LEAN YEARS TO COME.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19667, 10 July 1929, Page 15

LEAN YEARS TO COME.

FARMER TALKS TO FARMERS. "INDICATIONS NOT HOPEFUL." [THE PBESS Bpeclal Barries.] DUNEDIN, July 9. That the immediate future of the man on the land cannot be expected to bring the measure of prosperity that has been enjoyed by farmers during the past two or three seasons was the substance of a warning uttered by the president of the Otago Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, Mr J. D. Eevie, to-day. Mr Eevie said he did not wish to appear unduly pessimistic, but he felt constrained to remind members of the Union that indications were not very hopeful. There was noticeable in the Dominion's produce markets a sharp decline, that was certain to make itself felt in the coming season. It was as well that farmers should take note of the signs of the times. The wool market lacked the healthy tone of the past, and he felt certain that sheepowners during the 1929-30 season would have to accept even lower prices _ than the reduced values of the season just ended. In the meat industry, too, there were disquieting signs, which to his mind pointed to less satisfactory returns next year. They all knew that the season just closed did not finisn up as strongly as could have been wished. Lamb values early in the killing season had been good, but later in the year the grazier's position became much less secure. He would like to point out that the state of the Home markets at present was such as to induce the fear that less satisfactory conditions could bo expected next year. In respect to the dairying industry, the speaker said he was not very well versed in conditions at present, but the past season had not been all in the producers' favour. Forward sales had proved to be good business, but those dairy companies which consigned their produce had not had nearly so good a year. Farmers could not hope to be able to influence prices; that was a matter over which they had no control, but they had an insurance against adverse conditions which could be made quite effective. As soon as farmers recognised that they must co-ordinate all effort and co-operate to reduce the costs of production and marketing—the best way to protect their own interests —the man on the land could safeguard himself against unstable markets and fall' ing values in the future.