FARMERS AND BUTTER

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10966, 30 July 1921, Page 2

FARMERS AND BUTTER

CONTROL NOT WANTED CONFERENCE SEEKS FREEDOM OF TRADE. A PRINCIPLE AFFIRMED. ( “Thai; the Government be asked to legislate to prevent speculation in. butter, when the butter control expires/ . The foregoing was the text of a remit moved by Air E. McPadclen (Buller) at the Farmers' Union conference yesterday, and he asked leave to insert the words ‘‘consumed in New Zealand/' after the words “in butter." Air W. D Lysmar (G-isborne) expressed the opinion that ithe remit would be spoiled by the suggested alteration and disagreed with t-he mover that there was sufficient power at the other end to stop speculation. ~ v The president {Mr G. IV. Leadley) asked if it vere thought the motion was going to help the butter business. To this Mr AlcPadden replied that it would benefit the consumer, and added that last September, when the prices of butter were being fixed, there was a temporary free market for a week or so, and . the prices varied dn the different centres. There should be a standard market after the control ceased, otherwise there was nothing to prevent prices soaring, and the dairy farmer would be blamed for high prices. Were no control established, there was nothing to, prevent anyone “cornering" the butter market, and i charging what prices they liked. Air C. K. Wilson (Piopio), in order to show that a trust did exist said that in Wellington there was a dealer who sold butter over the counter at 24 per lb lower than any other storekeeper in the district. As a consequence he sold tons of butter daily. Later, however, he was told that he must raise the price, and whetn he refused, his supplies were cut off. The chairman: Was he making a fair profit? Air Wilson : The man in question said he was making a fair wage from the.-'sale of butter, that was from <£lo to £lo per week.

Mr J. B. Jesecro (Hawke's Bay) said that the sooner the dairy industry got back to Its ordinary methods t>f trade and away from Government control the better it would be for producer and consumer. Mr A. W. Banks (Rangiora) and R. D. Duxford (Auckland) also expressed themselves against any further Government control. Mr W. D. Lysnar said that the confer enoe had expressed itself as being unanimously against the . operation of trusts and combines. At the present time the Armour and Vestey companies were operating in butter in New Zealand, and he had warned the conference regarding the position. Government control should be done away with and the companies he referred to should be put out of New Zealand. (Applause.) The chairman desired to know what was meant by ©peculation. Air Lysnar said that speculation was the life and existence of our trade. The chairman said that in the South Island the winter was ait times very severe and butter had to be procured i(n the North Island. # Would that be designated as speculation ? Air (T. K. Wilson replied that what was aimed at was freedom and trusts should not be allowed to get hold of one thousand tons of butter and determine how it should be sold and what price should be charged. Air EL Bowmax (Gore) eaid that it was really profiteering that dt was desired , to do away with. After discussion, and at the sucrgestion of the president. Air C. K. Wilson moved, as an amendment, the following remit from Auckland:—“That this conference affirms the principle of retail prices being governed by competition and the ordinary supply aind demand of the articles/' This was seconded by Mr Duxfield and carried unanimously.