BUTTER BOX PARADOX

Evening Star, Issue 22525, 18 December 1936, Page 2

BUTTER BOX PARADOX

AUSTRALIAN PRODUCT CHEAPER BUT MADE FROM N.Z. TIMBER! [Pee United .tama Association.? PALMERSTON N., December 17. At a meeting of butter manufacturing companies representing 12,000 dairy farmers in the Wellington and Hawke’s Bay districts there was considerable adverse comment on the action of the Government and the boxmakers, resulting in increased costs of dairy produce containers. It was reported that Manawatu factories were able to purchase from Australia white pine butter boxes made from New Zealand timber at a much lower price than that arranged for the same class of box by the Government Committee and the Boxmakers’ Association. The directors present had in their possession definite quotations confirming this paradoxical position. It was resolved to protest against the system of pooling butter boxes to be administered bv the Dairy Board, and request the right to purchase as in the past; further, that as boxes made of New Zealand timber could be purchased in Australia at prices substantially lower than those being charged by New Zealand companies, it was considered that the present position amounted to exploitation of the dairying industry, and it was decided to ask that all regulations against the importation of boxes and crates be removed. If that were not done then the difference in the cost compared with last year’s prices should be added to the guaranteed price of butter. It was also resolved to ask that the matter of the prices of boxes and crates be reopened and investigated by a commits on which the industry would be represented by five members selected by the National Dairy Federation.