BUTTER PRICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1920, Page 5

BUTTER PRICE.

INCREASE NEXT FRIDAY. FOE NEW SEASON'S MAKE. PRICE NOT FIXED YET. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The butter question is continuing to excite a considerable amount of interest, and an ominous indication of possibilities was given at the Parliamentary committee meeting this morning, when* the New Zealand Alliance of Labor refused to give evidence, stating that the executive did not consider the time ripe for the alliance to take action. Some facts regarding the present position may be of interest. In order to avoid any shortage of local supplies of butter, such as occurred last year, the Government took steps to retain in the country an amply sufficient quantity to fill local requirements until the new season's butter became available. Owing to Me open and mild autumn a greater quantity was manufactured prior to tlie end of July than had been anticipated. . Consequently the stocks have held out until the present time. Very little of last season's butter is now left in store, and the iiew season's make will have to be drawn upon as from about the beginning of October. The price at which thin is to be placed- upon the market has not yet been arranged, but tills will be fixed in a few days. In any case, owing to the greatly increased export value and the increased cost of production, the selling price will be necessarily higher than that fixed for butter of last season's make. In issuing supplies ■ from stores to wholesalers, and through them to retailers, every effort is being made by the department to prevent' any one trading firm or individual securing larger stocks than would be required for selling purposes up to the end of the present month, but naturally it is impossible to do this in so exact a manner as to ensure t'*}t the supplies of all last season's butter from Government stocks will he entirely used up by October. In addition, a considerable quantity of butter was held in private ownership by traders who had made a regular business of supplying, local requirements, and_sonie of this still remains. It is necessary to make it clear that when a rise in prim takes place about tile beginning of October, this rise will only apply to butter made since August 1, and that all biittcr manufactured prior to that date 1 must still be sold within the maximum prices fixed by the Gazette notice of .jfilne 17, namely, Is 5%d ex freezing store, ex factory, or f.o.b. coastal ports, and Is M retail. The department is taking a census of all stocks held by individuals, and all possible steps will be taken to ensure' that none of this last season's butter shall be sold to the public at prices higher thaji those above named. Infringement of the terms of the Gazette notice will be severely* dealt with.

DISPOSAL OF NEW OUTPUT. IMPERIAL' GOVERNMENT'S OFFER. RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT: A meeting of the .Dominion Butter Committee was held at Wellington on Thursday for the purpose of considering the offer made by the Imperial Government to purchase tlio exportable surplus of the Dominion's butter output up to March, 1921. Acceptance of this offer had been held up owing to the decision of trie Auckland producers, who have all along pressed fftiv. a free market, absolutely declining to agree to any sale to the Imperial Government unless guaranteed a free market affer March 31, 1921. Although finality in connection with the sale was not, reached, it is understood that a resolution was carried to the effect that the Dominion Butter Committee is prepared to recommend producers to accept the Imperial Government's offer to purchase, it being understood that in the event of unforeseen circumstances arising and preventing the in-anting of a free market after March 31, the Imperial Government will give the New Zealand producers equal treatment with Irish and English producers of dairy produce.

THE WORKERS' VIEW. NO SHARE IN THE SPOIL, EVIDENCE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE. 'fly Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Sept. 24. The Parliamentary Butter Prices Committee met Again to*day, A letter was received from the New Zealand Alliance of Labor regarding an invitation to give evidence, stating that the alliance did not consider the time ripe for the Alliance to take action. Mr. Campbell, secretary of tlio Wellington Trades and Labor Council, said that the question had not been considered by the Council. While not denying the farmer tlio full value of his produce at a time of high prices, their complaint was that the working man had not had his share in the spoil. If it was admitted that the farmer should have the same price in New Zealand as in the overseas mnrket, there must be some consideration for the man who had to pay those prices A discontented man was a nuisance, and a whole community of discontented men would be a ;;rave menace. From his own knowledge he knew that a majority of working men were living from hand to mouth. The average laborer did not receive more than £3 a week. An increase in the price, of butter by la per pound was a serious matter" to the average working man. lie considered, that, it the price of butter was raised, tnere should be a commensurate riso in the wages of workers. He had been asked by members of the Council to suggest that there should he a tux on export, and that an adequate supply of butter should be kept in the country for the needs of the community Henry Morriall (Canterbury Trades and Labor Counciij stated that hia Council was iftianimously of the opinion that the price of butter-/at must not be allowed to rise, for, although the Arbitration Court might raise wages swat the inoreai®, tbtrt wgr§ a stttX