BUTTER POSITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24709, 8 October 1943, Page 2

BUTTER POSITION

NO STATEMENT IYET "ALL IN GOOD TIME" (0.C.) OISBORXE, Thursday In spite of persistent rumours regarding butter rationing, no statement was available from the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Eraser, who returned to Gisborne this afternoon from the Victoria Cross hui at Ruatoria. "It will all come out in good time," was all the Prime Minister would say when questioned. FISH PRICES ANOMALY HIGH WELLINGTON RATES NELSON WITHOUT SUPPLIES (0.C.) NELSON, Thursday The difference between prices paid to fishermen for supplies of fresh fish in Wellington and prices permitted to be paid in Nelson has resulted in Nelson being without fresh fish since Wednesday of last week. In order to benefit from the considerably higher prices obtainable in Wellington, all members of the Fishermen's Union who normally supply to Nelson Fisheries, Limited, the only wholesale merchants in the city, luive decided to send all their fish to Wellington until some adequate adjustment is made by the Price Tribunal in the prices which can be paid in Nelson. The local company cannot offer higher prices than those .fixed by the Price Tribunal.

The difference between the Wellington and Nelson prices is so great that it would be bad business for the fishermen to continue to supply to Nelson. For instance, the Nelson price for flounders is 8d per lb., while fishermen can secure at least lid per lb. in Wellington. The local price for schnapper is 3Jd per lb. and the Wellington price 'ld per lb. Prices for other lish are correspondingly higher in Wellington. The fishermen advised the company early last week that they intended to cease supplying the local market and the matter was taken up both by the Fishermen's Union and the company with the authorities in Wellington in an effort to reach a settlement. There are three authorities involved in the issue—the Bureau of Industry (which controls licences), the Price Tribunal and the Food Controller. The present position has resulted in some local fish retail shops being closed and in Nelson Fisheries heing unable to fulfil supplies to hospitals, the Nelson air station, military camps, restaurants and other institutions.

HOUSING PROBLEM HAMILTON PROPOSAL (0.C.) HAMILTON, Thursday A proposal that the Hamilton Borouyii Council should build HO or 10 temporary dwellings to relieve the acute house shortage in the town was submitted to the council last night by the deputy-Mayor, Mr. F. Findlay. The projxiser pointed out that the council had many vacant sections on which cottages could be built. The dwellings could be sold for removal ns bench cottages when the housing position was relieved by the Government's programme.

The Mayor, Mr. IT. D. Caro, and other members agreed that somo such scheme was urgently needed. The money could be raised without a poll. The engineer, Mr. A. W. Bettany, was asked to submit a report on the project. VEGETABLE GROWING WEATHER DELAYS PLANTING (0.C.) HAMILTON, Thursday The Government vegetable-growing schemes in the Waikato have been retarded by the wet and cold weather that has prevailed intermittently during the last few weeks, and little planting out has been done. On the Koroinatua block of 000 acres the cultivation is well advanced and the work of erecting accommodation for 40 women and 20 men is proceeding satisfactorily. The position is much the same on the Hamilton block of 300 acres, known as Hall's farm, while at Ruakura, where 90 acres yre being prepared for vegetable-growing, a start was made yesterday with planting out. BAND TRANSFERRED Full control of the band formerly known as the Newmarket Citizens' Hand has now passed to the Newmarket U.S.A. Social Club, the transfer being approved at a meeting of Newmarket residents last night. The change is purely a formal one, as for the past four years the baud has been fostered and financed by the club which, it is believed, has become the first in New Zealand to possess its own band. There are 32 players and eight bandsmen are overseas.