Relief for farmers

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32536, 20 February 1971, Page 16

Relief for farmers

i Sir,—We have heard nothing but complaints from i the farming community for ■ months about being hard up > and that farming will be crippled in present conditions. ‘ Everything I have heard on 1 radio and television from , farming spokesmen is gent eralisations; no figures about farmers’ incomes have been . given to my knowledge. I • feel the man in the street ! would like to know the average net income of the various types of ’ farmers—sheep, cattle, mixed, cropping, etc. —for, say, 1965 and 1970, the net to include any money put into improvements. I stipulate this because when watersiders* and carpenters’ wages are quoted it is always the gross, irrespective of the fact that these workers may have put money into the improvements of their properties. Improvements are assets. I reiterate: there are far too many general statements made about the plight of the farmers. Could we have some income figures?—Yours, etc., E.CFebruary 18, 1971.