REMITS FOR FARMERS' CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23944, 11 May 1943, Page 3

REMITS FOR FARMERS' CONFERENCE

TRANSPORT CHARGES AND BEEF PRICES Three remits dealing with matters affecting Peninsula primary producers were carried at the annual meeting of the Banks Peninsula branch of the Farmers’ Union and will be dealt with at the annual conference of the provincial branch of the union to be held In Christchurcn on June 4. Transport Charges The first remit, moved by Mr A. M. Helps and seconded by Mr C. D. Kay, was "That, in accordance with the Government stabilisation policy, pressure be brought to .bear on the Transport Department to fix the transport charges over Banks Peninsula on the basis of the proposed schedule drawn up by No. 3 Transport Authority m 1941.” Mr Helps said Mr T. H. Langford had drawi up a schedule of charges in 1941 and all interests had met in conference to consider the schedule. When agreement was not reached. Mr Langford had agreed to finalise the schedule of rates. He had been since asked for this schedule of rates on several • occasions, but no fixed charges had been made by the authority. In 1941 the charge for cartage of lambs from Akaroa to Little River had been 9d a head; in 1942 lOd a head, and this year the price had been raised to lid a head. The transport operators had been left to charge what they liked and the authority had taken no action whatever, said Mr Helps. Minimum Beef Prices

Mr Helps also moved; ’’That as the Government is taking steps to regulate the price of beef on the open market for domestic requirements, it be urged that full and careful consideration be given to the high cost of producing beef In the South compared with the North Island, and that in the interests of production, and in fairness of the producer, a minimum, as well as a maximum price, be fixed.” Mr F. C. Newton seconded the adoption of this remit In support of the remit, Mr Helps said the Government had let a contract for the supply of beef to the Army to one firm, and this firm was supplying North Island beef for the South Island. The requirements of the Army in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland left a surplus of beef on the market. The Government nad fixed a maximum price for beef at 36s per 1001b in the summer months and 46s oer 1001b in the winter months. This operated unfairly against any producer who could not supply the market regularly, because when there was an oversupply of beef at Addington market, prices fell to 30s per 1001b or even lower. Some farmers could afford to withdraw their cattle and ho'd them, but the majority could not. No minimum price was fixed, and the small farmer was sellmg at uneconomic prices unless he was luekv enough to strike a bare market. This would mean that many farmers would go out of the beef business altogether, said Mr Helps Mr C. D. Kay said the Minister of Agriculture had pointed out that farmers could send their beef to the freezing works and get the fixed prices. Mr Helps: The danger Is that the ceiling pr'ce is fixed. If we sell on the honks it will be a poor lookout for Addi'’gton market and Canterbury producers There will be a shortage of beef unless somethree is done about it, Mr W H. Moore said it was very important to every Canterbury farmer to keep Addington market going. Cartage of Metal Mr T, Masefield moved: "That the attention of the authorities be called to the wasteful methods adopted by the Public Works Department 1- carting metal from Wainui to Gough’s Bav. a distance of approximafeiv 4r rpiinc for the return trio," Mr said a fWf n f lorries w-is engaged in this carting, which he considered most wasteful as far as tvres and petrol were concerned, and aoninst the public mterest He said a crushing plant could have been provided on fh P spo f to supply the metal required.

Collectors were on the job early yesterday morning ashing Rangiora householders for paper for the waste paper co'lection Reports received yesterday indicate that the drive is progressing satisfactorily and a good result is expected The collection will be continued to-day.