THE EXPORT OF BUTTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16373, 30 October 1916, Page 4

THE EXPORT OF BUTTER.

THE TEST CASE CONCLUDED, JUDGMENT RESERVED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS VSSOCIATOJC.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. FcirrnEit argument was heard to-day by the Full Court in connection with tl.o summons under the Declaratory Judgments Act to test the validity of the Order-in-Council in connection with the prohibition of the export of butter and cheese. In the course of further argument, the Solicitor-General (Mr. 'Salmond) said there was no ulterior motive in the Order-in-Council. It was purely and simply an attempt to regulate the export of butter-fat, so as to maintain an adequate stock in the country. The Chief Justice: The whole object is to retain a certain quantity in the country, which would otherwise leave? The Solicitor-General : Yes, sir. The Chief Justice: Then, why do you not do'that? It is not what you are doing. The Order-in-Council is doing something else. It seems to me that there are half-a-dozen ways in which it could he done, hut I am not comnetent to give advice to the Board of Trade. The Solicitor-General said several proposed schemes had been very carefully considered by the Board of Trade, and the present method had been chosen as the most preferable. The Order-in-Council could not be used to impose taxation, as suggested by Mr. Myers, but merely in a. genuine effort to restrict the exports. Judgment -was reserved. PROTEST AGAINST PRICE L;MIT. REPLY BY THE HON. JAMES ALLEN. [Br TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WANGANUI, Saturday. The member for Patea, Mr. G. V. Pearce, has received the following t«'.cgram from the Acting-Prime Minister with reference to the protest made against fixing the price of butter:—"l am sorry that you should see reason to protest against the attempt of the Government to prevent increased cost of living by what seems a reasonable proposal. It can hardly be Said, in this war time, that the dairy producer is penalised. Certainly he has been receiving very high prices for his produce, and has been able 10 get that because, at the cost of the Empire, the seas have been kept open to him." ENGINE-DRIVERS' RESOLUTION. FURTHER REDUCTION URGED. At last week's meeting of the Auckland Certificated Engine-drivers' Union the following resolution was passed:—"That this union congratulates the Government on its action in fixing the price of butter, and urges a further reduction, in view cf the fact that the price has been fixed in Australia at Is Id per ponnd. Australia is not a butter-producing country, and there is no reason for tho high price ruling in New Zealand. The increase in cost to the consumer is out of all proportion to the increase in cost of production, and the ruling rate of wages for dairying employees is lower than that for any other class of labour in the Dominion.