Price Guarantee

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 28, 3 February 1937, Page 12 (Supplement)

Price Guarantee

ADJUSTMENT QUESTION MINISTER SEES NO PROSPECT TUAKAU, Feb. 1. ‘‘Some farmers hold the opinion that the present price for butterfat is not adequate,” said the Minister of Agriculture, tho Hon. W. Loe Martin, when presenting the prizes at the annual sports meeting at Pukekawa yesterday. As a dairy farmer milking 85 cows, he regarded the price as a good one, compared with what it would have been had not the guarantee been introduced. However, added the Minister, there were those who, in view of the increased costs in other directions, and particularly in regard to labour, felt that an adjustment was duo. No adjustment was possible this season. Air Martin referred to two factors bearing on the case. One was that an undertaking had been given that if there was a surplus in the dairy marketing account at tho end of the season it would be distributed to tho industry after consultation with the industry. That undertaking would be kept. Tho Minister acknowledged, howover, that at present he saw no prospect of a surplus. The second factor was tho machinery in operation for deciding the necessity for alternation in the price. “It can be said without any hesitation whatever,” Mr Martin continued, “that if tho price is not sufficient to give the dairy-farmers the standard of living they are entitled to m comparison with other sections of the community, then an adjustment will be made.’ 7 A committee was compiling data showing the movement of costs in the industry. It was receiving tho co-operation of the dairy companies and othors concerned. Increased costs would be taken into account, and the guaranteed price deait with accordingly. Should au adjustment be warranted for next season, the new price would bo announced earlier than it was this season, to give those employing sharemilkers and others in a similar position better time to make arrangements for tho season.