GUARANTEED PRICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23558, 22 July 1938, Page 16

GUARANTEED PRICE

CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT “COMMANDEER AT FIXED PRICE” OWNERSHIP OF COUNTRY’S PRODUCE - (From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, July 21. The Government’s guaranteed price scheme for dairy prodiice was criticised by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr A. Hamilton)/in opening the financial debate in, the House of Representatives to-night. The National Party, he said, would hand back to the dairy farmer the ownership of his produce. .The guaranteed price scheme, Hamilton said, revealed the desire of the Government to obtain the’ ownership of the country’s Government members carefully -refrained from mentioning that the dairy produce had been commandeered at a fixed price. Even the farmers themselves hardly realised the seriousness of the loss of their own produce. “Commandeer at a fixed price is wrong,” said Mr Hamilton. We are prepared to hand the ownership of the produce back to the farmers.” Mr J, G. Coates (Opposition, Kaipara): Hear, hear. - ‘ ; • /■. Mr Hamilton said'that if the Government wished to assist in the orderly marketing of produce it should be as trustees only on behalf of the farmer. The Government, however, wanted to get its hand on the country’s produce. The drop in butter production this production year, Mr Hamilton said, had been estimated by an authority at 1100 tons. That drop took place at a time when the Minister of Agriculture talked about the increased topdressing that had taken place. "The dairy farmer is the only producer linked with the slump," said Mr Hamilton. "The price he is receiving for his produce is below market realisations. We are told in the Budget that the guaranteed price has been increased to compensate the dairy farmer for his increased farm costs. What is the Minister of Marketing compensating the farmer with—his own moneyf It is very likely that some will be left in the pool after this extra payment is made.”