DAIRY MARKETING

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 112, 13 April 1936, Page 2

DAIRY MARKETING

GUARANTEED''PRICE PLAN. OVERSEAS "DELIVERIES. WELLINGTON, April 13. Although the Guaranteed Price Bill will probably be one of the first to be introduced in the House of Representatives after the Easter recess, the vital question of the price to be fixed for dairy products is not being disclosed. However, the statement made by the Minister of Agriculture (Hon. W. Lee Martin), at Matangi, that the price would be paid on the finished product and not at so much per pound butterfat is regarded as being of special significance. Some details of the Government’s plans have already been disclosed. The Prime Minister (Hon. M. J. Savage) announced some time ago the proposed setting up of a special Dairy Industry Account for the financing of the guaranteed -price scheme, and possible methods of finance were revealed in the provisions of the Reserve Bank Amendment Act. These factors have suggested that a special departmental branch will be charged with, the duty of administering the whole of the scheme. The Minister of Finance (Hon. W. Nash), who has co-operated with Mr Lee Martin and a committee of experts in examining the various proposals for the scheme, has already made it clear that guaranteed prices will* not mean the end of Tooley Street. marketing and that the distributive outlets offered by the best existing firms will be utilised to the full. However, the Minister has emphasised that there will be a check on speculative interests, both in New Zealand and over-, seas. -. • Another point made by Mr Nash is that the Government wishes to act in harmony with the Dairy Board, although possibly a future development will be the' setting up of a hoard representative of producers with wide powers to deal with local problems and advise on overseas marketing. A further possibility is the strengthening of the staff of the High Commissioner’s office in London in order that the Government, as the sole owner of dairy produce, may maintain the closest possible contact with distributing firms. . The presence in London of Dr. R. M. Campbell, economic adviser to the High Commissioner, is already regarded as being extremely valuable in this respect.