DAIRY PRODUCE

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20247, 16 July 1937, Page 10

DAIRY PRODUCE

PRICE FIXATION. FARMERS’ UNION PROPOSAL. SPECIAL TRIBUNAL SUGGESTED. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A motion that a tribunal presided over by a Judge of the Supreme Court, holding office for eight or ten years, should compute the prioe of dairy produce (was carried by the Dominion conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-night. It is proposed that the tribunal should be appointed by a committee consisting of equal numbers of members nominated by the dairy industry and tlie Government, that the price should be determined on evidence and accepted by the Government, and that the proceedings and findings of the tribunal should be treated as are those >f the Arbitration Court. Unfairness Alleged. “It is most unfair that the Government., which is tlie sole buyer of the produce, should nominate the committee who advise it,” said Mr D. B. Higgins (Auckland), who moved the motion. “The committee, while they may claim to be farmers, are not representatives of the farmers. We did not elect them and have no say at all. We feel that in future we should have the right to elect an equal number of members. We do not mind w-hom the Government elects so long as we have that right. Even if we get a compensated price we shall have to havg a committee.” Other Remits Adopted. The following remits also were carried:—“That this conference calls I the attention of the Government* to the increasing mountain of costs the primary industries are being called upon to bear with no opportunity oi passing these costs on to the consumers, as is possible in every otherdepartment of industry and commerce, and expresses the. emphatic opinion that a substantial addition to the price for butter-fat and cheese for the ourrent season is essential if the farmer’s standard of living is not to be reduced further and the productive capacity of farms jeopardised. "That this conference opposes the recent action of the Internal Markethng Department in increasing the retail price of bacon by 3d per lb without any corresponding increase Jn the irioe to the producer.” COMMITTEE ADJOURNS. DATA REGARDING COSTS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The guaranteed price committee, which met in Wellington this week to consider the recommendations to be made with regard bo the guaranteed prices for butter-fat for the current season, has adjourned its sitting until July 24, as oomplete data relating to the farm -and factory costs for the past season is not available. A PINNY INCREABE. DAIRY CHAIRMAN’S PREDICTION. \ ,

(Special to Times). WHANGAREI, Thursday. ‘•While In some quarters It Is expeoted the guaranteed price for the oomlng season will be lnoreased by About 8d per lb, my own personal opinion Is that the lnorease will be In the vicinity of Id,” said the chairman of the Hlkurangl Dairy Company, Limited, Mr F. Elliott, at the annual meeting of the suppliers to-day. Mr Elliott said he did not anticipate that the figure would be released until after the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, had returned. “It is most unfortunate that the chairman should have referred to an lnorease of Id per lib, which might tend to Intimate that that Is what we want,” said Mr F. McDonald, “whereas we all know perfectly well that a Id Increase would not enable the farmer to carry on with the increased costs and wages he has to pay.” Mr Elliott: I expressed my personal opinion only, and, while we would all like the see about Is 4d paid out this year. I doubt whether any Government could pay a suftlclent price to farmers to enable them to compete with the 40-hour week and high wages being paid on various Jobs. I regard the present position of dairy farmers as being serious, especially regarding labour.