§ Mr. BENNETTasked the Minister of Food whether he has information that a Co-operative Wholesale Society is endeavouring to secure the whole output of cheese and butter in New Zealand available for export in the coming season; and whether, in that case, he will take action against an arrangement that would withdraw the whole of the exportable provisions of an important dominion from the usual agencies of distribution in this country, to the detriment alike of the traders and consumers?
§ Sir W. MITCHELL-THOMSONI understand that some negotiations have taken place between the Co-operative Wholesale Society and the New Zealand producers, but I have no information as to their precise tenor. So far as butter is concerned, the Ministry of Food is prepared to negotiate for the exportable surplus up to the 31st March, 1921, on lines similar to those of previous contracts. In any case, the intention of the Ministry is to maintain the existing restrictions on private dealing in imported butter in this country, and the difficulty referred to in the question will, therefore, not arise. In the case of imported cheese the Government has decided that no further contracts shall be made by the Ministry. As, however, supplies of cheese are expected to be adequate to the demand. I do not anticipate that the consumer will suffer from any re-adjustment of trading arrangements that may take place.