FARM PRODUCTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 132, 7 June 1939, Page 9

FARM PRODUCTION

HEAVY DECLINE

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

MR. HAMILTON'S FIGURES

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) ' . DU.NEDIN, June 6. "Sheep farmers have been given thar opportunity of presenting their case before a Royal Commission, and that provides a wonderful chance to state the case for the farmer correctly and effectively," said, the Leader of the National Party (the Hon.; A. Hamilton), opening the Otago Provincial Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union today. "Dairy farmers stated their casa well and provided much valuable information. That has to be done again before this commission. This country is governed on democratic principles, not by any particular section or sections of the community. Each section has to present its claim for a share of the national income; Farmers press for equal reward, and nothing could be fairer than that.

"Farmers have to organise and act effectively. I don't want you to be a political party, but you have to decide whether you can afford not to have your weight felt politically. You have first to be united in your main issue, and then to support the party that i 3 best going to serve your interests. Don't start a third party, which might not be difficult. There. are sufficient parties in the field now." To illustrate the position of farmers today, Mr. Hamilton said that butter production last year was down by 562,000cwt, and the return was down by over £2,100,000. Cheese and butter together were down 538,760cwt, and the return was lower by £1,602,000. Lamb was down by 79,000cwt, and the value lower by £302,000. Pork was down by 41,725cwt, and the return was less by more than £9000. Veal was down by 10,000cwt, and the return was less by £136,000. Wool production was lower by 6000 bales, and the return was decreased by more than £4,065,000. Flax was down by - 1183 tons, and the value was less by £51,000. Those statistics showed that production was going down, a trend which had to be arrested. Turning to imports, he said that of the first 18 commodities on the list, only tobacco and whisky had shown an increase. Totalisator figures were fairly substantially higher. FARM AREAS REDUCED. "Those are very interesting statistics," Mr. Hamilton said. The total farming area occupied had been reduced by 121,000 acres from 1935-36 to 1937-38, he added, while fern, scrub, and second growth land had increased by 187,000 acres. Barren and unproductive land had increased by 162.000 acres. The total of dairy cows was lower by 78,000, and that of pigs was lower by 52,000. Wool production had decreased by 7,500,0001b. The excess of exports over imports had decreased from £12,600,000 to £3,500,000. Withdrawals from the Post Office Savings Bank for the year ended March 31, 1939, exceeded deposits by more than £4,100,000. In the previous year depoists exceeded withdrawals by over £3,500,000. Exports were down by 11 per cent., compared with the preceding year. The number of Public Works employees was increased by 8£ per cent., and London funds were down by 65 per cent. LONDON FUNDS. London funds were created largely by exporters, he continued. It was strange that during the depression years those funds were built up, while since then they had dropped. One important factor in that connection was the confidence of the outside world in New Zealand's ability to manage its affairs. Farmers, said Mr. Hamilton, had lost control of those funds; and if they did control them today they could sell them at a premium. Not only did they have to suffer high costs, but also they were not getting world value for their produce. "These figures would be interesting, if they were not so serious." he concluded. "It is up to the farmers to maintain their industry to do justice to their heritage."