GUARANTEED PRICE

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 437, 19 May 1937, Page 6

GUARANTEED PRICE

POSITION OF FARMERS Government’s Promises e Press Association —Copyright. Auckland, May 18. Explaining that it was the Governintention to live up to its*pro_ mises and that it would fulfil all the provisions of the Primary Products Marketing Act, the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. W. Lee Martin, vigorously defended the application of the guaranteed price in its first year of operation at the annual provincial conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union tod!ay. He said the four points! the union was advocating were already embodied in the Act. There was room for difference of opinion on the subject, the Minister admitted, and the committee which, recommended the price Was burdened with very responsible dutfes. He regretted any misconception that the committee itself fixed the price, arifdi he pointed out that in previous addresses- he had stressed, the point that its duty was, after taking into consideration every relevant factor, to recommend a just payment to the Government. This was indicated lay die fact that in the first year of operation approximately £500,000 was adrdfed to the pribe suiiggested by the committee. Voices: “What about a bonus?” Mr Martin: "We shall do it by a straight-blit payment in order thlafi producers may be able to budget their position at the beginning of the season. “I do not think we -shall satisfy every farmer; Indeed we never shall,” th© Minister observed. “However, we shall go a long way toward satisfying the producer who looks upon business from a reasonable standpoint. I can produce dozens of letters', from both large and small farmers stating that they are perfectly satisfied, with the Price they are receiving to-day.”