NOT SATISFIED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 13

NOT SATISFIED

SOUTHERN DAIRYMEN

THE GUARANTEED PRICE

STANDARD OF LIVING

(By Tele|raph.) (Special to the "Evening Poit !>)

DUNEDIN, This Day. At a meeting of dairy factory directors and suppliers, Mr. S. Sim, in assuring the dairy farmers that they had the wholehearted support of the Farmers' Union, said the trouble in New Zealand was that too many people were engaged in uneconomic industry. Mr. Savage, on going into power, said that everybody who produced would get the exchange value of the produce, and Mr. Nash said that the farmer's income should be based the same as other people's.

"That is all we want, and it can't be done because too many people are engaged uneconomically," said Mr. Sim. "Until we say that the farmer should be paid on the same measurement as others, this couhtry will never progress. The guaranteed prices would be acceptable if it were not for the additional costs. The farmers had to fight for their rights and put the country on a sound footing." The lone dissenting view expressed at the meeting was by Mr. W. Lee, who warned dairymen of the grave danger of being made a shuttlecock in party politics. This point should be watched very carefully.

''Whoever depends oil politicians for help depehds on a rotten reed," he said. "I hold no' brief f6r any £dlitie&l party but will say that the price fixed by the Government, for the present year is the best assistance dairyman have ever had from any Government. Taking s long view, supposing the Government could be induced to flrting the price at 18d he was afraid there would .be such a huge increase hi production that When a change 6f Government did come, and a change to a policy of free marketinfj there would Be a repetition of the slump dairymen experienced' not so long ago", and perhaps the only assistance he would be offered would be a system of quotas. I say advisably, let us be reasonable^ Then, perhaps, wheri we are in need we may get practical sympathy. We have absolutely no grduMS' for complaining tod&r as we had three of four years) agoi ' The; dangef isthat if we cry 'Wolf, wolf When there is no wolf about, we will Receive no assistance whett the wOlf is there. 1 g*ant

you that the dairy farmer is not paid for his labour, and is-hot likejy to be. We have to accept that position."

the* meeting .carried the following resolution:—

"That this fully representative meeting of dairy producers in Otago respect-,' fully submits to the Government that, in fixing' the prices to be paid for export butter and cheese for the current season, due allowance was not given to the following considerations specified in the Primary Products Marketing Act, (1) The necessity in the public interest of maintaining the stability and efficiency of the dairy industry; (2) the costs involved in the efficient production of dairy produce; (3) the general standard of living of persons engaged in the dairy industry in comparison with the general standard of living throughout New Zealand. We strongly urge the Government to reconsider thaj question and give effect to its guaranteed price policy as above quoted.1'