PRICE OF BUTTER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1735, 5 September 1919, Page 11

PRICE OF BUTTER.

EXPORT VALUE TO FARMER. RETROSPECTIVE PAYMENTS. [From Our Own Parliamentary Beporter.l WELLINGTON, September 5. In the course of his reply to a butter producers' deputation which waited upon him this morning, the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey, referring to the probable price of butter for the new season, said he had not been idle in this matter. Already he had had the matter before Cabinet, and he had discussed it with the head of the department. He was not in a position just at the moment to supply details, and he did not know quite how to put it, except to say that he believed in the principle that the producers should get the full export value for their butter. A member of the deputation: That is all we want. Mr Massey: And I think I can promise vou that you will get it. That principle is entitled to be given effect to. I am speaking now for the coming season. A member of the deputation: We hope vou are going back as far as the present Imperial contract to August 1, 1918. That is our request. Mr Massey: I cannot make a promise with regard to that, but I think I can give you what amounts to a promise as from the beginning of the present season. A member of the deputation: Are you prepared to advance the price on the local market? ' Mr Massey: No; I am not, but that is no business of yours if you get the export rate for your butter. Subsequently the Prime Minister said that the question of making any retrospective payment to the producers was one for Cabinet.