EQUAL SACRIFICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 109, 4 November 1939, Page 8

EQUAL SACRIFICE

THE FARMERS' LOSSES

"The announcement that the rationing of butter and bacon has been introduced in England emphasises the seriousness of the warning given to the Government by the deputation on Thursday," says an official statement of the New Zealand Farmers' Union.

"It now behoves every farmer in New Zealand who is producing these products to make his utmost efforts to produce more, and it behoves the Government to take effective steps to bring the cost of production of these commodities into line with their prices. Unless the Government takes the effective action referred to, the farmers of this country will not be able to carry out properly their duty to New Zealand and to the Empire.

"The union is confident that notwithstanding the handicap under which the farmers—particularly the dairy farmers—are working, they will loyally strive to produce to the utmost extent of their ability.

"It should be emphasised also that the farming community is willing to cheerfully bear its rightful share of any sacrifices which the war makes necessary. Their contention is, however, that up till the present time these sacrifices are not being equally borne, and quite apart from the dairy farmer who is now expected to produce for the same price when costs are much higher, the case of the fruit grower is the most glaring. The fruit growers of New Zealand may have to make the great sacrifice of losing their overseas market in order that the other1 producers of New Zealand may be able to ship their produce. This sacrifice on the part of the orchardists should be borne equally by the whole community, and they should not be asked to bear the whole of the loss.

"We would reiterate that the farming community will at all times strive to produce the things in the quantities which the Old Country so urgently requires, but we feel that the policy of the Government should be altered so that farmers may be able to perform that duty to the Empire which this emergency demands."