The Akaroa Mail, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1939. THE FARMERS' PART IN WAR

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXIV, Issue 6576, 13 October 1939, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1939. THE FARMERS' PART IN WAR

]Sj[o section of the community in New Zealand can be as worlied about their course of duty in the present war as the farmer. The statement is being made continuously that that the best way to aid the British Empire is to increase production and if farmers are to send away their sons and their workers to fight the}* j cannot keep up their production. I Farmers as a class do not want I ; to have other men's sons fighting i for tliem and to make no sacrifice themselves, so that the postion is bustling with difficulties. The fairest way would be to bring in conscription and leave it' to the authorities to decide what men are essential for work at home. As it is young men of every section of the community are enlisting and these lists may include a number of essential workers. Certainly in New Ze.Jand we do not want a decline of farm produce. Before the war broke out farmers were finding it very difficult to obtain enough help as the Public Works were absorbing a fair proportion of normal farm labour. It is true that if men are being called up continuously all industries will have to carry on with a minimum of labour, but farming is the one industry that must not be allowed to decline appreciably. The ordinary resident both in town and country has taken the position seriously .and many grass plots have been ploughed up and sown in vegetables. One oi our local merchants remarked the other day tLat judging by the increased number of seed potatoes sold, the people in and about Akaroa were doing Ihcir bit. The position of the farmo: has altered since the war of 1014-18 when he sold his produce j on the open market. The New Zealand Dairyman writing on the subject of the coming prices had nol forseen commandeer by the Government of all farm produce. The writer suggested that the> dairy quota should be made a fair one so that the farmer had reasonable benefit from the rising prices. This is a very important point. The farmer and his family, including many women and children who will have to take the plfce of men, deserve to have a good return for their hard work. The Government has taken- full control since ti.e article was written and if he is wise and just the Minister for Marketing will see that the farmers have full benefit of any rise in price subject to additional costs The following extract from the New Zealand Dairy man dealing with war prices for farmers is of interest. Although it is the fervent hope of one and all that the present conflict will be ended as soon as i I possible, the future is full of un-

certainty and no one can forsee the trend of events. What we can and should do, however, is to

made durng the years 1914-20, whon, carricd away by high prices the industry indulged in an unprecedented orgy of land speculation. Although buttcrfat prices scared to heights never dreamt of, daiiyfarmers preferred the paper profit made from the sale of their land to the real profit to be made out of their produce. When the bubble burst, the industry found itself loaded with a mortgage burden which eventually broke down under its own weight. Thousands of farmers walked off their farms, ]u-7iieless and penniless, lamenting the mistakes which then appeared so obvious. The only man who benefited by the high prices of those years was the farmer who refused to traffic in land and was content to remain quietly on his farm. "The men who actually went liirough this experience are not likely to make the same mistake twice, and the farmers of the younger generation would do well to heed their advice. A fair and just, guaranteed price may prevent a repetition of this form of speculation and fictitious prosperity. Should export values rise materially above the guaranteed price, it may even be advisable to build up a strong reserve in the Dairy Industry Account, to provide for the reaction which is inevitably associated with the aftermath of a great war. Indeed, let the period of depression yet fresh in our memories be a warning for every producer to build up an individual reserve for himself and sr bo prepare 1 for every contingency of the future. The economic security and stability for which we have all been hoping is further oil than ever and there is no knowing whnt to-morrow wiil bring. Sacrifices will be demanded of all and there was never a time when foresight and prudent management are rr-ore essential than they are to-day. "In the meantime, the industry is anxiously waiting for the decision of the Minister of Marketing. It is earnestly hoped that his pronouncement will be such that it can be accepted without bickering and arguing ever the price to be paid producers; New Zealand daiiyfarmers are as loyai and patriotic as any ether section of the community, but only too often in the past has their loyalty been abused and Qieir interest been sacrificed without as much as by their leave. Rising costs, increased taxation and shortage of labour are handicaps serious enough in themselves without having to fight for a fair and just price for their

proauce. More than ever is the economic and financial security of New Zealand depending on the farmers' exports, and only by ensuring a reasonable return for thc?r labour ons the country ex-

pect to participate in the benefit? of increased production. We hope the Government will appreciate this fact and will do the right thing by the New Zealand dairy industry."