DAIRY PRODUCE PRICE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19666, 25 June 1938, Page 9

DAIRY PRODUCE PRICE

STATE RESPONSIBILITY

MR. SAVAGE’S ASSURANCE

WILL NOT QUIBBLE

fper Ptbss Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day. “We have no desire to shelter behind the tribunal, and we will take the responsibility,” stated the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, When discussing the National Dairy decision asking for a tribunal to take evidence, but that the government should .finally fix the Gutter and cheesy 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 do not need a Supreme Court judge, because' we will accept the responsibility without quibbling. The price cannot be fixed without taking Into account the costs and all relevant factors. The original pledge 1 made prior to the election was that the farmers were entitled to the difference between what they got overseas, imd 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 the public servant or anyone else rendering 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 ia tribunal, Mr. Savage added: “If this does not mean a note of confidence in the Government, I don’t know the meaning of the words.”