability of the market, depressing prices and frustrating the purpose of the quota system. "This seems to be making too much of what amounts to little more than one week’s consumption of butter in Britain. “New Zeeland has a 40 per cent, stare >f Britain's butter quota. Mr Holyoake must expect the British Government to protect Britain’s interests as a consumer in just the same way that he himself does his best for his own butter producers," the editorial said.