BUTTER PRODUCERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12748, 18 September 1919, Page 4

BUTTER PRODUCERS.

CLAIM FOB OOMPgNSATIGN, [tsoa Oub Copbespondest,] ' YEL LL\ G T ON, S eptsmber 1 7 , I Further opportunity was taken by members from dairying districts to-day to urge on the Government a settlement of the butter producers’ claim for compensation owing to the operation of the equalisation fund last season penalising them for the benefit of the community, which thus got cheap butterMr Massey admitted that tbs butter producers had. not been fairly used compared with the wheat growers, hut now, he said, they were in a, better position than the wheat growers. Shy Witty; They can export butter, but tho wheat growers hare no wheat to export, Mr Massey continued that, butter producers would get export value for their butter sold in the local market as for last season. A number of petitions had been presented, which would, come before a, parliamentary committee. He did not propose to go any further until the committee reported/and as a sum of £150,000 to £170.000 wsb involved, it was a matter for the whole Cabinet. Tlio Government wanted, to treat butter producers fairly, and he would like to remind them that last season’s arrangement was made when he was in England. Mr McCombs differed from the Prime Minister s estimate of the. oost of recouping the butter producers. He estimated it, on the basis of the previous equalisation fund, at £200,000. Butter producers got 4-5 per cent advance on pre-war prices, while the " wool Tcrncr?. byy no means so hard worked, obtained 5-5 per cent advance- In view of what the Government had. done in connection with wheat and,flour, the most, eouitablo arrangement, concluded Mr McCombs, would be to provide for butter producers retrospective payments out of the Consolidated revenue.