GUARANTEED PRICES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 124, 7 March 1936, Page 3

GUARANTEED PRICES.

THE DAIRY INDUSTRY. MINISTER WITHHOLDS details. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 6. The guaranteed prices plan 0 J Government will mvolve talung over the ownership of all dan y 1 duce exported from the begimim next season, according to icul . ceived from the Minister foi Agncu ture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) hy the directors of a local ‘'Minister The company approached the Miniate seeking information on 10 ment’s intentions and whethu proposed to place the plans beloie tnindustry. , The views of the company s tors on marketing were also placed before the Minister. The following reply has been ceived: “The Labour party s policy of guaranteed prices wa9 in ly plained before the elections and was unmistakably approved y the elec tors, including, dairy farmers. No pmpose can now be served by ft either to companies or to individual suppliers for further enclorsement much valuable time would be taken up, which might make it impossible to bring the programme mto operatim as intended on August 1. As the own ership of produce will pass to the Lev eminent before the produce leaves i\aw Zealand, every care will be taken tj the Government to ensure that produce is marketed to the best advantage. The Minister’s reply makes it elec, 'that the Government intends to proceed with its guaranteed prices plan as soon as the details are arranged. Probably the details will not be made known until Parliament is in session. The taking over of all produce by tlie Government raises the question of ie group marketing scheme of the Daiiy Board. The grouping of factories probably will not be necessary, and the Minister’s statement leaves open the question whether the existing distributing agencies will be retained or whether the number of importing firms will be reduced.