Note of caution to farmers

Press, 28 April 1984, Page 2

Note of caution to farmers

Stockfeed conditions approaching winter have probably never been better in North Canterbury, according to the provincial president of Federated Farmers, Mr F. A. Bull. It had been a frustrating season for Canterbury’s arable farmers, he said, but an excellent one for meat and wool and dairy farmers. However, Mr Bull sounded a note of caution to a meeting in Christchurch yesterday of the North Canterbury provincial executive. Nature made some adjustments to what was potentially a magnificient harvest and so perhaps stock owners should be ready for a “rough winter,” he said. Mr Bull also said he was amazed and disturbed by the ultimatum on wage negotiations issued by the Meat Workers’ Union. He called the threat shortsighted and stupid. “We already have the highest killing and processing costs in the world, and would probably be doing the taxpayers and ourselves a favpur if we killed the ewes on farm, closed a few freezing works, and knocked • some sense and reality into seemingly empty heads,” he said.