Misinterpreted On Butter Price, Says Minister

Press, Volume C, Issue 29556, 4 July 1961, Page 16

Misinterpreted On Butter Price, Says Minister

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 3. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Hayman) said tonight that the chairman of the Dairy Products Marketing Commission (M-. R. A. Candy) bad “apparently misinterpreted” his remarks to last week's Dominion Dairy Conference on the price of butter sold on the local market. Mr Candy was reported to have said that Mr Hayman's •refusal” to consider the question of a “fair” price for local market butter at present was “below the belt.” Mr Hayman, in a statement today, said the question was still under consideration. “The position is that by mutual agreement between Government, the Dairy Board and the Dairy Products Marketing Commission, a decision on the local market issue has been postponed and further discussions between Government and the industry representatives are to be held." Mr Hayman said. “The New Zealand Dairy Board made representations on this subject to my predecessor and to me, but it was obvious that it would not be possible to reach agreement in time to allow the proposed Dairy Board Bill to proceed. “This is the bill which will shortly be placed before the House and provides for the amalgamation of the board and the commission, along with other amendments requested by the industry. “It is necessary to have a bocal market clause of some kind in the Bill to allow it to proceed and I suggested to an industry deputation a few weeks ago that the present clause be carded for-

ward into the new Bill without prejudice to the negotiations on the local market question. “These discussions will continue and if agreement is reached on a new formula then the Act can be amended ' next session The alternative] is to delay the amalgamation | of the board and the corn-1 mission. “My understanding was that there was unanimous I agreement that the bill should i go forward on this basis," I Mr Hayman said. “It was; suggested by industry repre-1 sentatives that a clause should ■ be included saying in effect tba-t the local market sub-; sidy will be such as may I from time to time be determined by the Minister. I “This was examined and. apart from the disadvantage! that it would remove the res-] ponribility from Parliament; to Cabinet, the suggestion was in addition found to be | legally impracticable. “In the circumstances. I felt that the Government was being very fair in allowing the Bill to proceed while discussions on the local market question continue. “At the Dairy Conference, I said, that the local market, price will not be increased. at present. This is entirely: in accord with our mutual agreement. Apparently Mr Candy has read into this that since I met the deputation referred to above, the Government has further considered the matter and reached a final decision. “This is not the case and I expect to have further discussions with the board and commission representatives in the near future," Mr Hay-] man said. J