GUARANTEED PRICES

Evening Post, Issue 86, 11 April 1936, Page 14

GUARANTEED PRICES

ADMINiSTBATION OF ACT

ANOTHEE DEPAETMENT

The next important policy measure of the Government, to make its appearance about a week after the resumption of Parliament on Thursday, is the Guaranteed Prices Bill. Although concerned with assuring the producers of exportable products a minimum return* for their labour, the legislation is regarded not so much a farming question as one of finance, therefore the Cabinet has placed it in the'hands of the Hon. W. Nash (Minister of Finance), and it will be introduced by Governor's Messag^.

It has been ascertained that the report of the expert committee which was directed to prepare the machinery details of a guaranteed prices scheme was so voluminous, that a summary was written for the information of members of the Government not directly concerned in the elaborate details which it was the committee's duty to evolve.

The operation of the scheme, involving as it does the State's financial interest in all exported dairy products —though they will be marketed through the existing channels of trade— will, it is understood, necessitate setting up v new department for administration of the scheme.

The retirement of Dr. Reakes, Director-General of the Department of Agriculture, may possibly be followed by some reorganisation of the administrative side of this important Department, so as to include a branch devoted to the administration of the Guaranteed Prices Act of the future. The Dairy Producers' Board will also play its part in the organisation as the representative of the dairy producers both in New Zealand and at the marketing end, where the High Commissioner's, staff will probably be strengthened to cope • with the new responsibility.