PRESENT SYSTEM TO STAND

Southland Times, Issue 23544, 25 June 1938, Page 8

PRESENT SYSTEM TO STAND

FIXING GUARANTEED PRICE • VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT” . (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 24. Because of the National Dairy Conference’s decision to turn down the Government’s offer of a tribunal presided over by a Supreme Court Judge to fix a guaranteed price, the previous method of determining the price will be retained. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) said the conference’s decision was tantamount to a vote of confidence in the Government’s system. The Government had no desire, he said, to shelter behind any tribunal. The suggestion of a tribunal came from the farmers themselves.

“They say they still want a Supreme Court Judge,” Mr Savage said, “but that the Government should have the last say.” He would think they had more confidence in the Government than in a tribunal. The Government would take all the evidence farmers cared to offer, but it would be its responsibility to fix the price. It did not want a Supreme Court Judge. The Government would accept the responsibility to take evidence and appoint suitable men to listen to it and advise the Government. The desire was to do justice to the dairy farmer. If the dairy farmers’ decision was not a vote of confidence in the Government, then he did not know the meaning of the words.