GUARANTEED PRICES.,

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19639, 27 July 1935, Page 9

GUARANTEED PRICES.,

ÜBELESS FOR DAIRYMEN.

MR A. J. SINCLAIR’S OPINION. Critical reference to the Labour Party’s scheme of guaranteed prices as presented to the National Dairy, Conference was made toy Mr A.. J. Sinclair, secretary-manager of, the Te Awamutu Co-operative Dairy Company, speaking at the annual meeting of suppliers yesterday. Mr Sinclair stated that under the scheme £13,000,000 would have to be found for guaranteed prices, not only to the dairy industry, but to every (branch of primary and secondary production in the Dominion. There was no scheme that the money would be found by “book entries,” and it was clear at the Palmerston North Conference that the money would have to come from the pockets of the taxpayers. Mr Sinclair said his interpretation of the schemo was that the prices for food, clothing and other commodities would have to be raised to' provide for the amount. Farmers would not too better -off than they are now.

To a supplier who asked a question regarding the wheat subsidy, Mr Sinclair pointed -out that wheat was a commodity which was consumed almost entirely within the Dominion. 'However, with the dairy industry only 16 per cent of the produce was consumed in New Zealand and 84 per cent was exported -and he considered it was impossible to pay a guaranteed prioe on that 84 per cent. When a supplier oriticlsed the Labour Party and maintained that in the past it had shown little sympathy for dairy farmers, the chairman, Mr ■C. M. Alexander, said all shades of political opinion were represented at the meeting and he could not allow a political discussion.