Independent Tribunal Proposed

Southland Times, Issue 23436, 17 February 1938, Page 4

Independent Tribunal Proposed

It will be surprising if the special committee of the Dairy Board conference, which was to meet in Wellington last night, does not recommend acceptance of the offer of the Minister of Marketing (the Hon. Walter Nash) to have Cabinet discuss a proposal that the guaranteed prices for dairy produce should in future be fixed by an independent tribunal. The conference yesterday considered a remit supported by several of the northern districts which aimed at the establishment of a price-fixing tribunal presided over by a judge of the Supreme Court with assessors representing both the Government and the producers of butter and cheese. Actually Mr Nash’s offer meant very j little, for he said nothing about | recommending Cabinet to adopt the proposal beyond that he himself was “not wedded” to the present procedure. The chances are, however, that the Government would consider it favourably, for the setting-up of such a tribunal would provide a very convenient method of escape from responsibilities which are already arduous and are likely to be more so. The producers, on their side, would probably gain more than they would lose by such a move. What they would lose would be part at least of the political influence that they may be able to exert on the Government, particularly in an election year. But against that they would always have the assurance —provided the • tribunal was indeed independent and not subject to Government instruction —that their case would be carefully weighed according to the terms of the Primary Products Marketing Act. Award workers would not tolerate the fixing of their wages by those who employ them; and many dairy farmers resent having what amounts to their wages fixed by their employer—the State. They have been permitted to make representations, but the final decision, when the prices for the season are fixed, has rested with the authority to which they are compelled I to, sell their produce, whether they like it or not. Whatever the merits and defects of the guaranteed price scheme, as it stands today the establishment of an independent and judicial tribunal to replace the Government as the price-fixing authority would appear to be a definite improvement.