THE BUTTER DEAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3173, 25 August 1917, Page 7

THE BUTTER DEAL

' • COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PRICE. A question -regarding the recent conference, between the Prime Minister and the butter producers about tho purchase by: tho Government of next season's output was asked by Mr. C. H. Poole in the House of Representatives yesterday. He ' asW-.Mr. Massey. whether the purchase had been made at the price of Is. 4d. ■ per pound;" '' ' Mr.'Massey said this! was not a fact. ' ' were still proceeding,' but they had reached such a stage that 7 "lie''would- be-able to report - to Cabinet. not been reached, and as " far : as he" ■ could see there would be.no' finality for s week or two. ' Mr. Wittv: Don't give them that price '-Is." dd.". ' Mr. -Massey: I can't disclose the position-.' It would not be a- fair thing to do.: Mr.; Walker : asked ; another question about tho butter- deal. -'Ho. asked whether tho Government would refer it to (lie- Cost of Living' Committee, and he urged' that- this ought -to bo -done because the price the Government proposed - to fix for the' selling of butter retail was in his opinion too high. ' Mr. Massey. sad he.could not accept the suggestion. The Government , could not ilivest itself.of its responsibilities','.'and its-chief responsibilities was for the -finances of the country. (Hear, hear.) He had met tho butter producers and reached an understanding with them, and it would now be his duty to refer the ■.matter to Cabinet. The interests of the ' consuming public had not been forgotten, and the Government had also to consider the interests of the producers of butter. Tho outlook for tho butter industry was ' not bright, and unless, something was done tho industry was. going to suffer. It was one of our principal industries, nml if it woro injured it would - be, n : ba.d.thing for : the country. It was still ,'nossibio that - the • Imperial. Government ■would-take over the butter, and negotiations to tlm ond had been proceeding. ' Ife regretted fo have to tell the House : tliat : "another- .Now. Zealand, trader, the - 'Roscommon;- -had-jbeen.; flunk. - --