FAIR RETURN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 99, 29 April 1938, Page 9

FAIR RETURN.

LABOUR AND CAPITAL.

COMPENSATED PRICE PLAN

NATIONAL PARTY POLICY. (By Tolf S raph.—rress Association.) (HKTSIVHrRCH. Thursdiy '■Tltp < ompen-.ited price poli<-y sidopifil liy the Xaiiunal party mek'w tlii<- the acknowledgment «.f the principle that tho farmer i- entitled for 'ii« labour and capital to a similar reward to that enjoyed l.y the rest of eomnmnit v."' mm,l t lie National imiv lender, tin- H..11. A. Hamilton, wh-n di>eu>>injj at ii puliii.-al meet in■_ at Uhuka tt>-ni«ht tin- difference between the jniarant I prl-e policy of x'-c I.al.our <;,ivt •rmncnt. and the -.-•irp; i--atc<l price pulicv ( >f tin- National n.irty. "We say farming i~ virtually i'kfoundation of :ndiir-try. and that th» fanner is ontitlcd t<i a roward cotnnirnsurato with that cnjovwl l.y .:iur indtl.-'trii's." Mr. Hamilton >ai<i. P..it

Labour had realised it had to -eci'i•_• ),». support of some other section <.>i the comninnity than the industrial worker to pain an election win. and so it ha<; pono after the farmer L'ettui, , lrsupport largely with its prom is • o, fruarantewl prices. But the farmer lad lielieved. with many others, that tWe guaranteed price for dairy pi.vfciets meant something along the lines of *!:i----"guaranteed minimum price for fruit exported. However, the <Jovprni.ient*s policy had meant something different.

Mr. Hamilton said he wonM venture to say that the Government war- :ir.L

paying cmt so much to the farmers ;s it war; getting for their butter nnd cheese. Vet the farmer had to met heavy additional costs. The pi'ces rmw being received were above the guar-in tee<l juice, but the farmers themselves. had no guarantee that they were iroinir to receive anytiiinjr <>r the .ldditinna! revenue from their products al>o\c li,c guaranteed price. What of the Future? There was still a deficit of £380.000 r.r last year's operations waitinc in tin Reserve Bank for settlement, but v.-'iai would happen to that deticit? "t woi-15 ])iobably have to be liquidated ly tin National party Government -ifter '.'ic next election.

However, if there was a surplus during the current financial vo.ir ;l.e»\

was no law to compel it to be lnndeo to the farmer. It would be carriet 1 over to meet any future deticit, for 'hat was the policy of the Government.

This new plan was something >lorg the lines planned by the party, 'nil the farmers' organisations had wauted ibis compensated price plan that they !.nd fought for and thought out over --. in • years. Consequently it had been embodied in the policy of the party.