DAIRY PRICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23135, 6 September 1938, Page 10

DAIRY PRICE

NO DECISION YET CABINET DISCUSSION ME. SAVAGE'S STATEMENT "BIG QUESTIONS INVOLVED" fI3Y TELEGRAPIT SPECIAL REPORTER! WELLINGTON, Monday Although there was a protracted meeting of the Cabinet to-day, no final decision was reached concerning the guaranteed prices to bo fixed for dairy exports for the season which opened on August 1. At the conclusion of tho Cabinet meeting the Primo Minister, Mr. Savage, stated that there were "big questions involved" and that it might bo somo time before the exact rates could bo determined.

Even after Mr. Savage had left the Cabinet meeting this evening, several Ministers remained behind, but any matters which they might have been discussing were not disclosed. Subsequently the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, who has the greatest personal responsibility with regard to the guaranteed price scheme, had a conference with several of his departmental officers from tho Marketing Department and the Treasury. Government Caucus To-day It is not likely that tho Cabinet will meet again to-morrow. A caucus of Government members has been called for to-morrow morning, but tho Prime Minister stated to-night that the only matters for discussion woula'be several bills which were likely to be introduced during tho next few days. These measures wero all regarded as necessary, Mr. Savage added, but none of them was likely to prove controversial.

No Precipitate Decision It is obviously not the intention of the Government to make a precipitate decision concerning this season's guaranteed prices. The report of the Advisory Committee, comprising representatives of the Government and of the dairy industry, has been in Mr. Nash's hands for some time, and it has been stated that the committee has recommended an advance of approximately 2d per lb. on the rates ruling at present. However, much of Mr. Nash's time during the past few weeks has been devoted to the Social Security Bill, which is regarded by the Government as a question of supreme importance. The Current Season

The current dairy season is admittedly more than a month old, but last year's prices, with the additional payment announced by Mr. Nash at New Plymouth toward the end of June, are still ruling. If the new rates involve an increase, as is generally anticipated, an extra payment will be arranged to cover shipments of butter and cheese which have been made since August 1.