BUTTER PRODUCERS' GRIEVANCES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17631, 22 May 1919, Page 5

BUTTER PRODUCERS' GRIEVANCES.

THE EQUALISATION SCHEME.

DEPUTATION TO MR GUTHRIE.

(Pea United Pees* Assooiatioh.) WELLINGTON, May 21 The deputation of butter producers who waited on Ministers last evening put before the Hon. Mr Gutlirie (in charge of the Imperial Supplies Department) to-night thengrievances respecting the equalisation scheme. The Minister, replying, said the Government thought it was "doing a wise tnmg in making u contract with the Imperial Government and stabilising prices for our principal products for two years There was at that tinie a lack of shipping, and if the produce had not been sold it might have happened that the Imperial Government would have sent) to nearer countries for supplies. The contraot was made with the full consent of representatives of the butter producers of the country. "When the contract had been mado the question of supplying the local market arose. Seeing that the price for local consumption was not so high as that for export, he had been pleased to find that the producers were willing to adopt the expedient of an equalisation fund. He could express no opinion as to what the Government -would do about the request that sellers to the local market should' be compensated from the Consolidated Fund. It was a matter that would have to be decided by -the Cabinet. In_ Cabinet he would express hie own opinion He expressed the opinion that if any levy had to be made on any section of the dairy industry it should have been spread over all sections. <