Ghathams farmers

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33063, 2 November 1972, Page 14

Ghathams farmers

Sir, —With all the good news being broadcast regarding meat and wool prices, is not the time now opportune for the Meat and Wool Boards to have a good look at Chatham Island prices and general economy? The meat works are now under the care of the Government, so it would seem just that the Government, Meat Board, and Wool Board get together to see that farmers in the Chathams (some of whose families have been there for over 100 years) should get the same realisation (less, of course, transport costs, etc.) as their New Zealand counterparts. I believe that the meat levy and wool levy have been paid by Chathams farmers directly or indirectly, so why should they not be protected by these boards and the New Zealand Government?—Yours, etc., P. A. SMITH.

October 10, 1972. [The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (Mr Carter) replies: “Your correspondent appears to suggest that direct aid should be given to sheep farmers in the Chathams by the two boards concerned and by the Government. But he does not specify what form this additional aid should take and on what criteria it should be based. The Government has already agreed to provide assistance to enable the meat freezing plant to continue for another three years; wool receipts this season should be sufficient to provide fanners with the highest income for some years. Transport costs have always provided the main handicap facing farmers in the Chathams, the problem being that services cannot be improved until a greater volume of goods is being produced for shipment to the mainland; on the other hand, such a boost in production is virtually impossible without improved transport. However, the wool boom should be specially helpful to farmers in the Chathams, as a very substantial share of their total revenue is derived from wool. The resulting increase in incomes will be much more helpful to the Chathams economy than any additional Government aid.”]