FARMING COSTS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 153, 25 March 1937, Page 13

FARMING COSTS

Effect of New Legislation PRODUCERS DISSATISFIED Opposition Leader’s Impressions “My outstanding impression of my northern tour is that many people are now surprised and perhaps sorry at the results of the last general elections,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. A. Hamilton, in a statement yesterday. “Dairy-farmers in particular, are far from satisfied with the application of the Labour Party’s election promise regarding guaranteed prices.

“The prices guaranteed by the Government under its dairy products marketing scheme may or may not turn out to the farmers’ advantage,” continued Mr. Hamilton. “We have nothing but a forecast to go on as yet. It is clear in the meantime, however, that any apparent gain will be more than balanced out by the known loss to the dairy-farmer because of his increased farming costs and the difficulty, of obtaining farm labour. These problems are causing farmers a very great deal of worry. They cannot help contrast 1 ing the position of the dairy-farmer in regard to the new scale of wages with the rate for labour on public works. It is a curious fact that while the Government wrote into the Statute Book last session a wage of 10/- a day for farm labourers the same Government made provision for the payment of £1 a day for labourers on public works. The farmer has been impressed by the comparison and finds it difficult to understand the reason for such a disparity. It cannot be denied that the farm worker is at the least, just as essential to the economic life of the country as relief-pay workers on public works. Indeed, many people would argue that the farm worker is much more essential. It is certainly more important to a country that depends for its economic welfare on primary production that it should obtain farm labour. The standard should be built from the farm, not to the farm. The fact that is giving dairy-farmers most concern is the increase in farming sosts, and it is this fact that is causing many farmers to advocate what is known as compensating prices.” During his recent tour Mr. Hamilton addressed over 30 meetings in North Auckland and attended many functions in the Bay of Islands district, Whnngarei, and the Auckland metropolitan area. He met many business people and farmers and held conferences with the various organisations within the National Party.

United Opposition Essential.

“Every meeting was well attended and was of a very friendly nature,” said Mr. Hamilton. “One feature stood out at all the meetings and during the whole of my tour. Hhis was the evidence of an almost universal desire for those not satisfied with the Labour Government and its policy to keep in one party with no cleavage between town and country. Such complete unity is essential. What it really means is not always understood. To design a policy that will be acceptable to all of the Nationalist supporters in different sections of the community will not be easy unless all are united in one strong party. There will have to be a good deal of give and take and tolerance toward each other’s point of view before we can write a policy that will appeal equally to the farming community and tho business community. I am of the opinion that the present situation in politics demands that Nationalists in each of those communities must work resolutely in one united Opposition.” Referring to Native affairs in North Auckland, Mr. Hamilton said it would be interesting to see the effect of the present Government’s treatment of the Maori race. “Some concern has already been evidenced over the somewhat disturbing effect of the Government’s policy in respect of the Maori unemployment and sustenance problem,” he add"ed.