PREMIUM FOR QUALITY

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 16, 18 July 1936, Page 8

PREMIUM FOR QUALITY

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

HAMILTON, July 17.

A vigorous reply to statements by Mr. S. Austin Carr, of / Auckland, criticising the differential payments on dairy produce, was made by the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) at Raglan today.

"There appears to be some misconception regarding the application of the differential price margins \for butter and cheese under the guaranteed price plan," he said. "It is generally admitted by the industry that some differential price system based on grade points .must be adopted if quality is to be maintained, because otherwise some dairy companies will not be encouraged to strive for the highest possible pointing for their butter and cheese. The system that has been' adopted was arrived at after full and careful consideration, and was the outcome of lengthy discussions between the Executive Commission of Agriculture, the Dairy Board, and officers of the Dairy Division. • .

"In the case of both butter and cheese it was decided that the basic guaranteed price should be paid for grading points for the group that included the greater percentage of pur export product. It was found that nearly 44 per cent, of our butter was graded .93 and^93i points, and that nearly 42 per cent, of our cheese was graded 92 and 92J points.

"The basic guaranteed price will be paid for butter and cheese coming within these groups," added Mr. Martin. "A premium of Is 2d per cwt will be paid for butter grading at 94