BUTTER MARKET

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 230, 23 June 1920, Page 8

BUTTER MARKET

•RODUCERS LOUD IN COMPLAINT

PRICE CONSIDERED y. INADEQUATE . INFLUENCE OF AUSTRALIAN" NEGOTIATIONS, (Prom Our Special Heporter.) Palmerston North, June 22. The immediate prospects of the dairying industry ivere referred to by the chairman (Mr. A. Morton) at to-day's meeting of the National Dairy Association of New Zealand. Dealing first with butter, Mr. Morton pointed out that Britain's importations from all sources showed a very big diminution oil her prewar importations, .The supplies from Siberia had ceased, and there was a big falling-off in the Irish supplies.- In view of the anticipated shortage it would appear tliat if the New Zealand dairy farmers wero allowed the privilege of marketing their own produce fairly big prices would obtain. There had been a great falling off in the quality of margarine, and a bif increase in its price, and he did not think they had anything to fear from'competition from this source. The cheese question presented a different aspect. There was no prospect of such a serious shortago at Home of this product, and unfortunately there was, the competition from the consumption of cheap mutton. Until the stores at Homo and in New Zealand were cleared of this low-priced meat, it would have a lowering effect on the price of New Zealand cheese. For the6e reasons the prospects of cheese at the present, time were not quite as bright as they were with regard to butter. It was not proposed at the present time to place any restrictions on the sale of choese in Great Britain. Fixing the Price, Unfortunately the great shortage of butter had caused the Food Ministry to come to the conclusion that control of food must continue. Gabled advice was to the effect that the Pood Ministry intended to negotiate for thb purchase of our butter until' March 31. He was afraid that tho,sale, now being negotiated in London by representatives of the Australian Government would again fix the price for New ''ealand butter. The result would be available in a few days. He believed that the. Australians would not ibe prepared to sell their output except at a figure ensuring an adequate price in keeping with the retail price, the fixing of which still had to be maintained. In justification of tho demand for a high price to the farmer for his butter, the chairman pointed out that prices of land had gene vp enormously ; stock had gone up correspondingly. Of even greater importance was the fact that the Government was morally bound to see thnt the thousauds of returned soldiers placed on dairy farms came out all right in-'regard to their farming ventures. "The Tall of the Dog."

Mr. M'Ffirlano (Riverbank) asked that if the price of New Zealand butter was controlled by the. vrice fixed through tho representations of the Australians, had any stops been taken by the executive to have New Zealand represented in ine of prices? New Zealand appeared to be the tail of the dog, with no say in the matter whatever. The chairman said < thiey were not bound to accept the price fixed by the Aiisdraliamsi but circumstances were likely this year to force them to accept the price. , Mr Garry (Kaituna) piotested that they should not sit down under the conditions imposed on the sale cf their produco when the English Mid Irish produce was uncontrolled. , Mr. Sinclair said that it was up to the association to fight. ■. • Mr. Sinclair i asked if it was not a fact that the Canadians had received 280s. for their butter in Franco. Mr. Ellison (the associations London representative) said that this price was probably for only a small quantity, and it could not fx taken as an indication of the fixed price of •'the seasons output. He stressed the difficulty of deallug" with tho Imperial authorities "with reg&rd to securing a prico on a parity with that for Irish and Home produco. He thought that New Zealand was unfairly treated in the matter. He hoped in. the future the Imperial > Government would be induced to give the actual value of the butter less the cost of its distribution. The association .should insist on getting that price. "Bungling Politicians." Mr. Williams said the crux of tho position was the shipping. - If the Imperial Government controlled the snipping they would also control the pwce. In reply to Mr. Sinclair Mr. Ellison said that the politicians at this end ;uid those at the other end had in the past bungled our sale, particularly with regard to the Australians. The Australinn producers, although they had tho result in their own hands, had," becoming alarmed at the delay, cabled Mr. Hughes in London saying that they were prepared to take 180s. with a margin of to. Mr. Hughes had finally got the price fixed'at 1755. Mr. Ellison thought that political interference was a mistake. Tho association should get . all the assistance it could from the Government, but it should keep the aisr posal of its produce in its own hands. to Mr. Wright (Egmont) John Bull Vould always buy up the rebel, and that was why the Irish got n higher price for their butter. The chairman pointed out that the New Zealand Government did not influence them in regard to the price at which-they their butter. The Government was only an intermediary m the matter. They had Mr. Massey s assurance that he would represent their case to the Imperial Government and ' also back it up. •- After further discussion the chairman said he had no doubt that the dairy producers would be just as well heatedas regards finance as the other primary industries. The discussion, which arose out ef the motion adopting the annual report, was then- diopped.