PROBLEMS OF DAIRYFARMERS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 125, 22 February 1944, Page 6

PROBLEMS OF DAIRYFARMERS

Declining Production CAUSES AND SUGGESTED REMEDIES

Dominion Special Service. WHANGAREI. February 19. Concerned mainly wi:h the serious decline in dairy production and decreased returns to the farmer, the Northland dairy was held in »' baugarei recently. Present by invitation it ere four members of Parliament, Messrs. A. J. Murdoch (Marsden), S...VV- Smith (Bay of Islands), T. C. VS ebb (Kai para), and R. M. Algie (Kemttera). Proposed methods to arrest the cline in production were brought torward in a resolution from the executive and approved by the conference. lhe resolution read: ."That this conference is gravely concerned at the serious decline in production and requests members 01 Parliament who are present to do their utmost to assist in the matter by stress in- to Parliament the measures necessary immediately to maintain and substantially increase production. "These measures are that the" dairyfarmer receive a price that .will enable him to pay competitive rates of pay; that manpower be made available for production, and that the Government be urged to reconsider the whole question of manpower commitment in relation to the need of more primary production; llia f everv avenue be explored to increase the supply of fertilizer; that production of pig meat can only be increased by returning to the farmer a price that will give him a reasonable margin of profit. Costs and Returns, Criticizing the guaranteed price, tne chairman, Mr. E. G. Appleton, said that the Government received the hard Loudon sterling, while the farmer got something insubstantial in return, based on standards of costs which were movaol? upward at the will of the Government and paid in New Zealand cutrency which was being rapidly, depreciated in purchasing power. Further, the standards used in the calculations of his price had not been and were not stationary. The standard of 2501 b. of fat per cow was not now attainable as an average whatever figures were accepted. Evidence was available on every hand of a serious decline in productton per supplier and production per cow. “The decline in production is attributable to lack of manpower and lack of fertilizers.” continued Mr. Appleton. "On every hand there is evidence of neglect of farm maintenance, a lack of attention to rural development, with a rapid drift to the cities, and primary production is burdened with repressive restrictions.” The dairy-farmer must have a much larger say in the disposal of his produce. The farmer was not given sufficient information on lend-lease transactions. Speakers emphasized the need for the farmer having freedom from interference and confidence in the industry and its future. At present this confidence and security were lacking, largely, it was contended, owing to interference by the Government. “The farmers have ho confidence in anything the Government says,” stated Mr. E. R. Bird, chairman of the Kai"taia Dairy Company. What was wanted was a new deal for the farmer. In his company’s area 48 production units involving 1204) dairy cows had gone out of production during the past year. It was not for want of feed, as feed was going to waste, with neither machinery nor manpower available to cut and bale the hav. Under present conditions there was little prospect of arresting the decline in production. A protest against the method of distribution of gumboots was voiced by the conference, it being considered that the distribution should have been made through dairy comiflinies.