GUARANTEED PRICES

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3939, 13 August 1937, Page 5

GUARANTEED PRICES

NEW RATES FROM AUGUST. The final report of the Guaranteed Price Committee is now in the hands of the Cabinet. The question as to how far its recommendations regarding prices for the current season and other matters will be adopted will be decided on the return of the Minister of Marketing l , the Hon. W. Nash, from abroad, according to a statement made in Wellington on Wednesday, by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage. “At present,” said Mr Savage, “the worst that can happen to the dairy industry is that the dairy farmer will receive for this portion of the new season what he was getting for last season, and if any changes are made he will get the benefit of them, too. This report, or whatever Government decision might arise from it, will operate as from August 1. Dairy farmers are sure of what they were getting last season and whatever additions may be made this season. NOTHING TO LOSE. Mr Savage said the question regarding the relationship between cheese and butter prices was discussed in the report and his remarks applied to that also. “Farmers have nothing to lose except time from August 1 to August 14 or 15,” he added. “That does not seem to be disastrous. They have been waiting for years for something that means security, and, if I know the farmers, they will not mind waiting 14 or 15 days’ to find out whether they are going to get an increase on last year’s prices or not.” The Prime Minister was asked for an indication of the financial results of the first year’s experiment, the interviewer mentioning the opinion of a prominent produce merchant that prices later in the season had been so good that the predicted deficit of millions was not likely to exceed £400,000. “Frankly, I cannot tell you the result,” answered Mr Savage. “I know some have talked of millions deficit, but nobody has volunteered the actual official position, and I have been too busy to find out.”