GUARANTEED PRICES

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 22 June 1936, Page 7

GUARANTEED PRICES

POLICY OF THE GOVERNPAENT SERVICE TO THE.PEOPLE (United Press Association) DUNEDIN, 19th June. An assurance that the farmers need have no fear of the Government’s guaranteed price proposals was given by the Minister of Agriculture Hhe Hon. W. Lee Martin) when speaking at the opening of the winter show today. “Neither farmers nor anyone else need have any fear as far as the advent of the Labour Government is concerned,” said the Minister. “I am a farmer myself with a farm in the Wajkato of 105 acres, so that, if Labour’s policy is going to prove detrimental to farmers, then I myself must suffer. It has been said that the bottom would fall out of the Dominion as the result of the wrecking policy of the Labour Government, but I wish to assure everyone here that the only idea of the Government is to render service to the whole of the people. Those who create wealth are entitled to' their fair share of the wealth. “Roads, bridges, harbours, and many other of our facilities would never have been possible but for the work of the primary producer,” Mr Martin continued, “for it has been the value of the produce sent overseas that has enabled us to acquire these things. The Government wishes to give the .farmer a stable price so that he will be able to know at the beginning of the season what his price will be right through the season. He will not be subject to the manipulations and fluctuations during the season that prevail at present. He will know the price and he will be able to plan his operations accordingly.

“SOMETHING WORTH WHILE” “The price will be a better one than this year’s; it will be better than last year’s; and it will be better than the one the year before last. It will be a price which we believe will enable the farmer to meet all his commitments and which will give him and his wife and family a decent standard of living. If we can do that, I believe we will have done something worth while.” The Labour Party had been in power for only about seven months, the ''Minister continued, but there were already indications of an improved i state of affairs in the Dominion. The Government did not take ttm credit for all of that improvement, but the very fact that there was an improved ■ tone in business with greater spending power refuted the contention of those v/ho had stated that advent of the Labour Government would result in disaster to the Dominion, j “If by the work we are doing, and we claim that during the past three months we have done something worth while, we can. give the people of New Zealand greater spending power and a better and brighter outlook, we believe it will enable us to ! face the electors with confidence when I the time comes,” Mr Martin concluded. “We ask for the co-operation of jthe people, and if you give us your help and confidence 1 am sure you [will have nothing to regret in the j administration of the Labour Government.”