CONSUMER AND THE FARMERS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 23, 27 July 1914, Page 10

CONSUMER AND THE FARMERS

TO Til EDITOR. Sir, —In reading the views of the delegates at the Farmers' Conference, it is surprising to note how one and all seem obsessed with their importance, asprimary producers, and the importance to the Dominion of their export trade. The growth of the industries seems to be totally ignored. The annual value of our industries already equals the total exports, whilst the number employed are only 2 per cent, less than the total engaged in our primary industries. The value of the industrial output is also growing faster than the primary productions, and for many obvious reasons will continue to. do so. This means that more people will be employed in the industries and more consumers of New Zealand primary products, leading naturally to the part the New Zealand consumer plays in the farmers' economics. According to last.year's Blue Book the population of New Zealand consume 50 per cent. <of the farmer's mutton, 85 per cent, of his beef, 33 per cent, of his butter, all,his grain, poultry, and garden produce, and practically all his fruit; of his most valuable' product (wool) some 17 per cent. In fact, putting it at a conservative estimate, the New Zealand market is worth ten millions per annum to the primary producer. With our narrow trade balances and our utilisation of loans to pay interest charges, there is plenty of room 'for speculation as to what would happen if the views of some of the delegates were to materialise.—l am, etc., INDUSTRIALIST. 22nd July, 1914.