MARKETING DAIRY PRODUCE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21726, 7 March 1936, Page 18

MARKETING DAIRY PRODUCE

PLAN FOR GUARANTEED PRICES minister refuses to DISCLOSE DETAILS

(press association telegram.)

AUCKLAND, March 0.

Tfee guaranteed prices pl&n of ‘the Government will involve taking over the ownership of all dairy produce exported from the beginning of next season, according to advice received from ture the Hdn. W. Lee Martin, by the directors of a local The company approached the Minister seeking information ,on'.the G merit's intentions and whether it proposed to place the plans before the of the company’s directors on marketing were also placed before the Minister. . The following reply has been received: “The Labour party's policy; of guaranteed prices was fully explained before the elections and was unmistakably approved by the, electors, including dairy farmers. No purpose can now be served by submitting it either to companies or tp individual suppliers for further endorsement. and much valuable time would be taken up, which might make it impossible to bring the programme into operation as intended on August i. As the ownership of. produce will pass to the Government before ' the produce leaves New Zealand, every car© will be taken by the Government to ensure that produce is marketed to the best advantage.” The Minister's reply makes it clear that the Government intends to proceed with its guaranteed prices plan as soon as the details are arranged. Probably the details will not b© made known until Parliament is in session. The taking over of all produce by the .Government raises the question of the group marketing scheme of the Dairy 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 Arms will be reduced.