DAIRY TRIBUNAL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 176, 25 June 1938, Page 12

DAIRY TRIBUNAL.

MR SAVAGE’S COMMENTS.* (By Telegraph—Special to “Standard”) WELLINGTON, June 24. “We have no desire to shelter behind the tribunal, and we will take the responsibility,”’ stated the Prime Minister (Mr Savage), in discussing, the Dairy Conference’s decision in asking for a tribunal to take evidence, the Government finally to fix butter and cTieese prices. . Mr Savage was asked if a Supreme Court Judge would preside at the taking of evidence. “The Government will take all the evidence the farmers care to offer, and it will take the responsibility of fixing the price,” he replied. “We don’t need a Supreme Court Judge, because we accept the responsibility without quibbling. The price cannot be fixed without taking into account the costs and all the relevant factors. The original pledge I made prior to the election was that the farmers were entitled to the difference between what they got overseas and what it took to provide them with a decent standard of living. Whatever happened the New Zealand farmer should be in exactly the same position as a public servant or anyone else rendering a national service. He is entitled to receive an equitable share of New Zealand’s total production from all sources.” Finally pointing out that the original suggestion for a tribunal came from the farmers themselves, and that they were promised it if they wanted a tribunal; Mr Savage added: If this does not mean a vote of confidence in the Government, I don’t knoHv the meaning of the words.