Increase in Price of Butter Boxes

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 291, 9 December 1936, Page 5

Increase in Price of Butter Boxes

GOVERNMENT STEFS TO IMPROVE POSITION Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Last Night. A statement about tho substantial increase in tho prices of butter boxes for tho current dairying season and the supply and equalisation arrangements for 1937-1938 was made to-day by tho Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Leo Martin, as acting Minister of Marketing. He emphasised that even had the Government not implemented the policy of increasing wages and reducing working hours the prices would have increased to the present level as a result of the development of the scarcity of white pine timber in the North Island.

Regarding the supplies for the 1!) 38 seasons the Government had secureu, precedence for North Island box factories requirements over prior Australian commitments and thereby not only avoided the acute shortage if boxes for the present season but had already commenced negotiations for ensuring on adequate supply of South Island white pine to meet the North Island deficiencies during the 1937-38 dairying season.

It was also proposed to institute a stay order in respect of the type of butter boxes to be used for the 1937-38 season whereby dairy factories now using saranae and sub-standard boxes would continue to use the same type of container as during the 1936-37 season. In conclusion, the Minister added: “The Government believes its actions have been dictated by the necessities of the situation and are in the best interests of the producer. Although the present scheme is now limited to the 1936-38 period the Goverment has already initiated inquiries aimed at a long-term solution of all the relevant problems as a result of which it is anticipated that the regularity of future supplies and the quality of the boxes will be improved and the prices reduced.”