A BASIC PRICE TRIBUNAL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22436, 24 June 1938, Page 12

A BASIC PRICE TRIBUNAL

SUPPORT FROM DAIRY CONFERENCE ADVISORY POWERS ONLY WANTED (Pj£E3S ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) NEW PLYMOUTH, June 23. Unanimous support to the setting up of an independent tribunal to take evidence with a view to recommending to the Government what it considered fair and reasonable as guaranteed prices for next season, was given by the National Dairy Association conference to-day after a long debate. There was considerable diversity of opinion, mainly on the constitution of the tribunal, how the representati /es of the industry were to be selected and who should have the appointment of the Supreme Court Judge as chairm of the tribunal.

Argument occurred on whether t e tribunal should have power definitely to fix the price or merely to recoi mend a fair and reasonable price to the Government, leaving the responsibility of fixing the price to the Government. The latter course was unanimously agreed to. The discussion arose on a Kaitaia remit; “That this conference is of opinion that during the operation 'f the guaranteed price scheme the price should be determined for each seasn-i by a tribunal consisting of equal numbers of assessors appointed by the Dairy Board and the Government and presided over by a Supreme Court Judge.” The momentous nature of the occasion, which was regarded as a very critical juncture in the history of the industry, was emphasised by speakers when urging 'the need for a united front; %nd the need for full pul ‘a r being given the representations that would be placed by the industry before the tribunal, so that the public might be fully seized of the justice of the claims made, was also emphasised. Text of Motion The motion finally passed was: "That during the operation of the guaranteed price scheme, and before the price or prices to be paid in respect of dairy produce are fixed under section 20 of the Primary Products Marketing Act, 1936, the following procedure should be followed:—

“(1) That an advisory body be set up ccnslituted as follows:—(a) Three members appointed by the dairy ;n----dustry, as hereinafter mentioned; (b) three members to be appointed by the Crown; (c) the chairman, being a Judge of the Supreme Court, to be appointed by the Grown, after consu. tation with the other members of this body. “(2) The three members representing the dairy industry to be appointed by a committee consisting of; (1) The presiderit arid to members elected by the National Dairy Conference; (2> two members to be appointed by the South Island Dairy Association and the members of the New Zealand Dairy Board. “(3) That the advisory board, after "taking such relevant evidence in open sessiori as may be Jaid before it by and on behalf of the Crown or the dairy industry, and after taking into account the coi siderations set out in the statute, including* also: (1> -The necessity of enabling the producer to pay competitive rates of wages; (2) provision for a reasonable interest on the capital invested in the producer’s farm arid stock; (3) provision to meet any increased costs, including those resulting from legislation and including tariffs; (4) Provision allowing the producer a remuneration commensurate with the services rendered to the community, and with that obtained by other sections of the community rendering equal service. “The advisory body recommend to the Govemmer-t a price or prices which it thinks fair and reasonable.” It was also resolved: "That the conference approves the suggestion that the Dairy Board be authorised out of its levy to expend money in the collection of data and in the preparation and presentation of the industry’s case to any price-fixing committee or tribunal or to the dairy industry assessors.”