DAIRY PRICES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 March 1939, Page 6

DAIRY PRICES

NEXT YEAR’S GUARANTEE POSITION TO BE DISCUSSED SHORTLY. MINISTER AND INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES. (By Telegraph—Press Association ) WELLINGTON, This Day. Next year’s guaranteed price for butter and cheese is to be discussed soon at a meeting between the Minister of Marketing, Mr Nash, and representatives of the dairy industry. This statement was made by Mr Nash when referring yesterday to the resolution passed by the conference at Morrinsville of the No 1 ward of the Dairy Board, regarding increased costs in the factory and on the farm. “The chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, Mr W. E. Hale, has informed me that a committee consisting of representatives of the Dairy Board, the Farmers' Union, the National Dairy Association, and the South Island Dairy Association, has been set up to discuss the question of next season's guaranteed prices for butter and cheese,” said Mr Nash. “Lhave stated my willingness to meet the committee, and the discussions will take place at an early date.

“The position in regard to the fixation of the prices for dairy produce is that after .asking for a judicial tribunal to decide the prices, the dairy industry finally declined to accept that method of price fixation, and asked that the Government should itself take the responsibility for fixing the prices to be paid. The Government, while readily accepting this responsibility, is nevertheless prepared to discuss the matter with industry representatives. "In announcing the fixation of the present guaranteed prices, I reminded dairy-farmers and industry representatives that full weight, had to be given to the standard of living factor which is referred to in the Primary Products Marketing Act in these words:—“The general standard of living of persons engaged in the dairy industry in comparison with the general standard of living throughout New Zealand.’ “If this factor is not given its correct weight a disparity will arise find an unfair situation will be created. After the discussion with industry representatives, suggested by the chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, the Government will determine the procedure for the coming season.”