BUTTER-BOX PRICES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 December 1936, Page 10

BUTTER-BOX PRICES

INDUSTRY’S ADVERSE COMMENT PARADOX IN COSTS (United Press Association) PALMERSTON N„ 18th December. Adverse comment on the action of the Government and the boxmakers resulting in increased for dairy produce containers was expressed at a meeting yesterday of butter manufacturing companies representing 12,000 dairy farmers in the Wellington and Hawkes Bay districts. It was reported that Manawatu factories were able to purchase from Australia ekport 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 Boxmakprs’ Association. 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 by the Dairy Board and to request the right to purchase as in the past; further, that as boxes made from New Zealand timber could be purchased in Australia at prices substantially lower than those now being charged, New Zealand companies considered the present position exploitation of the dairying industry and asked that all regulations against the importation of boxes and crates be removed. It that was not done, it was asked that the difference in cost as compared with last year’s price be added to the guaranteed price of butter.

The meeting also resolved to ask that the matter of the prices of boxes and crates be reopened and investigated by the committee, on which the industry is represented by five members selected by the National Dairy Federation.