COST OF FARMING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 78, 12 January 1928, Page 8

COST OF FARMING.

A HEAVY INCREASE. SOME TYPICAL FIGURES. '(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, January 11. Striking evidence of the increased cost of farming is contained in typical prices of farming commodities in 1914 and 1926, which have been collected by the New Zealand Farmers' Union. One of the most serious problems which the farming industry has to face is the abnormal increase in production costs since the beginning of the war. Increased wages to workmen: have naturally compelled manufacturers to pass on the increased cost, and at present farmers are paying about double the 1914 cost for all the implements they are using. The unfortunate phase of this increased cost is that the farmer cannot fix the prices of his wool, meat, and wheat to recoup him for the increased cost of production. To a large extent the operations of the Arbitration Court are responsible for the rise in production costs. - The following figures are given as Authentic -and typical of the general increase in prices for farming commodities:—

Spare parts for shearing mnchines show an average increase of 200 per cent., while combs and cutters show ao average increase of 100 per cent.

1914 1926. £ s. d. £ s. d. D. F. ploughs 23 15 0 41 0 0 Harrows, 4rlf tine 7 7 6 12 15 0 Cultivators, 6ft . 19 0 0 32 6 0 5 h.p. engines for shearing plant . 65 0 0 90 0 0 Shearing machines (3-stand) . . 65 0 o no o 0 Wool packs 0 3 31 a 5 9 Rly. freight on wool per bale (100 miles) 0 5 7 0 7 0 Shearing (per 100) 1 0 0 1 7 6 Shell burnt lime (loose) per ton 0 15 0 1 10 0 Crushed burnt lime (loose) per ton 1 0 0 1 10 0