GUARANTEED PRICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22463, 6 July 1936, Page 10

GUARANTEED PRICES

DAIRY FACTORY PROBLEMS LACK OF INFORMATION [by telegraph—OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday The problems arising in tho dairy industry from new legislation and the lack of information wore discussed at the annual meeting of shareholders of the North Taranaki Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited. The chairman of directors, Mr. H. M. Purdie, said during tho coming season tho directors had nothing to guide thorn. They did not know what increased costs were going to bo, or whether tho guaranteed price would cover the difference. Tho hours of work were not known and, therefore, they wero not in a position to make any statement. They wero helpless. They were trying to economise so that they could keep within tho hours the staff was allowed to work. Mr. Purdie said tho difference in payment between butter and cheese was to be lid. "We tried to find out a basis on which this has been arrived at. It must bo on -tho yield, but we cannot get the information," ho said. A Voico: They don't know themselves.

Tho chairman: They won't divulgo it if they do, and again we are left 111 the air. Mr. Gaustod said the industry was in tho molting pot. "Wo have 110 control over produce," he said. "There are 110 conferences to attend and 110 keen business points to discuss. It is a matter of taking tho Government's cheque and dividing it among individual suppliers."