GUARANTEED PRICE

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3274, 4 March 1937, Page 4

GUARANTEED PRICE

BENEFITS TO SMALL FARMERS

INCREASED COSTS FALLACY

The benefits . to farmers which, he claimed had resulted from the Guaranteed Price scheme were detailed by Mr R. Coulter, M.P., at a meeting in Cambridge last evening. “The guaranteed price was introduced to assist the small farmer,” he said., - “Now they know where they stand, whereas in the past they could not budget 12 months ahead.”

Mr Coulter said he knew there were many large farmers opposed to the-guaranteed price. These men loved a gamble and were able to take the risk. He had yet to meet the small farmer who did not admit that he was . better off with the guaranteed price. More prosperity was evident, on every hand. A Voice: Through the races. Mr Coulter: Yes* that is a very good barometer. Recent totalisator figures show a definite increase in spending power.. Benefits to mortgagees as \vell as mortgagors through the guaranteed price , were claimed by Mr Coulter, who said that the former now had their equities fixed and made secure.

There had been a good deal of misapprehension concerning increased costs, said Mr Coulter. Many people believed that the increase represented 2d a lb. of butterfat but this was denied by the speaker. The Government was keeping a check on costs, and any increase would be taken into account when next year’s guaranteed price is fixed. Allowance would also be made to provide better conditions for farm employees.