Pre-election Promises to Farmers Kept.

Franklin Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 119, 12 October 1936, Page 4

Pre-election Promises to Farmers Kept.

HON. W. NASH’S CLAIM. THE GUARANTEED PRICE. MORTGAGE ADJUSTMENTS. A reiteration of his statement that if the guaranteed price resulted in the dairyfarmer being worse off at the end of the year then the position would be reviewed, was made by the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, when opening extensions at the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company’s butter factory at Tuakau today, in the presence of about 500. The Minister, in a vigorous speech, contended that the Government had kept pre-election promises made t.o the farmers.

Mr Nash stated that the price over the past eight to 10 years could have been worked out many different ways. The actual average price received by the dairy farmer by way of pay-out during the ten years ended on July 31, 1935, was 12.73 d per v pound butterfat.

Had the average been taken over nine years the amount to be paid out would have been £1,000,000 less. Cabinet decided in February last to pay a sum equal to 13d per lb. butterfat. This gave the dairy farmer ,27d more than the best interpretation. As the amount was taken to the nearest possible fraction which could be used on a calculating machine, the farmers were receiving £30,000 to £40,000 more.

The Minister said he could understand farmers being dissatisfied with the guaranteed price when the market price was actually more. He did not think they would worry so much now as a month ago, the market price having fallen. Tn his opinion the market price would fall still lower. The special committee which had been set up by the Government to decide <-n next year’s price was charged with finding out what sum ought, to be paid to the dairy farmer in order to give him and his family a decent standard of living. The committee was told it would have to be particularly careful, for if the price was fixed too high the scheme would be wrecked, or »'f too low the farmers would be strangled.

Dealing with mortgage adjustments Mr Nash said the Government had passed legislation which would have the effect of bringing land values into line with production costs.

Among other speakers was the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin.