FALL IN BUTTER

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3274, 4 March 1937, Page 4

FALL IN BUTTER

NOT DUE TO GUARANTEED PRICE MR R. COULTER EXPLAINS The opinion that recent price variations for butter and cheese on the London market are not in any way due to the Government’s marketing policy and system of guaranteed, prices, was expressed by Mr R. Coulter, M.P., ini Cambridge last evening. He said that during the past few weeks the suggestion had been made that the present low prices obtaining in Britain were due to interference with the market overseas. However, when the price was high, no criticism was forthcoming although the same system operated. . “There are certain people who are determined not to give the Labour Government any, credit for the guaranteed price, and to them I have a definite answer,” said the member. “Of course, it is open for any farmer not agreeing with the guaranteed price, to hand back to the in excess of th^;l|oMb>|f^rice.” Mr why the price of New Zealand, butter compares favourably with Danish on the He said that in the 1934^&#tt*son' iheliifference ■in price between New Zealand and Danish - during the month of October to February. In the 1935-36 season this premium was 267- and this season only 21/-. “It would appear that these cri tics are deliberately closing their eyes as these figures are known to them,” said Mr Coulter. He considered they were unjust to the industry and an insult to the intelligence of every dairy farmer. Today the Dominion’s dairy produce is being marketed on businesslike lines similar to what the Danes have always been doing. Mr Coulter considered that the Government should be given credit that the difference in premiums is now 21/-, instead of 41/- a cwt. “The Labour Government has done more for the industry in 12 months than had been done in the past 10 years,” he concluded.