A BUTTER RING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 139, 17 June 1911, Page 5

A BUTTER RING.

NO REDRESS TO THE CON-

SUMER

.1 [press association.] j WELLINGTON, June 17. . A deputation from the Trades and Labor Council waited on the Minister for Customs yesterday, to inako i-epresentations Concerning the hagfe. price of butter and the operation^; oj an alleged.: ring controlling the, market to force the prices higher. The deputation asked in effect that. the duty on Australian butter be j taken off. The Minister, in. replying, saiathat to liis mind tlio high price of butter was entirely the result of the diy season. Butter did not come under the Trusts Act. If it did there might be reasons for the removal of the duty, but as it" did not nothing could be done till Parliament met. H© did not think that the proposal to start State dairy farms was practicable. The Government would need to have 50,000•■_acres under dairying to supply enough butter to make much difference. He was sorry that he could not help in the matter by removing the duty.