WAIMATE SEAT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27498, 4 November 1954, Page 14

WAIMATE SEAT

NATIONAL PARTY CANDIDATE MR A. J. DAVEY AT TEMUKA Although emphasising the importance of secondary industries to the Dominion, Mr A. J. Davey, National Party candidate for Waimate, in an address at Temuka, urged the necessity for an increase in primary production to keep pace with the increase in population and so avoid a decline in the standard of living. Increased consumption of primary products would reduce the quantity available for export, thus earning a smaller amount of the exchange required to bring goods into the Dominion, said Mr Davey. He mentioned the land development policy carried out by the National Government as a means of increasing production, and said that if returned to Parliament he would urge the introduction of a system of finance to help farmers’ sons and employees and others to settle on farms of their own.

There was need for greater attention to development of land in the South Island to encourage the settlement of. young couples who were often reluctant to sever home ties by going north to a farm, said Mr Davey. Through this reluctance young people might turn to other avenues and be lost to the land.

Mr Davey quoted figures to show that farmers had responded to the encouragement given by the National Government to increase production. Since 1949 sheep in the Dominion had increased in number by 3,348,000 and dairy cows by 215,000. The estimated wool clip of the 1953-54 season showed an increase on the 1949-50 season of 35,000,0001 b, and butterfat production in the same period had increased by 67,000,0001 b. Not only the farming community, but every section, had benefited by this increase in production brought about by the encouragement given by the National Government. Among the means of assistance given to the primary industry were subsidies to rabbit boards amounting to £370,000. and grants totalling £353.000; cow testing organisations had received £37.000; Veterinary Services Council, £44,000; Marginal Lands Board, £600,000; and for the year ended March 31 last the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Council had received £630,000.

Importance of Quality Not only must the primary industry increase the volume of production; quality must be maintained to the highest possible level, because the Dominion’s meat and dairy produce was now coming on the open market, said Mr Davey. The discontinuance of the bulk purchasing agreement this season would bring about keen competition from war-stricken countries now only coming into full production, and whose people would work hard and live frugally so that maximum exports could be made.

It had been stated most definitely that the United Kingdom would have no more of the bulk purchase agreement under which prices were not permitted io rise or fall more than a given percentage. At present, said Mr Davey, it appeared that the prices of our produce would be good, but many factors could affect the position.

Dealing with secondary industries, Mr Davey said that these gave employment today to a larger number of persons than any other type of industry in the Dominion. The secondary industries had a vital part to play in the country’s economy: but Mr Davey said he considered it important that an equitable balance of population be maintained according to the respective needs of the primary and secondary industries. Mr Davey mentioned the relief in taxation given under the National Government. Estate and succession duties had been eased, and the Government had removed the 33 1-3 per cent, additional tax on unearned income and the 15 per cent surcharge, a war measure retained during the Labour Government’s term of office.