FARM OUTPUT INCENTIVES

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27059, 6 June 1953, Page 2

FARM OUTPUT INCENTIVES

N.S.W. GOVERNMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

VIEWS ON “REASONABLE INCOME ” (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY May 29. The New South Wales Department of Agriculture has completed a survey to determine what incentives are needed to increase wheatgrowing in the State. The survey took the form of an opinion poll among 127 farmers and one share farmer. Among the questions asked was: “What is your idea of a reasonable, assured income a year for you (i.e, taxable income), such that you would not be inclined to work harder once you had achieved it?’’ Of the 128 farmers asked this question, 25 replied that they had no idea, and did not think in such terms; 24 said they would never be satisfied, and would always strive for more; five said that their properties had a potential, and that would limit their income; 40 stated fixed maximum incomes, the average of which was £3346; and 34 did not reply to the question, because they thought it was “unrealistic.” The average income of the 40 farmers who said that £3346 was a reasonable income was £2612. The survey showed that expenditure on pasture improvement and fencing was the most popular type of investment, and was considered the most satisfactory means of increasing income, but farmers preferred to finance such improvements from savings rather than by bank credit. This attitude is reflected in the little interest farmers show in the New South Wales Government scheme available for farmers to carry out pasture improvement, fencing, fodder conservation, clearing, soil conservation, etc., by the use of loans at a low rate of interest.