GUARANTEED PRICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23351, 17 November 1937, Page 12

GUARANTEED PRICE

BUTTER AND CHEESE EXPORTS CONCESSIONS TO PRODUCERS PROVISION IN FINANCE BILL (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. The butter and cheese exported between the start of the present dairy season on August 1 and the making early in September of an order announcing the guaranteed price for this season will be paid for at the prices fixed for the current season. This provision is made in a section of the Finance Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives to-night by Governor-General's Message. The part of the Bill dealing with payments from the Dairy Industry Account makes it clear that after the close of last season and until prices were fixed for the present season the butter and cheese exported from New Zealand were purchased by the Government at last year's prices. The Bill authorises payment to the producers of the difference between this season's and last season's prices. An additional payment of one farthing per lb for cheese is authorised in respect of all last season's cheese exports. This provision applies to cheese graded not later than March 18, 1937, and exported on or before July 31. Authority is also given for payment out of the Dairy Industry Account of the accumulated deductions made from the price of butter for the purpose of equalising the price of butter boxes. The payment of £30.866 17s is authorised for this and is to be distributed among persons deemed by the Minister of Marketing to be entitled to a share in the proceeds. The dairy produce exported before the end of last season, at the express request of the Marketing Department, will be paid for at the present season's prices. This provision applies only in the case of butter graded on or after April 20, and cheese graded on or after March 19. A special clause validates the purchase by the Government of the firm of Picot Bros., Ltd., and of Picots (Palmerston North). Ltd. Both these firms were taken over for the purposes of the Government's internal marketing scheme, and the Bill authorises the Internal Marketing Division to carry on these busi'nesses.

Manufacturers supplying butter in the Wellington marketing district are to receive the difference between the original parity value fixed in respect of their businesses and the amended parity value recently announced.

The Dairy Board is authorised to incur expenditure on research or other work in relation to dairy stock or dairy produce. The contribution of £IO,OOO by the board toward the cost of supplying milk to school children is validated.

Legislative authority is given for the payment into the Dairy Industry Account of the levy imposed by the Dairy Board on dairy exports. CONDUCT OF MARKETING DEPARTMENT PROPOSED LEGISLATION MINISTER EXPLAINS PROVISIONS iFrom Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. Explaining the provisions in the Bill dealing with the conduct of the Primary Products Marketing Department, the Minister of Marketing (Mr W. Nash) said it was provided that the sum fixed for the purchase price of butter and cheese for 193738 should be paid for all butter and cheese not exported before July 31, 1937. The ordinary procedure would be for the sum to be paid after the price had beer fixed, but the Audit Department prevented the Government from authorising retrospective payments, so that all butter and cheese exported between July 31 and September 3, when the new price was fixed, had been paid for at the old price of 1? 9-16 d for butter and 6 13-16 d for cheese. Parliamentary authority was necessary for the difference between that price and the new price of 13.25 d for butter and 7.54 d for cheese to be paid. There was another clause, the Minister said, to redeem the promise of the Government that there should be a differential payment for the producers of butter-fat for cheese of l£d a lb over the amount paid ou* for butter. The sum of one farthing a lb extra for all cheese graded before March 18, 1937, would provide the differential the Government had promised. "Where butter which would ordinarily not have been exported before July 31, 1937, was exported before that date at the request of the Marketing Department," the Minister added, "those organisations which agreed to that course are to receive payment at the new price. There is aiso a clause in the Bill validating the purchase of the business of Picot Bros." Mr W. A. Bodkin (Opposition. Central Otago) asked whether time would be given for the Bill to be circulated to dairy companies so that they could make representations.

" They will be very happy," Mr Nash said, " because every clause gives them something. All the butter people have got more than it was estimated that they would receive I doubt if any received less than the Government estimate of 13.04 d a lb for butter, while the average was 13.58 d a lb." The Bill was read a first time.