THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY. WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1937. THE BASIC FIGURES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 47, Issue 2666, 6 September 1937, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette. With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY. WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 1937. THE BASIC FIGURES.

THE course which the Minister of Marketing must want to follow is one that will enable him to carry the primary producers with him. In his broadcast speech last Monday evening Mr Nash admitted that the success of the plan was dependent upon the co-operation of the dairy farmers, and, in the matter of production, there is ample evidence that the men on the land, while steadily refusing to accept any responsibility for the Government’s plan, have fulfilled their promise to do what they could to make it work successfully. The attitude of non-responsibil-ity was endorsed at the recent conference held in Hamilton, but there can be no doubt that the producers will play their part during the current season. They may not, as a whole, regard the new prices as sufficient to ensure the standards of living that the Government had promised but there is no reason to believe that production will be adversely affected. The plan must be supported because the issues at stake are of vital importance to the farmers and to the Dominion. The Minister of Marketing has stated that the new prices cover all the labour required by a reasonably efficient farmer, including a proper return should the farmer’s wife and children assist with the work in the milkingsheds, and he stressed the fact that due consideration had been given to the factors set out in the Act and governing the fixing of prices. Clearly the best way for Mr Nash to carry the farmers with him would be to place all the data, which he has found sufficient for the purpose of adjusting the price schedules, before the men who produce the butter and cheese. No one has questioned the ability or experience of those appointed by the Government to advise it with regard to prices, and publication of their report, would be of widespread interest. It would contain in detailed form the conclusions of men actively engaged in various branches of the industry, and it is generally assumed that their views would carry weight with the Cabinet, so that probably they would influence the opinions of the farmers. The previous prices, and the way they were arrived at, were all set out fully. With regard to butter, for instance, it was planned to ensure a payment of 13.04 d per lb. of butterfat at the farm gate and it was known what allowance had besn made for costs of collection'and manufacture. The whole thing is set out fully in a publication issued by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. There is no reason why a similar course should not be followed this year. Then there are the governing factors mentioned in the Marketing Act. The necessity for “maintaining the stability and efficiency of the dairy industry” is general, but the next condition deals with “costs involved in efficient production.” This is one of the vital matters, and the findings of the Price Committee and the decisions of the Government with respect to it should be made available. The question of the general standard of living is dependent, of course, on the pro-

visions made for increased costs, for. they affect the change from gross to net, and it is the net return that counts. And, the last factor reads: “Any other matter deemed to be relevant.” Mr Nash said that these had all been considered, so that there should be no reluctance to let the producers know what they are and to what extent they governed the final decisions.

The provision of this information this year is most important because this is the first stage of the permanent system, and the Government naturally would prefer to have the co-operation of farmers who had been convinced that the data had been complete and that the decisions in the circumstances were sound. If that were done each year those engaged in the industry would be in a position to compare any movements in the various allowances and provisions and, if they so wished, direct any criticism to a specific point. In such an important matter, touching the welfare of a basic industry, the appeal should always be to the facts, and not to political issues. The support that Mr Nash must be anxious to obtain is a support based on a full knowledge of the position, and for that reason alone he should, as soon as possible, place all the particulars before the country.