AUCKLAND COMMENT

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 191, 30 August 1937, Page 6

AUCKLAND COMMENT

— Press Association.)

"Price Totally Inadequate," Say Dairymen FACTORS THAT MAY BE blFFICULT

(By TelejrraDh-

AUCKLAND. ' Last Nigfit. FcJllowing are Auckland coinments on the guaranteed prices: — "If it is tbe intention of the Government that dairy-i'armers sliall receive payment for their services commensurate with that received by other sections of the community for equal services, the price is totally inadequate," said Mr C. J. Parlane, general manager of the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Co., Ltd. "The Government claimed that the last price was in accordance with its electiou promises. As no such promises are, attaehed to this season's price, farmers have every reason to feel disappointed." "It is not an economic price so far as the dairy-farmer is concerned." said a director of an important co-op-erative dairy .company. "Every other country that supplies the Londoh mar1 et sells butter mere at less than the domestio price., That is to say, butter export is subsidised. I feel, and I am sure many others do, that the dairyfarmer is entitled to the New Zealand price for commercial production under New Zealand conditions, especially considering the increased costs that have been imposed upon him.'' The chairman of directors of the Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy Co., Mr J. E. Leeson, said the price was id. above the figure at which he had expected . the Government to fix it. He estimated that the average farmer in the Morrinsville district would receive £40 or £50 more under the new price than he had last season. Such men would be able to carry on, although the price did not meet their greatly-increased costs, for which the present Government was responsible. If Anstralian production xevived or London prices took a downward trend, thinks would be difficult., Mr Leeson . added that he did not believe the Gov- ' ernment wouid be able to qontinufe its compulsory purdtase plan very long. In his opinion farmers would have done just as well. last season !f no such plap had been in operatlon.