REFERENDUM FIRST

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4815, 26 July 1939, Page 5

REFERENDUM FIRST

DAIRY PRICE QUESTION

MIDHIRST FARMERS' VIEW.

Suppliers of the Midhirst Dairy Company on Monday passed a resolution asking the Government to take a referendum of the dairy farmers before deciding to rescind the guaranteed price scheme. When the question of the guaranteed price was raised by a supplier, the chairman, Mr. W. J. Wellington, said he understood the Farmers' Union favoured the freeing of exchange. He did not understand the exchange question, but he did know that if farmers were unable to control costs they could not do very well without some guaranteed price. "The guaranteed price every time," said Mr. Summers. Mr. B. E. Richmond then moved that the meeting approve of the principle of the guaranteed price for dairy produce. He was prepared later to move that the meeting favour the system of marketing as at present constituted. Mr. W. Summers seconded the resolution. There were many who had not favoured the principle of the guaranteed price in the first place but would in view of the altered legislation have to vote for the resolution, and therefore he did not consider it was fair to place the resolution before the meeting, said Mr. F. Oliver. The position appeared to be that whether they favoured the principle of the guaranteed price or not they had to accept it at present as they had no control over costs, said the chairman. Mr. H. A. Hunt then moved as an amendment thatt he Government be asked to take a referendum of dairy farmers all over the Dominion before the guaranteed price was withdrawn. The opinion had been expressed that the Government might be glad to get rid of the guaranteed price scheme, said the chairman. "The cocky is on the pig's back with the guaranteed price, too right he is," said Mr. W. Summers. The amendment was carried.