DAIRY PRODUCE MARKETING.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 8 February 1936, Page 8

DAIRY PRODUCE MARKETING.

EXISTING CHANNELS TO BE USED. MR. SAVAGE’S STATEMENT. (Special to “Chronicle.”) WELLINGTON Last Night. Some indication of the Government’s intention regarding the marketing ot New Zealand butter, consequent on the putting into operation of the scheme for guaranteed prices, was given by the Prime Minister (Hon. M. J. Savage j to-day ill an interview. “The 'Dairy Board is working with us, and will continue to work with us, said Mr. Savage, “r.xisting cimiinels and' existing institutions will be used as far as is humanly possible, but we can’t afford to stick in the old rut. We must try to do better in Britain. There is nothing in our minds that is going to lessen in any way our responsibility to the board. It still has a job to do,”

The Crime Minister said that the Minister of Finance (Hon. W. Nash) had a committee working on mo do tails of the payment of guaranteed prices, which was going ultimately to land the Government with the ownership of the produce. “But the board is still there, and its responsibility for the marketing has not got. any less; it has become greater, if anything.” ho said. “The Government has always been interested in securing the best price for the country’s pTodnce, but we have undertaken to pay an economic price to the dairy farmer, lie will be paid in New Zealand, and it will bo obvious to anyone that our responsibility has not become less. We still have to market the exportable pari ot the dairy produce which has been pinchased, and to co-operate with the board and its oflicers here and in London. We have an added responsibiliiy in getting the very best price obtainable.

‘‘ We are not relieving the board of any 01 its reap— abilities, except that it would be fair to the hoard to say that the Government’s policy will be the policy that will he carried out. The idea

ox the board in the past t get an

economic price by orthodox methods for the farmers goes in favour of a guaranteed price.

“In the marketing of the surplus produce, the farmer is paid immediately, but the job of selling and marketing remains. The board has to do the job, and the Government has to help it.” Mr. Savage said that the actual price to be paid under the Government’s guaranteed price scheme had yet to be decided upon, but it was bound to be such as to keep the dairy farmer dome his job. That left the responsibility still with the board for the marketing of the export, and it increased the responsibility of the .'Mate, which, in its own interests, would have to see that the best price was obtainable on the overseas market. “It doesn’t destroy the board, or take away the rt-spoiiMb.l-ity for marketing with tae object. ■>< getting the very best result.'.” ne said,