PRODUCE PRICES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19136, 2 April 1924, Page 5

PRODUCE PRICES.

WHOLESALE A/STI) RETAIL DISCREKiNCT. THE MEAT BOARD’S PRECEDENT. {Feou 008 Own Cobbespondent.) LONDON, February 21. From a paragraph in Empire Production, the organ of the British Empire Producers’ Organisation, it appears this enterprising body has a scheme for linking up the interests of consumers and producers in such a way as to prevent much of the disparity bct/ween the prices received by the farmers and the prices paid by the consumers of overseas produce. They take their inspiration from the good work achieved by the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board. "It has been proved by the success of the New Zealand Meat Board, now being followed by the Dairy Produce Board in the some country,” writes the editor of Production, ‘‘that complete organisation of the producers can have marked effect, bul the movement roust go further than that. The subject is too large to be dealt with here summarily, but wc hopo to be able to publish in an early ieeue certain suggestions cf the organisation in regard to the creation of a Joint Board in this country representing producing and consuming interests throughout the Empire, which would be enabled to modify and regulate the position without undue interference with individual freedom to do business. A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION.

"We may suggest at once, however, that one of the surest methods of reducing the difference between prices paid to the producer and prices paid by the ultimate consumer, would be for the Government to publish officially in the principal newspapers, in a display form, the prices paid to the producer; the wholesale prices; and the retail prices of various commodities each week. Wo venture to believe that the housewife or the purchaser of raw materials having weekly impressed upon them in a prominent position in their daily papers the difference between the prices paid by them and the prices paid to the consumer, and even to the wholesaler, would soon provide such a volume of public opinion as would chock such a condition of things as results in the now common spectacle of. for instance, the retirement in speedy and opulent succession of butchers from suburban shops. We commend this suggestion to the attention of the present Government; it need await no committee’s decision.”