An Open Letter To The Hon. M. J. Savage

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 127, 22 February 1939, Page 11

An Open Letter To The Hon. M. J. Savage

Sir, —Just before yon attained office as Prime Minister in 1935 your party issued a manifesto in which was stated "The Labour Party undertakes to institute tlie guaranteed procedure and to pay the agreed upon price for all butter, cheese, wool and meat produced during the first year after it becomes tlie Government; and during that year to carry out the negotiations with Britain and other countries referred to on pages 12 and 13.” Producers of butter, cheese, wheat and some other commodities have been provided with this guarantee, but the wool and meat producer, whose volume is the largest proportion, has received no consideration, but on the other hand has had his costs tremendously increased because of this and other legislation imposed by your party. The meat and wool producer's return from export prices, which determine local prices, lias steadily fallen for some two years, and has now reached the stage where it is not economic. New land development work offers no inducement, to tlie initiated, for the expenditure of capital, and maintenance work is being neglected because of scarcity, ineffectiveness and high cost of labour. I now suggest to you that the time is opportune and overdue for your Government to honour its promise to assist us meat and wool producers. —I am, etc.. SHEEPFARMER. February 20.