PRICE FOR DAIRY PRODUCE

Southland Times, Issue 23437, 18 February 1938, Page 6

PRICE FOR DAIRY PRODUCE

Fixation By Tribunal

Recommended

STATE AND BOARD TO BE REPRESENTED

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 17. The special committee set up by the Dairy Produce Board to consider the method of fixing the guaranteed price submitted its report this afternoon to the ward conference of the board. It recommends a tribunal consisting of equal numbers of assessors appointed by the board and the Government, and presided over by a ■ Supreme Court judge, the order of reference to provide for payment on a basis that will enable the producer to

(a) Pay competitive rates of wages. (b) Allow him reasonable interest on the capital invested in farm and stock. (c) Enable him to meet the increased costs imposed by legislation, including tariffs.

(d) Allow the farmer remuneration commensurate with the service he gives to the community and with that obtained by other sections of the community giving equal service. It is a recommendation that the preparation and presentation of the industry’s case before the tribunal, committee or assessors be met out of a levy. Following addresses' by Mr A. H. Ward, technical officer of the herdtesting division, and Mr John Dunlop, a member of the board, the conference passed a remit recommending the board

to give consideration to the establishment of herd testing as a national service ahd to report to the next conference. It was also decided that the board should give every encouragement, financial and otherwise, to efforts for the collection of herd statistics in relation to animal diseases. . The possibility of the deficit of £338,750 in the Dairy Industry Account announced by the Minister of Marketing (the Hon. W. Nash) yesterday being amended, was mentioned in a letter from Mr G. A. Duncan, Director of the Dairy Produce Export Division. “There are still a number of returns, particularly cheese sales, to come in,” he said. “The final returns will be received during the next few weeks.” The chairman of the board /Mr A. J. Murdoch), before his recent selection as the National Party candidate to contest the Marsden seat at the general election, announced that in that event he would resign his position as chairman of the board. After the conference Mr C. P. Agar (Southern Ward) expressed the appreciation of the delegates of Mr Murdoch’s work and regret that he would not be continuing as chairman.

Mr Murdoch said he had made that decision for a good reason. He felt there was a big task ahead and that all the efforts which he was able to give should be given in their entirety. The board appreciated very much the manner in which the delegates had tackled the problems they had had before them. Unity in the industry was the aim and by that method they would certainly achieve their ends in time. The knowledge he had gained since he had been on the board had been of inestimable value to him.