BUTTER PRICES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 17 November 1937, Page 8

BUTTER PRICES

LEGISLATION TO AUTHORISE j ADJUSTMENTS PRODUCERS TO RECEIVE MORE THAN EXPECTED 1 j (From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter] WELLINGTON, This Day. j Certain adjustments in the pay- i meats for butter and cheese exported between 31st July and 3rd September last, are provided for in the Finance Bill introduced in the House of Representatives last night. In explaining this particular provi-J sion, the Minister of Marketing (the Bon. W. Nash) said it provided that the purchase price for butter and cheese during the 1937-38 season should be paid for all butter and cheese not exported prior to 31st July, 1937. The ordinary procedure would be for the sum 1o be paid after the price ha dbeen fixed, but the Audit Department held that it was not possible for the Government to authorise retrospective payments, so 1 hat ail butter and cheese exported between 31st July and 3rd September last had been paid for at the old price of 12 9-16 d per lb for butler and 6 13-lGd per pound for cheese. It was necessary for Parliament to authorise payment of the difference between those prices and the prices now ruling. Another provision lived up to the promise made by the Government to allow a differential price on bulterfat produced for cheese manufacture of lid per pound over butterfat produced for butter manufacture. It had not been possible to ascertain the pay-opt for blitter until the accounts came in about a week ago, and it was now proposed to pay a farthing per pound for cheese graded prior to 30th March. That would enable something more than a halfpenny per pound to be paid for butterfat used for the manufacture of cheese, which would bring the differential price into line with the Government’s promise. Mr Nasli said there was also a provision under which butter graded late and which would not have been exported to 31st July, 1937, but which was exported prior to that date at the request of the Department, was paid for at the new price. The Bill validated the purchase of Picot Bros, business. Provision was made for the distribution to buyers of butter boxes last year of the £30,868 which had accumulated in deductions made from the price of butter for the purpose of equalising the price of butter boxes. A point made by the Minister in reply to questions was that producers of butter would receive more than expected as a result of the adjustments authorised in the Bill. The estimated payout per pound was 13.04 d but the average payment would be 13.58 d. The Leader of the Opposition (the lion. A. Hamilton) asked if the Bill dealt with the difficulty that arose with regard to dairy produce shipped after 31st July but manufactured prior to that date. Mr Nash replied in the affirmative. The Act was clear, he said, and the Government must pay the new price according to the Act. The old price had been fixed on the understanding that when the new price was determined the difference between the two would be paid. The Bill was read a first time and the House rose at 10.10 p.m.

STOCK DISEASES

SHORTAGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS [From Our Own Parliamentary Reporter] WELLINGTON, This Day. Tlie shortage of veterinary surgeons in New Zealand was the subject of a question raised by Mr J A. Roy (National, Clutha) in the House of Represetatives yesterday when the agriculture vote was being considered. Mr Roy said that stock diseases were on the increase in the Dominion. That was only to be expected, with the heavier carrying capacity of the land, but .he wanted to know if anything had been done to increase the number of' veterinary surgeons. He did not think there were enough in the Dominion. The Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin), in reply, said that the shortage of these surgeons was causing the Department much concern. The authorities realised that there were not the requisite number of veterinary surgeons in New Zealand. “The Department simply cannot get them, ’ he said, “though it has offered fair remuneration. There are a number of New Zealand veterinary students at the Sydney University, and at Home, and in a year or so they wili be qualified and their services will be available to the producers of this country. Every effort that the Department can make to increase the number is being made.”