DAIRY PRODUCE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19377, 15 July 1937, Page 10

DAIRY PRODUCE

GUARANTEE PRICE PAY-OUTS OF FACTORIES BUTTER OVER BASIC FIGURE (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. Referring to the question of the guaranteed price for dairy produce, in the course of an address at the Farmers’ Union conference to-day, the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, said that although the returns of dairy factories were not yet completed, the figures so far to hand showed that the butter pay-out had been greater than 13d per lb., which was the basic guarantee. The majority of the butter factories were paving out from 13‘,d to 13Ad, while some were paying over I4d. “It will thus be seen that there has been an ample margin over the guarantee," he said. “On the other hand, the cheese, factory pay-outs have not been so satisfactory, but, as 1 stated previously, the Government is considering the question of making a further pay-out on cheese.” The /Minister ‘said that requests had been received from the cheese section of the industry for an increase in the pay-out to enable them to pay ljd above butter, and those requests would receive the consideration of the Government.

Difference Between Butter and Cheese Last year, in order to preserve the balance between butter and cheese, a differential payment of ljd was decided on. On the recommendation of the price committee, the differential payment had been increased to 2d for the corning season. The decision had not been made necessary as a result of the Government’s legislation. The factory returns to hand showed that the increased costs had been very slight. There had been an increase in farming costs and to what extent the price committee, which was sitting in Wellington, would have to find out.

He thanked the Farmers’ Union for providing the committee with a statement dealing with increased costs and said that the statement would receive every consideration from the committee. He had not had the opportunity of going into the figures, but he hoped that they were more carefully compiled than the figures which had been prepared by the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company. The figures prepared by that company were incorrect to the extent of in the pound. Mr. Martin said that despite what had been said to the contrary, the Government would try to live up to its promises. He had noticed that Mr. W. Mulholland, the president, had, in public addresses, doubted the sincerity of the Government, but the fact that the Government had been so careful in consulting all interests should re move those doubts.