A TRIBUNAL OR THREE

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22435, 23 June 1938, Page 12

A TRIBUNAL OR THREE

FIXING THE PRICE NEXT SEASON MR NASH oisCUSSES ORDER OF REFERENCE ' (PRESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) NEW PLYMOUTH, June 22. Information about the tribunal which will fix the guaranteed prices which will be paid for dairy produce jay the Government next year was given by the Hon. W. Nash in an address to the conference of the National Dairy Association. He also referred briefly to the report of the committee which considered the prices fixed for the present season. ; The tribunal would consist of three members, he said, a judge of the Supreme Court, a representative of the Government, and a representative of the dairy industry. The industry’s representative could be nominated by the National and South Island Dairy Associations, and the Dairy Board. Its order of reference would be the considerations laid down in the act, and he did not know how that order of reference would be made wider. Costs and the standard of living were specifically mentioned in the act, which went further by saying that, any other matter ■ which might be. considered relevant should be taken into account. The tribunal was not bound in any way.

“What about section 18?” interjected a delegate, who contended that this had revoked the guarantee. The guarantee had not been revoked, said the Minister. The section had been introduced to enable internal marketing-to be carried on efficiently. At a later stage, when answering questions, he said that it costs rose to such an extent after the tribunal had fixed the price, that farmers were seriously affected, the Government would certainly have to consider the position. It would take a lot of worry off his shoulders if the tribunal were charged with fixing the prices each year.