CROSS-EXAMINED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 210, 6 September 1939, Page 5

CROSS-EXAMINED.

GUARANTEED PRICE.

MR. NASH BOMBARDED. CONSOLIDATED FUND BURDEN. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister of Marketing. Mr. Nash, wjis subjected to considerable crossexamination when the opportunity arrived of discussing aspects of the guaranteed price on the Primary Products Marketing Department's Estimates. He was asked by the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Hamilton, whether in calculating the guaranteed price the Government would take into account the deficit in the dairy industry fund.

"Neither debit nor credit has ever been taken into account in fixing the price," replied Mr. Nash.

When lie was reminded of payment of the first year's debit from the Consolidated Fund and asked again by Mr. Hamilton whether the existing debit would be a charge on the farmer, Mr. Nash, replied that the Government bought dairy products and realisations went into the account. Neither debits nor surpluses were taken into account in fixing a price which, would give the farmer a legitimate return for his labour with due regard for his costs.

Several Opposition speakers put their points in various ways, but got no further in their cross-examination, and Mr. W. S. doorman (National, Waikato) declared that -there had been no answer.