PETITION TO HOUSE

Grey River Argus, 14 March 1938, Page 6

PETITION TO HOUSE

South Island Farmers WANT HIGHER GUARANTEED PRICE.

[Per Press Association] WELLINGTON, March 10. Requests for an increase in the guaranteed prices for dairy products fixed for the current season Were contained in eight separate petitions which were presented in the House of Representative to-day by Mr J. Hargest. The petitions, which came from all parts of the South Island, were signed by 2394 persons. The text of the petitions, all of which were identical, set out that the price had been fixed on average prices for the ten years immediately before July 31, 1935. It was claimed that this was unfair, as many of these years were depression years, when the Landon prices were well below the costs of production. Reference is also made to a statement by the Minister for Marketing (Hon. W. Nash) that dairy farmers had benefited financially by the amount of last year’s deficit in the Dairy Industry Account. The petitioners say, in reply, that responsible authorities have estimated that dairy farming costs rose during the 1936-37 season by 3d per lb. butterfat, largely as a result of Government legislation. Such an increase was equivalent to £5,000,000 in a

year, and the petitioners claim that because of this dairy farmers have been heavy losers. The factors set out in legislation for the fixing of the guaranteed price for the current season are recounted In the’petitions, but it is submitted that insufficient consideration was given to the questions of farm costs, the -standard of living of the farmer, and provision for the farmer of a reasonable standard of comfort. It is stated that costs have Increased considerably, and that present indicaI tions point to a further increase. The present price, according to the peti-

tioners, does not give the producer f sufficient net return to encourage hirr to remain in the industry, and they also claim that the dairy farmer’s general standard of living cannot compare with that set up in other industries. The hourly rates fixed by the Arbitration Court of 2s 9a for skilled workers, 2s 5d to 2s 7Sd for semi-skilled workers, are quoted in the petitions which also refer to the waterside worker’s wage of 2s 3d an hour. All these rates, it is stated, apply to a 40hour week, but the dairy farmer, who is at least a skilled worker and who has to work from 60 to 70 hours a week, receives a much lower standard of remuneration. Unless the position is improved, the petitions continue, it is feared that dairy farmers will lose the incentive to carry on in their work. In addition to their own hours of work and the necessity of paying in-, creased wages for farm labour, it is claimed that they are entitled to some return on the capital invested in their farms. The request is accordingly made that the current sea-1

son’s prices should be increased to give producers a sufficient net return to cover costs and a return on the capital invested, and also to maintain themselves and their families in a reasonable standard of comfort.