OTAGO FARMERS CRITICISE STATEMENTS ON INCOMES

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28823, 18 February 1959, Page 12

OTAGO FARMERS CRITICISE STATEMENTS ON INCOMES

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN. Feb. 17. The Prime Minister (Mr Nash), Southland Federated Farmers, and the "Otago Daily Times” were criticised, in that order, by executive members of Otago Federated Farmers today. A motion, however, that the three of them 1 had "contributed to the present industrial unrest” was lost overwhelmingly.

The subject was a recent statement to Pukeuri freezing workers by the Prime Minister that the average "take-home” pay of farmers was £BO a week, the subsequent reply from Southland mat farmers had a net £2 10s 9d a week, and the "congicuous publication" given by e “Otago Daily Times.” “Mlle off the Beam” Mr D. T. Macaulay, said he considered Mr Nash's statement had been “a mile off the beam *’ He added: “I have always considered that I would receive more if I sold out and started swinging a pick.” Mr J. B. Gordon said that the effects of Southland’s statement had done more ' harm than the Prime Minister’s words. This claim of £2 19s fid had made sheepfarmers a laughing stock tn New Zealand. Southland was off the rails in allowing it to be discussed.

“The report used by the Prime Minister was quite accurate, but he took his own story from this set of figures.” Mr Gordon said. It had been said, and rightly, that even if farmers were,earning £54 a week, then they should be proud of it, he added. It meant that they were earning overseas money which was being spent by New Zealanders in New Zealand.

The average capital involved in the sample of farms taken was about £15,000. A freezing worker in town working a 06hour week could reasonably expect to earn £3O a week and capitalise his £15,000 on the stock exchange at approaching a 10 per cent return to show an income well in excess of £54. Mr Nash's statement was made to incite cupidity among a certain section of the public, said Mr J. L Davis. "Obsolete Figures”

‘The figures used were obsolete,” he added. , “They dated back to the boom years of 1956•7 It Is beyond my compre- - mnston why the ’Otago Daily JJnwsVgave it such prominence —-Tg* Otego Daily Times* realises ~tet the geiit ii al public loves to back and think that farmers

are getting the best of it “When there is a rise in wool prices the ’Otago Daily Times’ has headlines all over the front page, blit when there is a fall it is called a slight, easing, and to displayed in page three or four.

"The ’Otago Daily Times' and Mr Nash are just giving the public what they want It to beyond my comprehension.” Mr Davis then moved: “That the executive affirms its belief that the issuing of obsolete and tendentious . statements about farmers* incomes based on handpicked dates, then conspicuous publication, and Mr Nash’s tactful prodding of Pukeuri freezing workers with this popular myth have contributed to the precipitations of current industrial unrest”

The motion was lost on the voices.