ASHBURTON SEAT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27491, 27 October 1954, Page 12

ASHBURTON SEAT

MR R. G. GERARD AT ALLENTON PRODUCTION INCREASES REVIEWED Increases in almost every phase of the farming industry had occurred aince the National Party took office, •aid the National Party candidate for the Ashburton electorate (Mr R. G. Gerard) last evening. He opened an address at the Allenton Presbyterian Hall with a resume of the present state ©f primary industries in New Zealanu. Primary products were the basis of all prosperity for New Zealand, about 95 per cent, of all exports being derived from the soil, said Mr Gerard. The Government could claim some credit for the improvement effected in agricultural spheres, not only regarding increased production, but in better conditions for the men who farmed the land. The producers’ right to control their own industries had been returned. and farmers were able to get the full proceeds from the sale of their products. The eradication and extermination of pests, the cultivation of grasses, and the improvement of second-class land were all being seen to by the Government, while fences, roads, ’wells, drainage and other items were also being studied closely, said Mr Gerard. There was a much better understanding between farmers and the Government at present, and a spectacular increase in primary production had helped to foster it. Wool receipts had increased from £367,000,000 in 1943 to £525,000,000 in 1953, while meat income had improved from £565,000,000 to £591,000,000 in the same period, he said.

A land development programme under which 400,000 acres a year would be brought in, had been embarked upon, and great areas such as those near Rotorua had been grassed The number of dairy cows had increased by 14 per cent, since 1949, and sheep, pigs and cattle had shown similar increases of 13 per cent.. 17 per cent., and 21 per cent., he said. Mr Gerard outlined the National Party’s policy, especially regarding the farming community, whose goodwill towards the present government would be fostered.

Employment in Industry Industrial production had also increased in the last five years, the number of workers employed growing from 145,000 in 1949 to 182,000 at the present time. Although there were fewer men on the waterfront at present the turnover of goods had increased. said Mr Gerard. In 1949. 11.85 tons of goods were discharged in an hour, while the 1953 figure was 15J28 tons. Boxes of butter loaded in an hour had increased from 722 to 996 in that period, while wool-bales had increased from 80 to 102 an hour. The average wage was now £l5 17s 5d instead of being £ll Is 2d, as in 1949, he said. The Government had fought infiation hard, said Mr Gerard. Although some of his party’s promises had not been fulfilled, loans from the Reserve Bank and other banks had been substantially reduced—a good effort when big schemes such as Murupara and Roxburgh were in progress. “We cannot compete with Mr Nash in the offering of extra social security benefits, but we do offer to look after the stability of funds if bad times come upon us, instead of spending extra,”

The Government had built more houses than Labour ever did. he said. Mr Nash had claimed a total of 15.800 houses built in 1949. but in the sucyears the respective totals of 16,400 16.300. 16,100, and 16,000 had b*en built, and the 1954 total was estimated at more than 17,000. Home ownership was encouraged by loans by the State Advances Corporation. “The National Government believes in private enterprise, and the control of the State by the people, not the opposite.” he said. “People should always realise that the Labour Party is a socialist party.**