DAIRY FARMERS’ TROUBLES

Evening Star, Issue 20686, 8 January 1931, Page 8

DAIRY FARMERS’ TROUBLES

‘ DIAGNOSIS AHD BELIEF SOUGHT BIG CONFERENCE OPENS [Special to tb« ‘Sta'k.’] WELLINGTON, January 8. 'The conference to discuss tno economic position of the dairy, farmers was opened in Parliament Building today by Sir Apirina Ngata, who welcomed’ the very representative gathering on behalf of the Acting-Pnmo Minister and the Minister of Agriculture. .. , “What we want is a diagnosis of the present ills of the industry,”, said Sir Apirana, “ and the members of tips conference were selected, as far as possible, to be representative of the conditions in their respective districts. H© expressed the, thanks of the Government to the chairman of the Dairy, Control Board for his assistance ,in getting down to realities by adoptmg the suggestion of a deputation from the dairy associations that a conference should be held. In deciding. the personnel it was felt that what was wanted was, not so much the heads of the industry, but the active services and advice of men handling day by day the affairs of the farmer. It was necessary to get hold of the facts and diagnose the troubles. At such ai juncture people were apt to “ get the wind up, and exaggerate, in soma ways, and the Government, did not wish, to 'make a difficult position unnecessarily difficult by too much. dust. Tc thought that if such a conference could be .held, and » statement submitted of tho real position, with helpful suggestions, the Government could assist.; Sir Apirana added the warning that the Government had its difficulties, and would appreciate it if the, confercpea made its requests on a minimum scale.. The order of Reference was wide, and it would be for his hearers to interpret its terms and go into the actual business details involved, having got. the diagnosis. He would suggest, that a certain' amount of discrimination should ba shown between dairy farmers who, owing to excessive capital costs, or other reasons, would be unable even in normal times to meet their obligations. Even the best equipped Government could not be expected to come forward to help the man who overloaded himself, either in dairying,; sheep fanning, or any other business. On the suggestion of Mr lorn 3 (chairman of the Dairy Control Board), Mr Brash, secretary of the board, was appointed chairman of the conference.The Order of Reference states tho object of tho conference as follows; “To discuss the economic position of the dairy farmers under conditions of exceptionally low value for dairy pro- „ duce such as exist at the present time; to report to the Minister of Agriculture the opinion of tho conference upon tho above-mentioned position, the report to include information as to the probable extent of the ability, or otherwise, of the dairy farmers to carry on,and meet their obligations without assistance in some form or other.” Specific points for investigation are enumerated, and the committee is asked to report, it it . considers some measure, of _ relict is necessary iu order to maintain the industry in a position to continue production at or about its present level,and how such relief can best be given.-