DAIRY PRICES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 184, 5 August 1936, Page 8

DAIRY PRICES.

MIXED RECEPTION.

"NOT OCCASION FOR PANIC."

FINAL FAY-OUT MAY BE MORE. Opinions in Auckland and the Waikato of those who have their linger on the pulse of the dairy industry, vary considerably, on the guaranteed price announced. There are farmers who say that the price will be acceptable to those who have free farms, but that those ,who have mortgaged properties will be forced to sack men. On the other hand, there are leaders of the industry who are > emphatic that the price is a wis; one and workable. Farmers generally anticipated a higher price, and there is .'•oii*scqucntly a natural feeling of disappointment. Even so, the opinion expressed by those whose views are regarded as valuable is that "there is? no need to panic." Mr. C. J. Parlane, general manager of the New Zealand Co-operative . Dairy Company, Limited, said that since the announcement over the air last evening he. had received numerous telephone communications from, dairy farmers over a wide area, expressing extreme disappointment with the butterfat price available under the guaranteed price scheme. Several had urged definite action in bringing under the notice of the Government the fact that farmers had been very badly let down, taking into account the increased costs the farmer would have to meet. There might be some justification for the fears expressed, but even allowing for this, it was not an. occasion for panic, but for calm reflec- j tion. I

"Sink Individual Differences." "The sooner farmers recognise that improvement ill their position can only be brought about by their own efforts, the better for themselves," said Mr. Parlane. "The farmers should realise that increased wages, improved conditions and shorter working hours have been bi ought about by the united efforts of the workers over a long period, and the farmers should take the workers' success as an example, and sink individual differences and get together to present a united front to the Government. The farmers produce the wealth of the Dominion, and should have a say in its distribution. By remaining divided as at present, they will continue to occupy the position of the Dominion's chopping block."

Another dairy leader stated that although the guaranteed price was announced, the actual amount the farmer would receive was not determined. It was difficult to say what the final payment would be, but the indications were that it would exceed 1/1 by a substantial margin.

"I think that in view of the fact that the price will be so little more than the price the farmer got in the past season and that the operating costs of the butter factories and farms where labour is employed will be so much greater, the farmer will be worse off," said one Auckland agent. "Back to the Cowsheds." A Dairy Flat fanner who declared he had made a careful study of the problem said the Government had • stated they intended to keep women out of the cowsheds in future, but the juice fixed would have the effect of driving women back to the cowsheds. Many farmers would find it necessary to sack their hands and carry on themselves. There had been a feeling that the price would be round about 1/4. He admitted that was a high hope, but there were few who believed that the price would bo below 1/2J —and that was low enough. He could not see how many farmers could carry on at 1/1.

The farmer was reminded of the time when the cry of the cocky was, "If only we could get 1/ a pound we would be satisfied."

"Those days are gone," he said. "Steeply rising costs have shattered all those ideals. A shilling ;i pound is useless to the farmer these days."