Remarkable Price Recovery

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 44, 22 February 1936, Page 12

Remarkable Price Recovery

Primary products are to-day blunging prices that could not be envisioned three years ago. Lamb is at 8d lb., wethers at 255, beef at 27s a 100, 2-th. ewes at 355, 5-yr.-old ewes at 255, and butter-fat almost Is lb. Wool is now the Cinderella for at about B|d lb., wool is truly low-priced. EXCHANGE BENEFIT. That the farmers’ outlook has improved is a fact, but to contemplate exchange reduction because this is so, would be most dangerous. Abolish the exchange rate and present prices will come down and farmers will find, their receipts lower by one-third. Only disaster could ensue. THE FARMERS’ UNION CLAIM. / The address by the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union to the Government, was really “a drawing attention to” the effects of a Governmental policy upon the primary industries. The message conveyed was that the raising of internal costs must react unfavourably upon primary industries as these sell on world parity. If costs are to be increased, then the farmers deserves due recompense. GUARANTEED PRICES. The Government’s guaranteed price for butter-fat proposal has yet to be worked out. A great body of responsible.opinion in the dairy industry looks with grave misgivings upon the whole principle of such a scheme. If it be right to guarantee butter-fat, why not meat and wool and all other products? If all arc to lie included, could the State carry the burden should prices again decline?