'Tide against' meat and wool

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33541, 23 May 1974, Page 3

'Tide against' meat and wool

Zealand Press Association r DUNEDIX, May 2Z. Tile economic title had turned against the producers of meat and wool after an all-too-short period of promise, the retiring chairman of the meat and wool section of Otago Federated Farmers (Mr (. C. Flett) said at the annual conference in Dunedin today.

Mr Flett said that costs were rising at unprecedented . rates, and would be a barrier 'to the future liquidity 7 of the 1 industry. i Some of the increases (farmers would have to face were a possible 30 per cent in fertiliser costs, increased 'freight costs, and a 9 per cent wage increase. Petrol costs had already risen substantially, he said. Stocks of many of the toots , of trade required were desperately short. "Posts, wire, machinery parts, suitable vehicles with

s four-wheel drive, shearing 1 equipment — these are some r of the commodities,” said Mr i Flett. Industrial stoppages at 5 freezing works had been ex- ? cessive, too, he said. Managet ments were becoming poweri less to act efficiently in the; t face of “industrial anarchy.” However. Mr Flett ’old . delegates not to be too des-; . pondent. The sheep retention s scheme had done much to - encourage producers to remain oriented to sheep and’ . wool production, and this was' i.a good sign. ,