GUARANTEED PRICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22839, 21 September 1937, Page 5

GUARANTEED PRICES

WAI RARAPA OPINIONS FARMERS' VIEWS DIFFER [BY TELEG3APH —PRESS ASSOCIATION] MASTERTOX. Monday A lengthy debate 011 the subject of the guaranteed prices for dairy produce which developed at a meeting of the Wairarapa provincial executive of the Farmers' Union to-day was remarkable for the sharp difference of opinion disclosed between dairy farmers. Sheep farmers present refrained from taking part iu the discussion. Eventually tt\o Featherston remits, one approving the principle of stabilised dairy prices and the other declaring that the new season's price was not sufficient to meet the increased costs, were both referred back to the branches of the union..

Reporting on the meeting of the Dominion executive, at which he had represented the Wairarapa provincial executive. Mr. W: J. Thomas contended that the guaranteed price was inadequate and that the increase made might be cancelled out by rising costs during the period for which the price had been fixed. Two other members of the provincial executive, Messrs. G. : ? A. Hansen and F. E. Jansen. strongly supported the guaranteed price. Mr. Hansen declared that much of the opposition to guaranteed prices, including that of the Dominion executive of the Farmers' Union, was for political purposes. Mr. Jansen said that the principles for stability and security embodied in the guaranteed price were acceptable to 80 per cent of dairy farmers, and probably to 90 per cent. While Mr. Thomas contended .thai compensated prices and guaranteed prices were exact reversals one of the other, Mr. Jansen declared that compensated prices and guaranteed prices were much the same thing.