PAYMENTS FOR BUTTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17268, 18 September 1919, Page 6

PAYMENTS FOR BUTTER

THE EQUALISATION FUND. LAST SEASON'S LOSSES. COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL BEPOBTBB.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. The batter equalisation fund was mentioned again in the House of Representatives to-day, several members urging the claims of the butter producers. Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) said the butter producers understood that for the present season they were to receive the full export price for all butter supplied to the local market, but they had not been promised the export price for the season that had passed. The farmers felt strongly on this point, and considered they were entitled to a refund of the money they had lost under the equalisation scheme. The Prime Minister, Mr. Massey, said that if he had not had a great deal of sympathy for the butter producers they would not have secured the arrangement that was now being made. He bad seen the position, and had considered that the butter producers had not been fairly used. They were now going to be placed in exactly the same position as the wheatgrowers, or an even better position. The Cabinet had arranged that the producers should get fcfee full export price this season.

Last season's butter was a different matter. Petitions bearing upon the subject had been presented to the House, and would be considered by a committee which probably would take evidence. .He did not propose to go any further until he received the report of the committee. The proposal to make up last season's price to the full export price involved an expenditure of from £150,000 to £175,000, and the Cabinet would have to deal with jo large a question. " We want to deal with the butter producers fairly and equitably," added Mr. Massey. " I ask members to remember that the arrangement in operation last year was made by the representatives of the butter producers, or the people who called themselves their representatives. I had nothing to do with the matter at all."