DAIRY MARKETING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 100, 8 February 1936, Page 3

DAIRY MARKETING

THE BOARD’S RESPONSIBILITIES. STATE OWNERSHIP FORESEEN. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, Feb. 7. Some indication of the Government s intentions on the marketing of New Zealand butter, consequent on the putting into operation of a scheme for guaranteed prices, was given by the Prime Alinister (the Hon. Ai. J. Savage) to-day. “The Daily l Board is working with us, and will continue to work with us,’’ said Air Savage. “Existing channels, and existing institutions will be used as far as humanly possible, but we can’t afford to stick in the old rut. AVe must try to do better in Britain. There is nothing in our minds that is going to lessen in any way our responsibility to the Board. - It still had a job to do.” The Prime Minister said that the Alinister for Finance (the Hon. Walter Nash) had , a committee working on the details of the payment of guaranteed prices, which was going ultimately to land the Government with the ownership of the produce. “But the Board is still there, and its responsibility for marketing Has not got any less. It has become greater, if anything, ' he said. “The Government has always been interested in securing the best price for the country’s produce, but we have undertaken to pay an economic price to the dairy farmer. He will be paid in New Zealand, and it will be obvious to anyone that our responsibility has not become less. AVe still have to market the exportable part of the dairy produce which has been purchased, and to co-operate with the Board and its officers, here and in London. We have an added responsibility in getting the very best price obtainable. AVe are not relieving the Board of any of its responsibilities, except that it would be fair to the Board to say that the Government’s policy will be the policy that will be carried out. The idea of the Board in the past to get an economic price by orthodox methods for farmers goes in favour of a guaranteed price. “In the. marketing of the surplus produce, the farmer is paid immediately, but the job of selling and marketing remains. The Board has to do the job, and the Government has to help it.” Air Savage said that the actual price to be paid under the Government’s guaranteed price scheme had yet to be decided upon, but it was bound to be such as to keep the dairy farmer doing his job. That left the responsibility still with the Board for the marketing of the exports, and it increased the responsibility of the State, which, in its own interests would have to see that,, the best price was obtained on the overseas market. “It does not destroy the Board, or take away its responsibility for marketing with object of getting the very best results,” ho said.