NEW MARKETING SYSTEM

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 8

NEW MARKETING SYSTEM

MR DENHAM DEFENDS GUARANTEED PRICE

FAIR AND REASONABLE RETURN CLAIMED

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, September 17. “The farmers in the country had no freedom whatever under the system of marketing which existed with the approval of the previous Government, said Mr W. M. C. Denham (Lab., Invercargill) during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives today. Mr Denham said the policy of the last Government had been based on most haphazard lines as far as marketing was concerned, the farmers having had to take whatever the world markets gave them. • “There have been references by Opposition speakers to the compensated price as an alternative to the guaranteed price,” Mr Denham said. “What is the actual difference? It has been shown conclusively by speakers from this side of the House that the guaranteed price is fair and a reasonable return to give an efficient farmer. I am satisfied in my own mind that the farmers prefer our system to the old haphazard order of the last Govern-r ment.” Mr Denham described as exaggerated statements which he said were made recently in an interview given in Australia by Mr W. P. Endean (Nat., Parnell). Mr Endean had told the newspapers in Australia that money was being driven out of the Dominion by the Labour Government and that the Government had not kept its promises.’ When Mr Denham described the statements as untrue and a few seconds later as lying he was called to order by the Speaker (the Hon. W. E. Barnard) and asked to withdraw. “Well, I will say they are incorrect and misrepresent the position,” Mr Denham continued. “There is not one member on this side of the House who said that all our promises would be fulfilled in 18 months. No reasonable person would expect the Government to do that. Mr Endean has also been reported as stating in Australia that the Dairy Industry Account would show a deficit of £2,000,000 at the end of July. Yet the members of Mr Endean’s party accused the Minister of Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) of exaggeration.” Mr Denham mentioned that during his recent visit to Australia he had seen thousands of men working for 8/- a day and in a saw mill had actually seen a girl working at the sawbench.