PRICE OF BUTTER

Evening Star, Issue 16781, 9 July 1918, Page 7

PRICE OF BUTTER

MINISTER'S CAUSTIC CRITICISM. "AX UXFRIEXDLY ACT." The Hon. W. D. S. MacDonakl, inter- , viewed on the dairying industry by the ' Wnnganui Chronicle,' severely criticised : i the purpose of a recent delegation of Xew ' j Zealand dairymen to Australia. The dele- [ gation met the Federal Butter Committee ', ! in Sydney, and that committee after dip- i ! cussion decided that they would take no ! I action with respect to the disposal of Aus- j I tralian butter to the Imperial Govern- ■ .' ment without consulting the Xew Zealand ; ! Butter Committee, consisting of the mem- i j hers of the National Dairy Association : j i further, the Federal Butter Committee I i agreed with the Xew Zealand delegates ; ! that if the Imperial (Government were | offered the . Australian butter the price j j would be a minimum of 1753 cer cwt f.o.b. I | Australian ports, instead of 151s per cwt. | : tho previous price, with which, it was ; . stated. Australian dairy farmers were satislied. Tho New Zealand delegates then re- I turned, and finally it was resolved that in- ! : stead of offering their butter to the Im- ! ' nerial Government at 175s per cwt. as : . : last season, they should ask 1965, with : ' alterations in their own favor as to insur- ! ar.ee and storage. : To this matter "Mr -MacDonakl referred '■ in an interview given to the 'Chronicle.' He considered, he said, that for a delegation to proceed to Australia and get Ai:>trnlians to raise their butter prices against the British Government under such con- ; ditious—when Britain was bleeding to i death for the liberty of 3# living under ! tho British iiag—it was a. most inequitable thing to do. "YELLING ABOUT TRUSTS."' I He noticed with very great regret tho ! report of a speech made by the piesidcnt j of tho National Dairy Association at Pal- ! merston North, who had stated tilat the j delegation had gone to Australia to urge I the dairy people of Australia to increase j the price of butter to the British Government. Britain had arranged for shipping'. I and had provided storage, and yet some j of our farmers went to Australia and told j them what to do. These were the people j who were veiling now about trusts. 'lbc j action of those lie had under review was now made worse by reason of the fact that Australia was up against many difficulties in respect to the cost of living. It certainly appeared an unfriendly act on the pa.'t of any person in this country to attempt to urge Australian dairy people to put up prices against the Imperial Government, particularly when wo realise how splendidly tho Imperial Government had treated New Zealand in purchasing the produce of this country. .Moreover, i\>" New Zealand Government had assisted in every possible way to see that the growers received :i fair price for their pordare, and he (the Minister) was strongly of opinion that the great majority of the producers were satisfied with what had boen done. l"iu!-'i' the circumstances, therefore, he diil not think that the delegation who v.cut to Australia in urge increased butter prices had the authority of the producers in New Zealand. ! "The yrv.- Koaland Government," eon- ' i tinned the .Minister, '"have had lares commercial transactions with Australia during trie past few years, and wero still engaied in commercial transactions of vital impoi'tnnce to both countries, and actions Sinii as mentioned are not calculated to assist us in our business relations with the Australian Government, but they create difficulties which we, should not be called , upon to face."