GUARANTEED PRICES

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1943, Page 3

GUARANTEED PRICES

DISSATISFACTION OF DAIRY INDUSTRY. “The guaranteed prices allowed for this season represent an increase of little more than 3 per cent, on the old prices, and when regard is given to the method by which they were fixed and to the substantial increases in the rate of remuneration granted to other sections of the people during the last’ five years it should be clear to everyone that grossly unjust treatment has been meted out to the. dairy producers of this country,” states the annual report of the South Island Dairy Association. “The prices which are being paid by the British Ministry of Food for this season’s production,’ the report adds, “are 117 s per ’ cwt. for butter and 73s per cwt. for cheese. In New Zealand currency these prices are equivalent to 15.67 d per lb. for butter and. 9.77 d per lb for cheese, or 0.28 d and 1.04 d respectively more than the Government prices to the producers (butter-fat, say 0.34 d per fb to butter suppliers and 2id per lb to cheese suppliers). On an estimated production of 130,000 tons of butter and 90,000 tons of cheese the surplus proceeds should amount to £1,212,125 (butter £339,625, cheese £872,500). After allowance is made for the special payment of lid per lb butter-far on this season’s supply to those suppliers who changed over from butter to cheese and Have this season changed back to butter, and for payment of all the other costs charged by the Marketing Department to. the dairy industry account, there should be' a substantial balance remaining for distribution to the industry.”