Farm leader rejects Ministers’ criticism

Press, 12 June 1986, Page 2

Farm leader rejects Ministers’ criticism

By

HUGH STRINGLEMAN

in Wellington Farmers were facing reality and striving by all available means to protect and save their assets, said the chairman of the meat and wool section of Federated Farmers, Mr Bruce Anderson, yesterday. He angrily responded to recent comments by Government Ministers — that farmers should "get off their backsides” and face reality — when he addressed the annual conference of the section in Wellington yesterday. Farmers had never been ones to sit on their backsides, he said, quoting five-fold increases in the returns from meat and wool exports over the last decade. Mr Anderson also criticised the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger, for suggesting that farming

leaders should restrict their comments to farming matters. “No sector can be treated in isolation, so farming leaders will continue to comment on all aspects of the economy if they believe such statements are in the best interests of those whom they represent,” he said. Mr Anderson also reiterated the federation’s recent accusations that economic restructuring had not been even-handed in its effects on.different sectors and had hit agriculture because it was an “easy target.” “The Government is creating a two-tier economy: those that must face the cold reality of exporting and competing on world markets, while other sectors remain in a cocoon of protection, sheltered by tariffs, a restrictive labour market, welfare handouts, and an

excessively pampered Public Service workforce,” he said. He condemned the continuing industrial disruption within the meat inspection service. "Do they not realise that the industry and their jobs are at risk?” he said. “Their shortsighted approach will only hasten the reduction of unwanted and unnecessary numbers.” During the first morning of the two-day conference, meat and wool delegates also criticised what they saw as the “sell-out” by meat industry managers which ended the long meat works strike earlier this year. They said back-room deals between the union leaders and company executives, who were not directly involved in the negotiating process, had resulted in a $35 a week wage increase.