Moyle comments blasted

Press, 23 January 1988, Page 3

Moyle comments blasted

PA Wellington The Minister of Agriculture, Mr Moyle, was either ignorant of the true situation “down on the farm” or was deliberately misleading the public, National’s agriculture spokesman said yesterday. Mr Moyle said on Wednesday that he was confident 1988 would be a better year for most farmers, but the Opposition member of Parliament for Pahiatua, Mr John Falloon, dismissed his comments as “whistling in the wind.” Mr Moyle was “showing his total lack of knowledge of the true farming situation,” Mr Falloon said.

“Either that or he is prepared to lie in public

to mislead only those who are ignorant about the reality of the economic situation down on the farm.”

Most farmers’ mortgage interest rates would not come down this year but would go up as Rural Bank interest rates rose according to a Government programme.

The Rural Bank told the Primary Industry Select Committee last year that farmers were estimated to have paid $32 to $3B million in extra interest charges, he said. The Meat and Wool Economic Service estimated a cash deficit of $3lOO for meat and wool farmers. Prices for meat and wool farmers and prices for horticultural, dairy and arable products

were all at extremely low levels, “well below the cost of production.” Wool prices had declined substantially since last year.

“The irony of all this is that the Minister appears to be immune to the damage being done to attitudes and confidence, not only of farmers but also the vital farm servicing sector,” Mr Falloon said. The farming sector was needed more than ever since the share market crash to earn overseas funds “to pay our bills.” One positive note amid the gloom was that access to markets overseas looked a little brighter, but Mr Falloon warned that New Zealand did not have sufficient product to meet the demand.