PRICE OF BUTTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 October 1920, Page 4

PRICE OF BUTTER.

GROCERS EXCEED THE RATE. PREMIER SAYS NOT LAWFUL. (By Wire.—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. A statement that some grocers were charging 2s 4d for butter over the counter was made in the House of Replesentativcs to-day by Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon), who asked if the Governwent would consider increasing the subsidy in order that grocers might get a larger profit on the butter they handled. The Prime Minister replied that the Government would not consider any increase of the subsidy. The Government had gone as far as it was possible in undertaking to pay a (subsidy at the rate of £OOO,OOO a year in order that the retail price might be kept down. If grocers charged more than the proclaimed price of 2s 3d per lb. for cash they would be doing something unlawful, which would not be permitted. _ The price of butter, he said, was m« creased by slightly more than 3d per lb. between the factory door and the grocer's counter, and if this amount had been sufficient afr-the old price it ought to bo sufficient now, since the amount of handling required had not increased. Grocers had better see how the arrange. ment worked. If they found that it was not fair to them they could approach the Minister for Agriculture later, and suggest a change.