BUTTER BOXES

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 8

BUTTER BOXES

DELAY IN PLACING ORDERS apprehension among SAWMILLERS (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, June 12. Delay by butter manufacturing companies in ordering supplies of butter boxes for the new season’s output is causing some apprehension among sawmillers and boxmakers, according to a statement made to-day by the Minister of Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash). “There are ample supplies of white pine,” the Minister said, “but time is required to cut and season timber. The sawmillers are not in a position to cut timber into the required sizes until they know the needs of the boxmaking companies and the boxmakers cannot order, except in limited quantities, until the dairy factory companies have placed their orders for boxes. The attention of dairy factories was drawn to this matter earlier in the month, and the necessity of placing orders immediately was stressed. Assurances were given to the Government by the New Zealand Sawmillers’ Federation and the New Zealand Boxmakers’ Association that if the factories would order without delay, adequate supplies of boxes could be guaranteed. However, reports obtained from boxmaking companies indicate that factory, orders are coming forward only slowly.” Question o r Price.

“In some cases the dairy factories have given as a reason for not ordering the fact that they are disinclined to do so until they know what the prices of boxes will be,” said Mr Nash. “The Government has arranged for the Department of Industries and Commerce to make an investigation into the cost of timber production and box manufacturing, and all prices will be subject to adjustment when the Department’s report is received. There need be no hesitancy on the part of dairy factories in placing their orders for boxes without further delay. In fact, if they do not do so promptly there will be a shortage. I know that directors of dairy factories will -realize their responsibility to ensure that an adequate supply of boxes is available, and I trust that they will accept this responsibility by placing orders at once for their full requirements.