DAIRY POLICY

Evening Post, Issue 86, 8 October 1936, Page 15

DAIRY POLICY

STATEMENTS TO COMPANIES

QUESTION IN THE HOUSE

In a notice of question to the Minister of Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) in the House of Representatives yesterday,' Mr.: A. G. Hultquist (Govern- : merit,. Bay of Plenty) asked whether the . Minister's attention had been draWn to reports of dairy company meetings in Whakatane and Gisbome addressed by Messrs. A. J. Murdoch and T. C. Brash on behalf of the Dairy Board, at which Mr. Murdoch stated that the farmers expected Is 6i.a pound guaranteed price for butter- : fat, whereas it had worked out at 12 9-10 d; (2) whether there was any truth in the statement by Mr. Brash at Gisborne on the sth instant that if there was a surplus in the Dairy Industry Account at the end of the 1836----;&7 season it would be paid to the farmer in cash during election year. . Mr. ■ Brash, said Mr. Hultquist, had :made the following statement: "That it would probably be 1938 before it .could be known whether or not there would be a surplus. That is election year, so you have a good fighting ; chance of getting it in cash." (3) Whether the Minister was aware of the fact that at meetings in the .Bay of Plenty and Gisborne districts, addressed by Messrs. Murdoch and Brash, resolutions critical of .the; Government's policy generally in respect "of the dairy industry and marketing were being carried, despite the fact that the dairy companies in thise districts had previously expressed the opinion that they would await the implementing of the full policy of the Government before they would decide whether the Government's schemes were satisfactory or otherwise.

Mr. K. J. Holyoake (National, Motueka): They are only waking up!