PRICE GUARANTEE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20007, 4 August 1939, Page 10

PRICE GUARANTEE

FIXATION POSTPONED DAIRY INDUSTRY CLAIMS KECO.MAIE.YDED BASIS MR. NASH TO BE MET (Por I J res3 Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A conference of the executive committee of the dairy industry conferences was held in Wellington yesterday, those present comprising members of the Dairy Board, representatives of the National Dhiry Federation, the South Island Dairy Association, the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and the dairy industry’s nominees on the 1938-39 guaranteed prices advisory committee. The conference was called lo consider the question of the guaranteed price for the 1939-40 season and other matters connected with .the guaranteed price scheme. The chairman of the Dairy Board, Mr. W. E. Hale, reported that he had met the acting-Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Lee Martin, and had suggested that the decision as to the price to be paid for the 1939-40 season should not be made till the conferences’ executive committee had had an opportunity of discussing the position with the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, after his return, and that Mr. Martin had agreed to this course. Decisions Supported The chairman’s action was approved. The conferences’ executive committee unanimously re-affirmed the decisions made at the annual conferences of the New Zealand Dairy Eoard in April, the South Island Dairy Association in June, the National Dairy Conference in June, and the Farmers’ Union conference in July, that the recommendations of the 1938 guaranteed prices advisory committee be accepted as the basis of the price for the 1939-40 season.

The conferences’ executive committee considered, however, that the industry’s offer to forego all ascertainable increases in costs since the presentation of the advisory committee’s report required revision on the following grounds:—(l) Because of further rises which have taken place in general costs since the presentation of the committee’s report. (2) Because of the inability of the Minister of Marketing to finalise an effective standstill arrangement with the Federation of Labour. (3) Because of further additional costs as disclosed by the Budget. The conferences’ executive committee placed on record its opinion that the 1938-39 advisory committee should be called together immediately to investigate and report on what increases in costs have taken place since their recommendations were made.