COST OF LIVING.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13660, 31 August 1916, Page 4

COST OF LIVING.

THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

PROTEST BY MR, H. G. ELL.

CHRISTCHURCII, August 28. Speaking to a reporter on Saturday morning, Mr H. G. Ell, M.P., experssed hiineslf strongly with regard to the action of the dairy farmers in raising the price of butter, describing it as utterly selfish and unpatriotic, following as it did'immediately on the passing of the Military Service Act, which requires the manhood of the country to give up the priceless possession of human life for the country. In view of the sacrifice that thousands of our men are making, the action of the dairy farmers,,Mr Ell declared, was a disgrace to the community, and it was the plain duty of the Government to commandeer, the whole of the cheeso and butter output of the country, fixing a fair price for the producer. This produce should be supplied, .to'retailers on the strict condition that .not more than a price decided, on by the. Govcrpient should be charged, the Government stipulating that any violation of this condition would entirely bar a retailer from receiving any further supplies. Parliament had given the Government complete authority to deal,with nmtteis of this sort, and Mr Ell declared emphatically that it should not hesitate to exercise it. Mr Ell states that tho Board of Trade recognises the butter problem as one of the most difficult with which it has to deal, At present the dajry companies arc asking, or rather demanding 8-Id for cheese, and if this price"is"conceded'it would involve'an increase in the price of milk and butter,,as.ol' course,'the price of these two' commodities must to a very large extent be regulated by that' of cheese. If the price fixed for butter is not equivalent to Bfd for cheese, it would inevitably follow that the factories would devote their attention to the manufacture, of. cheese, and by this means would defeat an endeavour to fix the price of butter and milk. Continuing, M,r Ell sajd that, the action of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company was most commendable compared with the selfish action of the dairy fanners. Tn; London on June :i the wholesale price of sugar was quoted at 5.7 d per lb, whereas the retail price of sugar over the counter in Christchurch to-day'is 2}d. The Government experienced little difficulty in inducing the Colonial Sugar Refining Company to_ agree to a. proposition fixing the price of sugar for a considerable period. He was at a loss to understand why. similar action had not been takeu in the case of butter and cheese. Acting on the suggestion of Mr Isitt, the local members of Parliament, with the Mayor, will meet the Board of 'Trade on September 9 to discuss the cost 'of living.