THE GUARANTEED PRICE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3895, 28 April 1937, Page 2

THE GUARANTEED PRICE

STATEMENT BY MINISTER. REVIEW OF THE YEAR An assurance that the guaranteed price legislation would be reviewed and that the Dairy Account surplus would be fairly allocated was given by the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple, when hearing a deputation from the Cambridge Co-opera-tive Dairy Company yesterday. The deputation claimed that the guaranteed price for cheese production was not sufficient to meet the costs of a manufacturer. “The point at issue is that during the past year the average cost of production of cheese has made it difficult to get suppliers for cheese factories,” said Mr W’. Harbutt, chairman of the company. “We contemplate that there will be a credit in the Cheese Account this year for in only two months has the London market value for cheese been below the guaranteed price.

“We ask your assistance to obtain a higher guarantee for cheese as we feel that the country cannot afford to lose the benefit of the cheese industry,” added Mr Harbutt. “YOU NEED NOT WORRY.” “Although this matter does not come under my jurisdiction I have to share my responsibilities with the Cabinet when matters are being decided,” replied the Minister. “You need have no worry about the matter for Mr Nash has said that any surplus that accumulates in the Dairy Account would be, banked to the credit of farmers and subsequently that surplus distributed among butter producers or cheese producers. “It will probably be considered by Mr Nash upon his return,” said Mr Semple. “The, farmer is the only man who had no guaranteed income and depended entirely upon the overseas market fluctuations. Our guaranteed price legislation was framed to give the farmer some guaranteed iricome. The price was only fixed experimentally and will be reviewed as soon as Mr Nash returns. “Whatever farmers are entitled to and where it is humanly possible to give it we will,” added Mr Semple. “For the stability of the cheese industry in New Zealand we request that the money in the accumulated fund should be distributed as soon as possible in the form of a bonus,” said Mr Harbutt.