DAILY RADIO BROADCASTS OF WHOLESALE PRICES OF FOODSTUFFS

Mr Goh Tong Liang asked the Minister for Commerce and Industry whether he will consider causing a daily broadcast in Chinese and Malay by Radio Malaya of the wholesale prices of livestock, poultry, eggs, fish, vegetables, bananas and coconut.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: The answer, Sir, is no. To both consumer and producer alike, such daily broadcasts are not particularly useful and are not popular because (a) only the previous day's prices can be given at a time when housewives are out marketing and when they already know the previous day's prices, and (b) by the time the prices are available for broadcasting the producers have already sold their produce. Such broadcasts therefore do not give the housewives an idea of prices before they go to market and do not help the producers to get better prices for their products.

Mr Goh Tong Liang: I am afraid the Hon. the Minister misunderstands the question. What I want are broadcasts of the prices of livestock delivered by the farmers.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Sir, would the Member please repeat his question?

Mr Goh Tong Liang: My object is to have broadcasts of the prices as paid by the middlemen to the farmers.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: The prices, Sir, paid by the middlemen to the farmers vary with different middlemen in different areas. They depend on the cleverness of the middlemen and probably also on the cleverness of the farmers in trying to get the best prices for their produce. The prices are not on a standard rate and therefore the Government would not be in a position to give a standard rate paid by the middlemen to the farmers.

10.21 a.m.