ECONOMICS OF FARMING

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 17 March 1939, Page 10

ECONOMICS OF FARMING

— : —« DRASTIC REORGANISATION ADVOCATED “NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT” Advocating that drastic reorganisation of economics as applied to the farming community should be made, Mr D. W. Westenra, a former president, said at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association last evening that a meeting should be called of the Sheepowners’ Association, the Farmers’ Union, and similar bodies to see what could be done to improve the economic situation. “Never in the history of farming in the Dominion has the need been greater for the reorganisation of farming economics,” said Mr Westenra. “In secondary industry increased costs can be passed on, but the primary producer is in an entirely different position. We need to organise ourselves thoroughly and have brains at the head of the organisation. There has been a lot of talk, but now is the time to act.” A member suggested that fruitgrowers and market gardeners should also be included, as they were affected quite as much as the farmers. The chairman (Mr T. A. Stephens) considered that no progress would be made until farmers were organised into one body, and not into several different societies and associations, In Great Britain they were fighting for price insurance, and it was proposed to get it by making a 10 per cent, levy on products. A voice: They must be taking a leaf out of Mr Nash’s book. The chairman added that such policy was dangerous from the Dominion’s point of view, because the Government would probably resort to undesirable levies to finance it. Great Britain was more in danger of starvation than the Dominion in the event of war, and was concentrating more on home production. The discussion lapsed after Mr W. H. Nicholson gave an explanation of what was being done by the Primary Producers’ Council at Wellington. The full activities of the : council had not yet been made pub- : lie. he said. (