NEW ZEALAND BUTTER

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 12 May 1927, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER

EXPORT TO AUSTRALIA.

INCREASED DUTY ASKED FOR,

DAIRYMEN’S APPLICATION,

BY CABLE—PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPYBIGHT. Received 11.10 a.m. to-day. SYDNEY, May 19. The Tariff Board is hearing the application by the Primary Products Uni-on of New South Wales for an in'crease of dut3 r on imported New Zealand butter from twopence to sixpence per pound, and the request that the duty on cheese be increased to sixpence per pound. Patrick Grant, president of the applicant, organisation, explained that the object of the application was to improve the financial position of the dairymen by providing a means whereby he might obtain a higher price for that portion of his produce which was sold withjn the Commonwealth. It was also desired to make the importation of butter into the Commonwealth profitable, except at times when was impracticable to supply the Commonwealth’s requirements from within. The wages of persons engaged in the dairying industry were considerably below those engaged in other primary and rural industries. The owner of butter which was displaced by importations, had the ■option of reducing the price or exporting the portion he could not. sell, so the process of reduction went on till it was no longer profitable to. bring butter into the Commonwealth. Both New Zealand and London prices lvad been brought down to about London parity and unless some substantial assistance was given, he declared that a great many of the dairymen would be forced out of the business.

The quantity of New Zealand butter imported into Australia in 1920 was 21,426 boxes, and from January 1 to April 30 this year 45,431 boxes were imported. The hearing was adjourned.