DAIRY FARMERS’ COSTS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22371, 7 April 1938, Page 3

DAIRY FARMERS’ COSTS

BOARD’S QUESTIONNAIRE

EXPLAINED

DESIRE TO MAKE CASE FOR INCREASED PRICE

(PEESS ASSOCIATION TEXJSGBAJI.)

WELLINGTON, April 6,

In a statement replying to criticism of the questionnaire recently sent out to dairy companies, about next season’s guaranteed price, the Dairy Board says that each company has been asked to secure accurate information about the costs and returns of five representative suppliers, its suggestion being that the information be obtained by the secretary and chairman of directors of the individual companies calling personally on the farmers selected. The board’s action was taken after a unanimous request by the Dominion Dairy Conference, as without detailed information to present to the pricefixing body, the industry was handicapped in giving an adequate presentation of its case. Criticism of the board’s action so far has come entirely from part-time secretaries of dairy companies. .. “Admittedly the collection of these statistics calls for some effort on the part of each dairy factory, but unless everyone in the industry is prepared to co-operate in securing accurate information, it is useless to expect that great notice will be taken of the industry’s claim. There has been a greater rise in costs than is covered hf the increased price. “Unless companies are prepared to go to a little trouble to prepare a sound case for an increased price, the Government has every right to assume that the present price is satisfactory, and covers all increased costs. If, on the other hand, as the board believes, costs have risen to a greater extent than is covered by the price increase, the only way for farmers to secui’fe an increased price is oy presenting irrefutable arguments.