PRAISE FROM FARMERS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22519, 29 September 1938, Page 3

PRAISE FROM FARMERS

GUARANTEED PRICE SCHEME COMMENT BY GERALDINE SUPPLIERS [THE PRESS Special Service.] GERALDINE, September 28. Praise for the guaranteed price scheme for dairy produce was expressed by Mr B. Lafrentz, chairman of directors of the Geraldine Co-ope-rative Dairy Company, at the annual meeting last night. Mr Lafrentz said that next year there would be another rise in the guaranteed price. This would mean, he said, a pretty fair year and farmers; would appreciate the rise. Mr W. T. Turner, a director, said that the guaranteed price was a very good thing for the dairy farmer—it was one of the best things that had been invented. Mr A. J. Easterbrook, the deputychairman, said that there was some disappointment because the price recommended by the commission had not been adopted. He supposed, however, that it was possible to make the guaranteed price too high. • The chairman, in thanking the retiring directors, said that since the operation of the guaranteed price there was not the same harassing work for the directors to do. Under the present scheme they knew pretty well the basis where they stood, but under the old system they were often between the devil and the deep sea when it came to making a decision whether to sell or to hold. , . Mr Easterbrook said that the chairman’s remarks were correct. He recalled that a firm had once overpaid them apd they had had to refund 2d per lb of butter-fat the next year. In those days they did not kno w_w here they were. Some people. Mr Easterbrook continued, said that the farmer had lost the marketing of his own produce. but they never had the marketing of it. They might as well have the Goyernment as an agent as buyer of their produce.