BUTTER TOO HIGH

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4192, 2 June 1939, Page 8

BUTTER TOO HIGH

NATIONAL CANDIDATE’S VIEWS. NEW ZEALAND PRICE EXCESSIVE. New matter was introduced into the campaign speech of Mr «M. E. Lyons, National Party candidate for .Christchurch South seat, as a result of thirteen points which his opponent, the Labour candidate, Mr McFarlane, challenged him to comment on. “My friend has challenged me with thirteen questions,” said Mr Lyons. “Mr McFarlane knows I have some interest in the prices of primary produce, and would like to see them higher.” His idea was that the rise in the cost of living was largely due to the rise in the prices of goods produced in New Zealand. “I want to name butter for a start,” he said, “for if ever a Government was putting up a ramp over the consumers of any country, the New Zealand Government is putting it over the consumers in respect of butter.” (Applause.) Mr Lyons said that to-day New Zealand butter could be bought retail in London cheaner than it could be bought in New Zealand. Butter was 2d to 4d per lb dearer this season than it should be. Mr MacFarlane had made the challenge, Mr Lyons continued, to try to embarrass him (Mr Lyons) with his farmer friends, but he was not afraid to meet the challenge. “Butter is too high in price,” he reiterated. “The .price in this country is being kept up solely by the Government to bolster up the butter account,”