No attack on agriculture —Mr Moyle

Press, 22 June 1985, Page 1

No attack on agriculture —Mr Moyle

Agriculture had not been singled out for attack by the Government, the Minister of Agricuture, Mr Moyle, assured a big meeting of farmers in North Canterbury yesterday. Agriculture had not been relegated to any lesser position and the Government was obviously still well aware that primary industries returned 79 per cent of New Zealand’s export income, he said.

Mr Moyle was addressing a seminar and field day organised by Cheviot Federated Farmers on the Parnassus property of Chris and Di le Cren. It was attended by about 500 farmers.

“Peter Elworthy (the president of Federated Farmers) tells me every chance he gets that the Government must be evenhanded with the impact of restructuring in the economy,” said Mr Moyle. “And I agree.” To shift away from the 40-year-old cost-plus mentality in manufacturing took time, Mr Moyle said, but rapid progress was being made on the phasing out of import licences and tariffs would start reducing from next January. Mr Elworthy, who spoke before Mr Moyle, had vowed that the federation would hold steadfastly to its economic policies, but take a stronger line on the need for change in other sectors.

The federation would not allow farmers to be left out in the cold, “We have enough clout to ensure that it won’t happen. The federation has never been more powerful politically than it will be over the next few months. “We will insist that the Minister of Finance deliver on interest rates and the inflation rate; and time is running out on his promises. “The Treasury has worked us over and we are hurting. Now it should work over the unions, the freezing companies; and the meat boards.” Mr Elworthy agreed that economic restructuring was necessary and said farmers would take their share of cuts. Earlier, the farmers — attending one of the biggest field days held in North Canterbury — had heard that the Rangiora office of the Ministry of Agriculture predicted a drop of $7.59 a head in export lamb returns to farmers next year. Mr Moyle agreed that it was going to be hard for sheepfarmers in the next two years. Nevertheless, sheepfarming had a good long-term outlook as more sheepmeat products were made acceptable to overseas consumers.

Most farmers would live through this restructuring period, Mr Moyle said, and emerge into an exciting future.