Tribunal To Fix Dairy Price: New Plan Announced

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1947, Page 6

Tribunal To Fix Dairy Price: New Plan Announced

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 17. The intention of the Government to introduce legislation which wqvW provide for important changes in the marketing of dairy and the procedure for fixing the guaranteed price was announced this evening by the Prime Minister, Mr 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. Commission’s Powers As a result of discussions which had been proceeding for the last few weeks the Government had 'ap-' proved 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 be 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 regulatidn of distribution on the local

market. The commission would consist of . a full-time 1 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. 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 the industry and the Government in the marketing, of butter and cheese, and in the important work of fixing a price to the producer that was commensurate with the return being received by other sections of the community. Such partnership; was in accord with Government policy, and in the long-term view was the course likely to be most beneficial to the industry and to the Dominion as a whole.

Accepted by IndustryClaims had been made by the dairy industry that the price for the 1946-47 season should be 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 m the coming session would therefore authorise the commission to reconsider the purchase price tor the 1943-47 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 ca assure the industry that no time will be lost in drafting and introducing the, necessary legislation.