AWAITED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 58, 9 March 1936, Page 9

AWAITED.

GOVERNMENT ACTION.

GUARANTEED PRICE PLANS

DAIRY INDUSTRY CONCERNED

The question of guaranteed prices is referred to in the current issue of the

"Xew Zealand Dairy Exporter," which states that the question was raised at a meeting of the Dairy Board on February 5 in consequence of a letter from the Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy Company, which considered that the most important aspect of the guaranteed proposals appeared to be whether the agreed upon figure was to be the maximum or minimum one, that was, whether the price guaranteed was to be in the nature of a compulsory loan, the amount needed to build up the price in the lean years to be recovered in the better ones or not. If the latter idea was to be pursued, it would seem that the industry should discuss it very fully, for it was possible to visualise the Government using large sums of dairy farmer money in excess of the guaranteed price for many other purposes. The industry would await anxiously the details of the proposals, and it was suggested that when they were available the ward delegates should be called into conference to discuss the matter.

The Dairy Board members said that it was impossible to say anything on the question meantime, as the Government had not so far put forward any proposals. The Government had intimated that guaranteed prices for dairy produce would be introduced at the beginning of next season, and it wished the board to act as the marketing agent. It had indicated also that when the guaranteed price proposals were being considered the Dairy Board would be consulted before they were actually adopted. Beyond that it was impossible to go at present, except to indicate that the Government had said that after the proposals had been completed they would be put to the industry. No method had been "suggested, but possibly the ward conference might be used, or the Dominion conference called to discuss the proposals. While the Government had not said so, it might be assumed that if the industry rejected proposals by a very large majority, the Government would seriously consider the advisability of going ahead. On the other hand, if there was only a small minority in opposition, the Government could be expccted to go ahead themselves, having already made clear their wish to see the schemes desired by the majority put into effect.