ULTIMATE DECISION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23072, 24 June 1938, Page 14

ULTIMATE DECISION

MR. A. J. SINCLAIR'S VIEW GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY OPPOSITION LATER WITHDRAWN [by TELEGRAPH —OWN correspondent] NEW PLYMOUTH. Thursday Opposition to the original remit with reference to the setting up of a price tribunal was expressed by Mr. A. J. Sinclair, ■*, of Te Awamutu, at tho National Dairy Conference to-day. Mr Sinclair moved an amendment disapproving of the tribunal method of assessing the guaranteed price, but agreeing to the appointment of a committee of three representatives to confer with three representatives of tho Government with the object of submitting a report within one month containing recommendations relating to a fair and equitable prico for dairy produce for the 12 months commencing August 1, 1938. Tho industry was suffering from a multiplicity of councillors, Mr. Sinclair said. The tribunal method of assessing tho guaranteed price was first propounded by the New Zealand Farmers' Union, and it received tho approval of tho Dairy Board Conference. The time had arrived when a definite indication must be given to the Government that the only organisation which was entitled to convey the viewpoint of thu dairy industry was the National Dairv Conference.

There wore men in the conferonce qualified to hold the scales evenly between buyers and sellers of produce and infinitely more competent than any Judge of the Supremo Court to arrive at a fair and equitable prico. These men based their conclusions on an intuitive knowledge acquired by close daily contact with tho dairy farmers of tho Dominion. A committee of men of this calibre, working in conjunction with representatives of tho Government, could be sufficiently elastic in their decision to meet any reasonable claims put forward by either side, but there could be no elasticity about a tribunal or the decision of a Judge of the Supreme Court. Mr. Sinclair said he was strongly convinced that tho method which thp conference should adopt to safeguard tho interests of tho industry was to reject the tribunal proposal altogether and place tho direct responsibility ow tho Government to determino a fair and equitable price for the incoming season.

In tho interests of unanimity, Mr Sinclair later withdrew his amendmont conditionally on a committee comprising Messrs. Bird, Marshall, liegley. Oullen, Brechin and Sinclair being sot up, to report to tho mooting within half an hour. This committee's report containing tho resolutions passed, wa» subsequently adopted.