FIXATION OF PRICES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 209, 29 May 1919, Page 4

FIXATION OF PRICES

STATEMENT BY THE HON. W. D. S. MACDONALD. "How long is it proposed to regulate prices, of is the practice likely to become permanent?" was a question addressed tc tie Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald {Minister of Agriculture) by a delegate to the conference of the Wellington Provincial Farmers' Union yesterday afternoon.

"Why don't you ask me something easy?" replied the Minister, amidst laughter. Mr. Mac Donald said he did not know what notion was to be taken. "Nobody wants to keep this job going if they can get out of doing it," he remarked. "Once demobilisation is complete, and we get moving again, I think things will be very different. I don't think there will. , be any'need for the fixation of prices at all."

Replying to an interjection, Mr. MacDonald said New Zealand was not the only country where there were troubles, it was the country where there were the fewest troubles. The Imperial Government said it was inevitable that prices would linve to como down.- They were irksome to the consumer as well as to the producer, and were more irksome to the Government. "I only hope," added 'the Minister, -"that we will get good prices, and that we will be able to allow lithe producers of tho country to deal with all these matters in the way they like, and Hie way they deem'best/There is no incentive for a man to go on producing unless ho is allowed to make his own arrangements." (Applause.) The Government had only nctod in this matter after the most careful consideration. What had been done had been by agreement, arid they were prepared to take the responsibility.