FIXING DAIRY PRICES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 159, 18 April 1947, Page 2

FIXING DAIRY PRICES

COMMISSION TO DECIDE DUTIES OF NEW TRIBUNAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 1/7. The intention of the Govern- | ment to introduce legislation j which would provide for important changes in the marketing of dairy produce and the procedure for fixing the guaranteed price was announced this evening by the Prime Minister (the Hon. P. Fraser). “The election manifesto of the Government contained proposals for the future marketing organisation of the dairy industry, and also proposed that an independent tribunal be established to determine the guaranteed price,” said the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser added that the manifesto had stated that these proposals would be discussed with representatives of the industry before they were put into effect, and this course had been followed. As a result of discussions which had been proceeding for the last few weeks the Government had approved a plan which involved the establishment by statute of a Dairy Commission. The commission would be given the task of determining the guaranteed price for each , season, and the price so determined would he fully guaranteed by the State. The new organisation would .also assume, subject to policy directions by the Government, powers of buying and selling butter and cheese for export, and would undertake the regulation of distribution on the local market. The commission would consist, of a full-time chairman appointed by the Government after consultation with the New’ Zealand Dairy Board; three persons selected after consultation with the New’ Zealand Dairy Board from a panel of six names submitted by the board; and three persons nominated by the Government after consultation with the board. Establishing Partnership

The Prime Minister emphasised that the proposals did not in any way depart from the principles of the guaranteed price. They were designed to establish a close partnership between tire industry and the Government in the marketing of butter and cheese, and in the important work of fixing a price to the producer that w’as commensurate with the return being received by other sections of the community. Such partnership was in accord with Government policy, and in the long tei’m view was the course likely to be most beneficial to the industry and to the Dominion as a whole. Claims had been made by the dairy industry that the price for the 1946-47 season should he revised, said the Prime Minister. In view’ of the decision to establish the commission, which would in future be charged with the responsibility of fixing prices, it had been thought advisable that these claims should also be referred to the commission. Legislation which would be introduced at an early stage in the coming session would therefore ■ authorise the commission to reconsider the pruchase price for the 1946-47 season if it thought desirable. “I am pleased to state that the proposals outlined above have been accepted by the Dominion dairy conference,” said the Prime Minister. “On behalf of the Government I can assure the industry that'no time will be lost in drafting and introducing the necessary legislation. The industry and the Government have for some time past sought a method which would give producers closer association with the marketing of their produce. I regard the proposals which have now been accepted by both the Government and the industry as an important step in the history of the dairy in* dustry, and the Government for its part will do everything possible to facilitate the establishment of the commission.”