THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLI, Issue 11696, 16 October 1916, Page 8

THE PRICE OF BUTTER.

MR NEWMAN’S SHEWS.

Mr E. Newman, M. P. for Rangitikei, who happened to be passing through Dannevirke recently, in the course of a conversation with a News representative, said be did not agree with the - action taken by the Government in fixing the price of butter. He was in thorough sympathy with any movement that would reduce the coat of living, but he did not agree with a particular class being unfairly made to pay for tbe benefit of the community. The Government scheme adversely affected the small dairy farmer, who deserves consideration. Mr Newman said he took particular objection to the memorandum of the Board of Trade which provides that every applicant for a license to export batter or cheese shall sign an agreement undertaking, “inter alia,” to pay in respect of the batter fat exported such charge per pound as may be fixed from time to time by Order - in - Council, and the moneys so paid are to be “available tor .'distribution to factories supplying the local market on the [basis of the quantities of butter supplied for local consumption.’’ This provision is intended to compensate the suppliers of butter to the local market for the loss sustained by selling at local instead of at export prices. Tnis loss on the season’s output is estimated at £186,000. Mr Newman said this put dairy farmer in a most unfair position. He considered that if the Government wanted to cope with the cost of living problem, and at the same time be fair to the, small farmer, it would be much better to commandeer the whole of the butter output. This had been clone in the case of the meat supply, and had given every satisfaction. Mr Newman said he felt the butter proposal was wrong in principle and inequitable and he had wired hia protest to the Government.