BUTTER PROFITS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 July 1918, Page 2

BUTTER PROFITS.

EQUALISATION FUND NEXT SEASON. (Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Thi s Day. A conference of dairy producers with the Hon; 11. D. Guthrie, Minister in charge of Imperial Pur chases and Supplies, is to take place hero next week for the purpose ot considering the terms of the next seasohjs purchase. It is quite evident, frem the experience of last season, thatSthe suppliers will not proceed without some equitable scheme for ensuring \fair treatment of the factories which send their output into the local market. The division of English profits between the Imperial purchase \ authority and the New Zealand exporters on a 50 per cent, basisi is likely to bring an extra, twopence per pound to tho pockets of the exporters, butthoso who supplied about 10,000 tons of butter for New Zealand consumption thisi winter are that much to the bad, compared with the shippers, who get 1575. per', cwt., plus tho profit. The exact* amount of this profit is still in doubt. It is understood the dairy propucers are agreed upon the operation bf an equalisation scheme for next season, and if they bring it forward the Government will accept it.; One condition to be put forward b'y the producers is that dried milk should be included in the scheme efn a parity with butter. The Government is not prepared to suggest any method, of meeting the grievance of the local suppliers in respect, to this season's lost profits, but something may ba mutually agreed upon by the producers. ■ ~'" /