PRICE TO PUBLIC

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3228, 17 February 1943, Page 4

PRICE TO PUBLIC

In the course of a lengthy defence of the Internal Marketing Division, the Minister of Marketing reviewed its operations and asserted that, almost without exception, the producers’ organisations had “repeatedly passed resolutions eulogising the division for its policy and its success.” But in his defence the Minister made one serious omission. He did not mention, or give any figures upon which a comparison could be based, of the prices which the consumers have had to pay for. the things controlled by the division.. It is certainly cheering to know that much larger quantities of lemons, for instance, have been produced and , marketed, and also that the grower has received a better return, but there was not a word about how the purchaser, the consumer, has fared. It was the expressed intention of those who created this division to bring producer and consumer closer together to their mutual benefit. There was

a big gap alleged to exist between what one party obtained and the other party paid, and it was to have been reduced. Mr Barclay has emphasised the increase received by the growers of lemons, but has omitted to give any particulars of the consumer’s side of the transaction., It would be interesting to very many people if the Minister would round out his statement by showing how and when and to what extent the operation of the division he directs has effected the economies which the consumer was to enjoy under the new order.