THE GUARANTEED PRICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26328, 6 December 1946, Page 8

THE GUARANTEED PRICE

Sir,—Mr Alex. Renton evidently does not know what a guaranteed price is. It really is that profits made while prices are nigh are set aside for when prices fall. That is where the £27,000,000 comes from, not from stabilisation. Stabilisation was to keep prices at a level, so that wages did not require to be increased, to give the workers a decent living, and also to prevent primary producers from waxing rich from the slaughter of thfeir fellow man. As for farmers working overtime, for whom are they working—for themselves. But if they work their tractor overtime they have to pay fbr its upkeep while doing so, and why should hot a man be paid if he works overtime? I have lived in a farming district all my life, and have yet to see a farmer who averages a 40-hour week. They seem to forget that miners and factory workers don’t ever have a wet day or sale day or show day. Also, the workers of New Zealand have'paid £160,000,000 to the primary producers since the 25 per cent, on sterling funds was introduced in 1933 It is funny that the primary producers are always complaining of taxes, etc., when they were not ever in as good a position, before as they are to-day. All shopkeepers know that, as there are no large accounts outstanding now, and they nearly all have their own shearing plant and tractor, when a few years back the price of that shearing plant and tractor would have paid off their mortgage.—l am, etc.. Common Sense. Balclutha, December 4.