Farming changes wait for E.E.C.

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32567, 29 March 1971, Page 2

Farming changes wait for E.E.C.

(New Zealand Press Association)

BLENHEIM, March 28.

When the terms of Britain’s entry into the Common Market were known and the position which the New Zealand farming industry was likely to face clarified, the Government would be able to bring a farm restructuring scheme into effect, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Carter) told 200 farmers in Blenheim at the weekend.

“There is no intention to let our basic industry run down—but until we know the terms of Britain’s entry we cannot make long-term plans for the New Zealand farmer,” he said.

It was utterly wrong to say farming was not profitable today. “When there’s no profitable fanning in this country —then there is no New Zealand,” Mr Carter said. He suggested, however, that the industry might have to alter its idea and type of farming. The secret of New Zealand’s efficiency was its specialisation—"but it can be

■ that we’ve got to run two types of farm.” Mr Carter said, answering questions, that it would probably be necessary to make more money available for restructuring of farms to enable a change to different types of farming in such cases where this was possible. “Some of this money must come from Government funds —but the less that has got to come from there the bet-

ter, because if too much has got to come from the Government it’s an indication that farming as such is not as profitable as we would like it to be, and our alm is to make farming profitable enough to be a good invest- , ment . . HORTICULTURE Asked to clarify his comments on the restructuring of , farming in relation to Britain's entry into the Common Market, Mr Carter said in an interview later that his department was investigating the profitability of all types of farming and looking at a wider diversification, especially into horticulture. When a restructuring scheme was begun and diversification was beyond the financial means of a fanner, the Government would help in the short term. He described the beef diversification scheme, recently suspended, as a good example. HARD DECADE Dealing with the farming industry's present position, Mr Carter told the meeting that while some sectors would have a better year, the next decade would be difficult. In the short term, assistance would be provided in the next Budget—“which is' likely to be sooner than ! normal’’—and there was not likely to be anything before 1 that. A scheme of cost adjust- j ment as suggested by Federated Farmers, costing the 1 country an estimated sloom 1 a year, was likely to have a profound effect on the economy, Mr Carter said. < Although the money could 1 be found, it had to come from sound methods. 1