MARKETING PRODUCE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13177, 8 February 1936, Page 5

MARKETING PRODUCE.

PRESENT CHANNELS TO STAY.

PRIME MINISTER S STATEMENT. Electric Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, Last Night. Some indication of the Government’s intention regarding the marketing of New Zealand butter, consequent on the putting into operation, of the scheme for guaranteed prices, was given by the Prime Minister (Hon. M. J. Savage) to-dav in an interview. “The Dairy Beard is working, with us, and will continue to work with us,” said Mr Savage. “Existing channels and existing institutions will be used as far as is humanly possible, but we can’t afford to stick in the old rut. We must try to do better in Britain. There is nothing in our minds that is going to lessen in any way our responsibility to the board. It still has a job to do.” The Prime Minister said that the Minister of Finance (Hon. W. Nash) had a committee working on the details of the payment of guaranteed prices, which was going ultimately to land the Government with the ownership of the produce. “But the hoard is still there, and its responsibility for the marketing has not got any less; it has become greater, if anything,” he said. “The Government has always been interested in securing the best price for the country’s produce, but we have undertaken to pay an economic price to the dairy fanner. Ho will be paid in New Zealand, and it will be obvious to anyone that our responsibility has not become less. We still have to market the exportable part of the dairy produce which has been purchased, and to co-operate with the board and its officers here and in London. We have an added responsibility in getting the very best price obtainable. “We are not relieving, ihe board of any of its responsibilities, except that it would be fair to the board to say that the Government’s policy will be the policy that will be carried out The idea of the board in the past to get an economic price by orthodox methods for the farmers goes in favour of a guaranteed price. “In the marketing of the surplus produce the farmer is paid immediately, but the job of selling and marketing remains. The beard has to do the job. and the Government has to help it.” Mr Savage said that the actual price to be paid under the Government’s guaranteed price scheme had yet to be decided upon, but it was hound to he such as to keep the dairy farmer doing his job. That left the responsibility still with the board for the marketing of the export, and it increased tile responsibility of the State, which, in its own interests, would have to see that the best price was obtainable on the overseas market. "It doesn’t destroy the hoard, or take away the responsibility for marketing with the object of getting the very best results,” he said.