Cheaper Butter Opposed

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31463, 1 September 1967, Page 22

Cheaper Butter Opposed

“The Press 1 ' Special Service

WELLINGTON, August 31. The Dairy Board has submitted to the Price Tribunal that the price of butter should be maintained at 28c a pound.

The board has acknowledged that the recently-ap-proved cut in the butterfat pay-out means butter could be ! retailed in New Zealand for life less than the present I price.

. But it believes the money involved should be used for the benefit of the dairy industry, not the public or the Government.

Initially the board argued that this “profit,” expected to amount to about $1.4 million a year, should be credited to the Dairy Account. More recently, to counter suggestions of a subsidy, it has suggested to the Government that the additional money could be used to improve export trade and to help bring some stability to the international market.

A reply from the Prime [Minister, Mr Holyoake, has

been described by the board as “not very satisfactory.” After the board had considered Mr Holyoake’s letter yesterday, the chairman, Sir Andrew Linton, said the board had made submissions to the Price Tribunal in support of a continued price of 28c.

But it had not decided what reply it would make to Mr Holyoake on the end use of the extra lc, should the tribunal agree to maintain it.

Basketball Win.—The New Zealand junior men’s basketball team won the second match of its Australian tour on Wednesday night when it beat Latrobe, of Tasmania, 98-20, after leading 48-8 at half time.