Farming

Press, 24 September 1988, Page 24

Farming

Sir,—As a farmer I resent being told by the Planning Council to “pull my socks up.” Farming has had to cope with a massive drop in product prices, a 50 per cent reduction in asset values, with in some cases a complete erosion of equity, and interest rates that nearly doubled. Over the last three years the physical and mental resources of most farmers and manufacturers have been severely (axed, and to now be told to “pull our weight” by a pampered, overpaid civil servant makes me sick. The Government has realised too late that economic salvation will be realised through a profitable export sector. One cannot help pondering the form of the Government’s latest commitment to more support for farmers and manufac-

turers. Will it be manipulating interest rates and the exchange rate? Surely not. Perhaps subsidies? Who knows? Who cares?—Yours, etc., TIMOTHY F. DAVISON. September 21, 1988.

Sir, —So, Mr Lange has made a. commitment to the viable export sector. Five years ago he decried subsidies paid to farmers. His Government is now paying SIOOOM to people on the dole. Is this not a subsidy? Mr Moore stated that tourism would replace farming, but now seems very quiet on this subject. With interest rates and the dollar both being manipulated by Mr Douglas, and now the untold misery of thousands on the dole with little hope of jobs, we have our Prime Minister doing an about-turn. It has taken five years for this Government to learn what this country does best; with an estimated market for 35 million lambs and an estimated production of 26 million, it is a sad indictment of mishandling by Ministers. — Yours, etc., N. BROADHURST. September 21, 1988.