BUTTER PROFITS

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13817, 23 July 1918, Page 5

BUTTER PROFITS

EOUAU3ATION FUND NEXT SEASON. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON Monday. A conference of dairy producers with the Hon. l>. H. Guthrie, Minister in Charge of Imperial Purchase and Suppiits, is to take place here next week. for ihe purpose of considering the terms oi the next season's purchase. It is quite evident, from the experience of last season, that the suppliers will not proceed without some equitable scheme for ensuring fair treatment of the factories which send their output into the local market. The division of English profits between the Imperial purchase authority and the New Zealand exporters on a 50 per cent, basis is likely to bring an extra twopence per pound to the pockets of the exporters, but those who supplied about 10,000 tons of butter for New Zealand consumption this winter are that much to the bad, compared with the shippers who got 157s per cwt, plus the profit. The exact amount of this profit is still in doubt. It is understood that the dairy producers are agreed upon the operation of an equalisation scheme for next season, and if they bring it forward the Government will accept it. One condition to be put forward by the producers is that dri?d milk should be included in the rcheme on a parity with butter. The Government is not prepared to suggest any iiie:hod of meeting the grievance of the local suppliers in respect to this season's lost profits, but something may l>e mutually agreed upon by the producers.