COMPENSATED PRICE

Grey River Argus, 23 October 1939, Page 10

COMPENSATED PRICE

Still Asked For

IN WAIKATO.

HAMILTON, October 19.

The opinion that the emergency powers assumed by the Government under the Marketing Amendment Act bore the cloak of Socialism was expressed by speakers at a special mass meeting of farmers held in Morrinsville to-day. In. a resolution, which was carried unanimously, the meeting protested against the legislation, and demanded that at the next session of Parliament it be amended. It is estimated that more than 1500 farmers attended.

Moved by Mr F. W. Seifert, chairman of directors of the Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy Company, the following resolution was also passed unanimously: “That this meeting of farmers of Morrinsville and surrounding districts fully realises that* the best contribution farmers can make to New Zealand and the Motherland is increased production of primary produce: but must emphatically draw the attention of the Government to the fact that a stimulus to production cannot be brought about as long as the farming industry, through inadequate prices, is unable to pay competitive rates of wages, and meet the increased costs of production. With full knowledge of our responsibilities to the country, we definitely express our opinion that the increased costs of the farming industry, the wages required for increased labour on farms, and to the point of shipment, and other expenditure necessary to stimulate producton necessitate our demanding from the Government that a price not less than the price for dairy produce suggested by the dairy industry council in their representations to the Minister for Marketing should be paid for the 1939-40 dairy season.” A third resolution, moved by Mr M. E. Barrowclough, president of the Morrinsville branch of the Farmers’ Union demanded that the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union call a national conference of primary producers to discuss the position with the Government, to demand an urgent answer, and in the event of an unsatisfactory reply the meeting promised to support the executive in any action it might consider necessary along the lines of the resolutions carried at the meeting.

RETAIL MEAT PRICES.

WELLINGTON, October 19

The action of the Price Investigation Tribunal in sanctioning higher meat prices in the Auckland district was defended to-day by the Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon D. G. Sullivan). The Minister also said that it was considered desirable to defer final consideration of the local position until the export price had been determined. The prices of meat for consumption in New Zealand would be based on the price arranged between the New Zealand and the United Kingdom Governments. Mr Sullivan referred to recent statements concerning meat prices. He mentioned in particular a statement originating from Christchurch to the effect that the Price Investigation Tribunal’s action in sanctioning higher prices for meat in the Auckland district only had been criticised at a special meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Master Butchers’ Association. It was alleged that the singling out of Auckland for preferential treatment was most unjust when t&e position of the butchery trade in other districts was more serious.

The Minister said that the tribunal had approved of a small increase at Auckland because of specal ciraumstances which had operated there, and which did not apply in other centres. Because of these special circumstances there was no suggestion of preferential treatment having been granted. The position of the retail hutcncry. trade in all main centres had been most carefully considered by the tribunal; but a decision bad been deferred pending the conclusion of negotiations on the question of the supply of meat between the New Zealand Government and the United Kingdom Government.

Mr Sullivan added that the prices of meat for consumption in New Zealand would be based on the price arranged between the two Governments, and as it was expected that the negotiations would be completed at a very early date, it was considered desirable, in order to avoid unnecessary; disturbance of the local market, to defer final consideration of and decision upon the local portion until the export price had been determined.