THE PRICE OF CHEESE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16483, 8 March 1917, Page 8

THE PRICE OF CHEESE.

NOT ZEALAND. QUOTATION. QUESTION IN COMMONS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received 1 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. In the House of Commons Mr. Will Thome asked whether the Government was paying 9id per lb for New Zealand cheese, although the Dairy Association in August offered its entire output at Bfd, and the Government refused the offer. He also asked whether the Government was aware that the difference represents a loss of £350,000. as, in consequence, Canadian has'risen to 166s and English to 160s, while the New Zealand price is 102s. Mr. Thome also asked whether the Government intended to take action because Canadian and English manufacturers were getting £50 a ton more. Mr. G. H. Roberts, Under-Secre-tary to the Board of Trade, replied that the facts were generally as stated. The prico asked in August was so much in excess of that of 1915 that the War Office did not feel justified in accepting it without further negotiations. The purchase of colonial cheese for the army and civilians was now in the hands of the Board of Trade, which was dealing with the matter in collaboration with the colonial Governments. The board toped its action would substantially reduce the prices, which were mainly due to the small quantities on the market.