BUTTER AND CHEESE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16037, 23 January 1918, Page 5

BUTTER AND CHEESE.

IMPERIAL REQUISITION. TERMS TO PRODUCERS. The negotiations conducted by the Prime Minister and his officers for the disposal of New Zealand butter to the Imperial Government have been brought to a conclusion. Last week the Butter Committee, which has been acting on behalf of the producers, met Mr. Massey in Wellington and arrived at ft settlement in regard to minor details. The estimated . output of the season is 18,000 to 20,000 tons of butter and 45,000 tons of cheese. Tire bulk of this produce in the ordinary course goes to the United Kingdom, but the whole of the exportable surplus has now been requisitioned by the Government on Imperial account. All .last season’s make of butter is now believed to be exported, and a very considerable quantity of new season’s butter has gone already. There was a difficulty as between the Imperial Government and butter exporters as to the liability for insurance of the produce from the factory to the ship. This has now been adjusted, although its deferment was not .permitted to delay shipment. The prices and terms .of the butter purchase are as follow:—Creamery butter, 157 s per cwt. first grade butter, f.o.b. ocean steamer, and Id per lb per grade reduction on above price for butter below first grade. Whey and dairy Butter, 133 s 8d per cwt for first grade, and Id per lb; reduction for second grade; milled butter, 124 s 4d per cwt. first grade, and Id. per lb. less for second grade. The insurance risk from factory door to on, board ocean steamer is to be borne by the seller, who will also pay the storage charges; but in the event of there being storage of over an average of three months then the Imperial Government will pay the excess at current rates.' Should there -bo any profit resulting from the sale of the butter hv the Imperial Government in the. United Kingdom, then a sum representing 50 per cent, of the not profit, as determined by the Imperial authorities, shall he made available to the New Zealand Government for distribution to producers. Advances equal to 90 per cent, of the value of the butter will be made 28 days after the produce is in store. , Factories will continue to make their usual' arrangements with the shipping companies as to space by. steamers available from time to time, and members of the dairy associations, will do this through their own. organisations, who will ship the produce and supply the reoessary shipping documents to the j proper authority. _• f Tile same conditions apply to cheese, I excepting that there is no participation i in the profits; the prices for cheese, ho- | ing lOd. per lb. for first grade and 9fd. ! for second for factorv-made-clieese, and i BRI for first and 8d for second-grade dairy cheese. The whole of this huge business ispassing |lirough the Imperial Supplies Department.