THE BUTTER INDUSTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17092, 25 August 1917, Page 10

THE BUTTER INDUSTRY

ASSISTANCE TO PRODUCERS.

(Pee United Press Association.)

_ WELLINGTON, August 24. Tho Prime Minister met representatives of tho butter industry yesterday and to-day. Tho suggestion was .Tiado that the New Zealand Gov'irnimont should assist producers in tho difficulty _ which has arisen, and certain representations were made which Mr Massey promised to lay before the Cabinet at the first opportunity, but no definite arrangements havj, Bays tho Prime Minister, been made. NEXT SEASON'S OUTPUT. NEGOTIATIONS NOT COMPLETED. , DIFFICULT POSITION OF GOVERNMENT. (From Ottr Own Correspondent.) 4 . WELLINGTON, August 24. -A Question regarding the recent conference be-tween the Prime Minister and the bjftor producers about tho purchase by tho Government of next season's output was asked by Mr Poole in the House to-day. He asked Mr Massey whether the purchase had been mado at the price of Is 4d t>or pound. Mr Massey said this was not a fact. Tho negotiations were still .proceeding, but they £i rea such a stage that hp would be able to report to Cabinet. Finality had not been reached, and, as far as ho could see, ti:oro would bo no finality for a "week or two. Witty: Don't give them that price— the Is 4d.

Mr Massey: I cannot disclose the positlo _ n - would not be a fair thing to do so. »»alkor askfyj whether the Governmont wrmld rofor it to tho Cost of Living Committee, and he urg«J that this ought to be dono, bccaUse the prrco Iho Governmerit proposed to fix for t.ho soiling of butter retail was, in his opinion, too h-'gh. Mr Massey s;i,id he could not accept the suggestion. The Government could not chv-'-t itself of its responsibilities. and its chief responsibility was for the finances of the eoimtry.—Hear, yiear.") He had met the butter producers, and reached an understanding with them', and it would now b" dutv to refer the matter to Cabinet. The interests of tho consuming public had i n fo rgotten. and tb" Government had also to consider the interests of the producers of butter. Tho outlook for the butter industry was not brierht, and unless something was done the industry was goinpr to. suffer. It waa one of our pr : mripnl industries, and if it were ininred it wonld be a t'lirvrr for tho countrv. It was still possible that the Trrnx-nal Government would take over tho butter, and negotiations to that end had been proceeding.