DAIRY INDUSTRY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1943, Page 4

DAIRY INDUSTRY

COSTS TO BE TAKEN BACK TO 1938-39 LEVEL

AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE.

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MINISTER OF MARKETING. (By Telegraph —"Times-Age” Special.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Minister of Marketing, Mr Barclay, today informed the National Dairy Association’s annual conference at Palmerston North that the Government was prepared to accept the general principle that costs in butter and cheese production, dairy farming, factory requisites and other agreed costs should, as far as practicable, at the beginning of next season, be taken back to the 1938-39 level.

Referring to the Government’s policy of economic stabilisation, particularly in relation to the dairy industry, Mr Barclay said that, as he had explained in a letter replying to the Chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Board, Mr Halo, the Government's decision was based on the assumption that the industry accepted the .Bld war cost allowance as covering the increased labour award.

Mr Barclay read a letter from Mr Hale regarding the discussions that had taken place, and stating that the Council of the Dairy Board appreciated the Minister's helpful attitude and would approach the problems in a similar spirit. The Council had appointed the chairman, Mr Hale, and Messrs W. Marshall and C. P. Agar, as the industry's 1943 Dairy Cost Committee.

The Minister added that he would be happy to meet this committee in conference at any time so that, as soon as possible, details for the practical application of the principle clearly accepted by both the Government and the dairy industry could be set out.