“A RAW DEAL.”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 46, 3 December 1938, Page 7

“A RAW DEAL.”

WHEAT-GROWERS COMPLAIN. NORTH OTAGO RESOLUTION. (Per Press Association.) OAMARU, December 2. “Every deal the farmer has had from this Government has been a raw deai. Production is going down because farmers cannot get labour—men are holidaying on public works and they won’t go back to the farms and do an honest day’s work,” said Mr J. B. Chapman at the monthly, meeting of the North Otago branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union this afternoon. Before the Government could expect the farmer to increase his production it must give him men, he said. The Government’s invitation to all industries to submit proposals which would assist in increasing local production were discussed at the meeting. - After a full discussion a resolution was carried in which the branch ■agreed to “seek the co-operation of the Otago and all the Canterbury provincial executives together with the AVheat Board in making representations to Minister for Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) to prove what an important contribution the grain-growing industry could make under different conditions.”

“The necessity of importing grain products has contributed in no email measure to the difficulties New Zealand now faces,” said the chairman (Mr W. Malcolm). “We believe that an early announcement of an increased price for wheat to compensate growers for tlieir greatly increased costs would bring about increased production next season.”

Farmers would protest strongly against any Government proposal that would increase their costs, but they, would lie knocking their heads against a stone wall. It was no use “kicking against the pricks.” A survey of the whole position was needed, especially of the wheat-growing industry. No other industry in the country could make a greater effort in closing the gap between imports and exports—last year the production had been roughly '3,000.000 bushels short. .. - - A further suggestion that men should be taken off public works and' put on farms and paid in the same manner was made by Mr D. J. Ross, who claimed that labour had to be put back on the farms and that was a way it could lie done. Farmers would not have to pay the high wages, and the country would get the benefit from the wages of the men and from the extra produce. Public works cottages could he shifted on to farms to house the men, whose wages would be the same as they earned on their present jobs. “Let the Government supply the headers. We’ll grow, the wheat and they can do the hair vesting,” said Mr A. C. Hurst. -

No further action was taken, Mr Ross being asked to give notice of motion to the next meeting of how his suggestions could be carried into effect.