THE CHEESE PURCHASE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2996, 6 February 1917, Page 8

THE CHEESE PURCHASE

ALL PREVIOUS CONTRACTS CANCELLED I BROKERS . AND IMPORTERS SECURE CONSIDERATION The following ' communication lias 're® mado to representatives of contracting parties, and is published (in the for general information: — Wellington, February 5, 1917. With roferenco to the Order-in-Coun-cil of' January. 16, 1917, prohibiting the export of cheese, which appeared in the Gazette of the same date, and also to Clause 14, notification of the same date by the Minister of Agriculture indicating the terms under which cheese would/. be purchased on behalf of the Imperial Government, which reads as follows: — 1 "No cheese will be purchased by the Government which is the subject of a contract'of sale and purchase entered inio by the manufacturer before the date of tho aforesaid Order-in-Council of January 16, 1917, and in force at that date, until and unless such contract has been cancelled by the consent of the parties thereto, or such other arrangement has been made in respect thereof as the Minister of Agriculture thinks jv.st and reasonable. If no such cancellation or arrangement is effected within such time as the Minister thinks reasonable, such cheese will be purchased or otherwise acquired by tho Government on such terms as may bo hereafter determined, and either from tho manufacturer or from tho purchaser, as the Government may think just in the circumstances of each case." :—I have tho honour to inform you that as I have been advised by the parties concerned that titey have been unable to consent to the cancellation of tho contracts for the sale and purchase of cheeso referred to, or to make any such other arrangements as are provided for in the clause, the Government has decided that it is prepared to purchase from tho factories the cheese which is subject to such contracts, and - which

i h n <J not beon shipped on tlio exporting ocean steamer at tho date of the commg into operation of the Ordcr-in-COTtioil—namely, January IG—at tlio price fixed by tho aforesaid notification —namely, 9Jd. per lb. f.0.b., provided ahvays that tho payment for such cheese jhall be subject to a deduction of 1} per cent, to be paid' by the Government to tho other parties concerned in the contracts, by ivay of compensation for tho expenditure incurred by them in respect of suoh contracts. Subject to such deductiqn all such cheese will bo purchased by the Gov- . eminent on tho same terms and condi- ' tions as if 110 such contracts had been ( entered into. Contracting parties affected should take an early opportunity of forwarding copies of their contracts to the Controller. Department of Imperial Goy- ■ oriiment Supplies, .Wellington.