FARMERS' DEMAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20074, 21 October 1939, Page 8

FARMERS' DEMAND

DAIRY PRICE TOO LOW

BAR TO HIGHER OUTPUT

MARKETING ACT OPPOSED

MORRINSVIL.LE meeting

Protests against the treatment meted out to dairy farmers by tire Government in the price decided on for the 1939-40 season were made at a meeting of farmers and their wives m Murrinsville on Thursday. The attendance, estimated at 1500, was double tlie capacity of the theatre, and loud-speakers were used to reach those outside.

Mr. E. Pallister, of Wailoa, who presided, said the large attendance indicated the strong dissatisfaction of the farming community with the price offered to the producer. Those present would possibly be accused of disloyalty, but one had only to analyse the enlistment figures to note that the rural districts had contributed more than their fair share of recruits. “Something Wrong" There was something radically wrong in New Zealand, said the chairman. The United Kingdom had asked New Zealand to increase its production, and the farmers realised hat the successful termination of the war depended largely upon the Dominions’ capacity to produce foodstuffs. It was felt, however, that the New' Zealand Government had adopted the wrong course in asking support of its appeal for increased production. It was stultifying its own request by its action in fixing the price below the cost of production. The only way the desire of the Government could be acceded to was to make further money available for -apital expenditure. Mr. Pallister continued. I-Ie believed the Government was perfectly sincere in its appeal for increased production, and was perfectly honest in its desire that tin Allies should win the war, bul the farmers were far from satisfied with he way in which the Government was treating them.

Socialisation of Production Colonel N. P. Adams, president .o' he Auckland Sheepowners Associa:on. said his organisation realised hat when war broke out it was right hat produce should be controlled. The industry was prepared to make a number of sacrifices it would not agree to at any other time. Similar enactments were passed with respect to the 1914-18 war, but there was a clause in them that control vvou.o cease at the end of the war. No such provision was made in the recent regulations.

The Government’s actions locked suspiciously like an attempt to introduce tlie socialisation of production and to check the freedom of the people. Colonel Adams added. Producers in Germany thought the same thing regarding a dictatorship as those in New Zealand, but they dare not at present express their views. Something should be written into jhe legislation to make it clear that the measures taken were for the duration of the war only. Viewpoint of the Wives

The point of view of the farm-, ers' wives was expressed by Mrs. J. M. Wallace and Mrs. M. E. Barrowclough, both of whom said the women in rural districts were anxious to help to increase production and to promote patriotic efforts, but their activities were restricted owing to the shortage of income. The price .for the farmers’ produce gave no margin over the cost of necessities. Mr. W. Marshall, deputy-chair-man of the New Zealand Co-opera-tive Dairy Company, Limited, and a member of tlie 1938 Guaranteed Price Advisory Committee, said that production of butter and cheese Had been dropping and a serious position had been developing. The farmers 01. New Zealand were anxious to lie:p the United Kingdom with the supply of all the foodstuffs they could, but it was axiomatic that if the price paid for the produce was too low. it was impracticable and impossible to increase tlie output. Too many of them had to depend on the unpaid labour of their wives and children. and there was grave danger of a decline in output on margin* al lands.

Public Works Wages

Continuing, Mr. Marshall said that prior to 1914 the New Zealand farmer received 114 s .for his butter. The labourers’ wages were then Is 3d an hour. During the last season the produce realised 114 s, but the Government had just increased the wages of Public Works Department labourers to 2s lid an hour. In other words, the farmers’ wages had remained stationary, while the labourers’ wages had increased by 60 per cent in the last 25 years. Since the outbreak of war the dairy producers representatives had told the Minister of Marketing, the lion. W. Nash, that all questions in dispute would be left in abeyance, but that consideration be given to the payment of an extra penny per ,b to cover part of the heavy increase in costs. The representations were an earnest vii the farmers’ loyally, but the Government had fixed the price at tin same figure as last year. The Civil Service “The statement by the Minister of .Marketing that ine civil servants would have mure work to do _ in future portended one tiling Social ism,” said Mr. F. Hayward, Ngarua. Ho added that he objected to the surreptitious injroduclion d Socialism. The increase in the wages of the public works labourers meant a: expenditure of a further .11 ”00 00!) per annum of public money. “To ray that tlv> guar uitwd j' • 1 is the same as (- < v-'-ir is a lie.’ said Mr. F. W. Seifert. -balrnim <T the Morrinsville C - e D iiry Company. Limited. “beau- ■ i l '”'.- reduced by the ame:m‘ of t’ l " ;, i creased costs.” Mr. .Seifert .-.aid t’v farmers should do 'Mm: ; n their power to demand iirtioo. The resolution adopted emohnsi'ad that the control legishdhm r-n-n’e ’ - repealed within 12 months n r (he r of the war. that incre’>cod ni-nd"'--‘ion could not b" b—mght about binadcouate prices. My’ 1 the recommended bv |he Dairy Indm - - trv Council should be demanded, •’•v 1 ‘hat a national coi ,f ''> , "neo e.f reducers should be ra'Wl