The Guardian (And Evening Star, with, which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1940 STATE MARKETING

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1940, Page 4

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with, which is incorporated the W est Coast Times.) FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1940 STATE MARKETING

The House debated this week the State Marketing Board’s report, and in the course of the discussion it was indicated the total value of the goods sent overseas by the Board under its scheme reached over sixty-two and ahalf millions. Dairy produce was the highest, about twenty-live and a-lialf millions', meat next, nineteen and ahalf millions', and wool about sixteen and a-third millions. A somewhat party debate ensued mainly on the subject of the/ guaranteed price. The Minister (Mr Nash) gave a detailed account of the method of arriving at the guaranteed price, and the history of the negotiations with the farmers and others interested, leading up to the system adopted finally. Mr Nash explained that the system had been organised to meet the position to the best- advantage, and the New Zealand plan had been praised by their competitors at Home, and that was considered a worthy record. The Government had the responsibility of directing the scheme and had to consider the future as well as the present. Up to now, supplies under the guaranteed price for dairy produce had received benfits slightly higher than the amount guaranteed. Produce had also increased, butter by 27 per cent., and cheese by 60 per cent. In the future there would be other competitors to consider as well as the rivalry of margarine. An abnormal output then, would call for reconsideration and adjustment. The Minister’s statement was nor contested seriously, for lie had the position well in mind, and gave a clear exposition of tho tacts. There was criticism to the effect- that 1 armors were dissatisfied, but no constructive proposal to replace the scheme proposed. There was the appeal, too. to the Government to reduce overhead costs for dairy farmers, but the Minister explained what was being done with regard to fertilisers, housing, and providing labour, and was not unmindful of the position prevailing. There was the semblance of a breeze when an Opposition member contended that millions of pounds bad been taken out of the farmers pockets and ,riven to less worthy memoers of the community. This brought n. query from the Prime Minister as to who were the less worthy members. The reply was the people who are not working the number of hours, but getting more wages than the farming community. The tension passed, hut the implication certainly stirred up some of the Labour Party. As for the general public they have been informed the dairy account is in deficit for over t»m millions, which liability the country carries. It- would seem that on the basis of the system, the Dominion is doing very well to aid farm production. Of course, it is an essential factor in the general prosperity, and that usefulness for the i public good should be kept in mind

in mooting as far as possible all reasonable demands to aid the producers on the land. More people should be attracted to the land, and aided to lift the annual produce of the country for tho general benefit.