NEW ZEALAND BUTTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17460, 3 May 1920, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND BUTTER.

NEXT SEASON'S OUTPUT.

IMPERIAL PURCHASE SCHEME.

NEGOTIATIONS IN PROGRESS.

Negotiations for the purchase by the Imperial Government of the ' Dominion's butter output for next season are evidently Hearing completion. Discussing the matter last evening, Mr. W. Goodfjllow, general manager of the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, Limited, and a member of the Dominion Butter Committee, stated that Mr. T. C. Brash, assistant-secretary to the National Dairy Association at Wellington, was recently sent to London to conduct negotiations on behalf of the Dominion producers. Evidently terms and conditions were now being discussed in London, as, according to a cablegram published on Saturday, it; was stated that New Zealand and Australia would make an excellent bargain for their butter at the present retail price in England. It was estimated that this would represent about 2s 3d per lb, f.o.b. A previous communication received by the Butter Committee indicated that the Imperial Government intended not only to continue the fixation of prices but also to ration butter during the next twelve months. If such should prove to be the case, said Mr. Goodfellow, it would obviously be imperative that the whole of tho butter imported into Great Britain should bo purchased in the first instance by the Imperial Government He added that according to private ir formation received from his company's London agent it was probable the Imperial Government would offer the New Zealand producers the British controlled retail prices, less actual shipping and selling charges. If such an arrangement were come to it would be necessary to stipulate that no other country be paid a higher price. The Canadian dairy producers, he said, were demanding complete de-control of the British market, while Australians were asking for a free market or an equivalent to present retail prices, Jess commission. At a recent meeting of the Dominion Butter Committee the Prime Minister was asked to request the Imperial Government to reconsider its previous decision and allow New Zealand dairy factories to consign their produce as in the pas/. This request would also have to be considered by the Imperial Government. Mr. Goodfellow stated that he was expecting a cablegram in connection with the matter within the next day or two, and when this was received the Butter Committee would meet at Wellington to consider tie position.