BUTTER-MAKERS' THREAT

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 42, 18 February 1918, Page 6

BUTTER-MAKERS' THREAT

An important principle was laid down by certain butter-makers at a conference held at Palmerston North on Friday. It was in effect as follqws:—lf differences of opinion arise among themselves or with the. Government, 'then suppliers of necessary foodstuffs can at a given day withhold such foodstuffs from the public. The meeting above referred to felt it had a grievance against the Prime Minister, and said so. In order to obtain redress, those present resolved to withdraw all supplies of butter from . this market as from 28th February. It was hardly to be expected that the Government could countenance such a principle being pursued. If it did, then there would be nothing to prevent suppliers of other necessaries of life, because, of some divergence of view with a second party, visiting its wrath on the whole- community. However, the Dominion Government, as agent for the Imperial Government, Las already bought and paid for £50,000,000 worth of New Zealand produce at scheduled prices which are substantially above pre-war prices. It left no choice to producers in this matter. It left no choice either for the men of this country, rich and poor, single and married, as to engaging in the deadly business of war. Of them already over 11,500 have- fallen and 29,000 bear the deep scars of battle. But with the butter-makers referred to it is not a matter of life and death, but one of fractions of a penny_per pound still more on their produce. Their attitude could not fail to meet with the Prime Minister's rebuke; and it is satisfactory to learn that Mr. Massey will see that the local market is not only furnished with the hutter it requires, but that at no increase upon the current rates.