STABILISATION!

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3277, 18 June 1943, Page 3

STABILISATION!

AFFECT ON THE FARMER MOST UNFAIR DECISION MR SUTHERLAND, M.P., SPEAKS That stabilisation for the farmer at 1938 prices and 1943 costs was not going too well and was a most unfair decision was an opinion expressed by Mr A. S. Sutherland, M.P. for Hauraki, in speaking in the House of Representatives last week. Mr Sutherland said: — “As- to stabilisation, the hon. member for Wairarapa, who is an expert no doubt at growing vegetables and who no doubt has done good work in that regard, had quite a lot to say. The Hon. Mr Barclay: Does the hon. member agree with him? Mr Sutherland: Well, I do not disagree with him altogether as to his ideas regarding vegetable growing. But I do think the hon. gentleman is over optimistic when- he suggests that the value of the export vegetable trade might outstrip other primary production. Growing of Vegetables “ I think one way in which the hon. member for Wairarapa might have mofe vegetables produced is by talking to the people in the cities where there are many vacant plots. In the country the people always seem to have plenty of vegetables, and I may say that the vegetables I have bought have not- cost very much, since I have practically provided all that is necessary for myself and family. “We have heard a lot of talk about stabilisation, but so far as the farmers are concerned stabilisation at 1938 prices and 1943 costs is not going too well. .That was a most unfair decision. “All award workers and other sections have received increases in pay. The dairy farmer has received a small increase, -but that was handed over to the, farm worker to compensate him. “When the British Government decided to give the New Zealand woolgrower an increase of 15 per cent, in the price of wool, the Minister of Marketing immediately called in the secretary to the Treasury and later the Economic Stabilisation Committee, and he talked inflation. These excuses do not go down with the .farmer. Non-Transferable Bonds “The Government finally decided to pay out part of the increase in nontransferable bonds. No, the stabilisation of the farmers at 1943 costs and 1938 prices is not going over too well. “Here are some of the increased costs the farmer has to bear: transport, hospital levies, factory costs, employment, galvanised pipe which has gone up 147 per cent, in the last 4i years, and many farmers used galvanised pipes—water reticulation and general maintenance. Pig fencing, for instance, has gone up 74 per cent. totara posts have gone up 79 v per cent., totara strainers 78 per cent., and fencing ‘battens 46 per cent. Plain wire has gone up 74 per cent., barbed wire 64 per cent., and there has 'been a rise since. Corrugated iron—if one can get it—has gone up 45 per cent., and many other lines have -gone’ up 100 per cent. Government Measuring Tape “When the Minister of Marketing was speaking the other night, he told honourable members on this side of the House who were interjecting that they would get their chance to speak later on. Well, it is my turn now and I can tell him that the stabilisation scheme introduced by the Government so far as the fanners are concerned is most unjust. “Where is the measuring tape that was used by the Minister and the Minister of Finance in stabilising •other sections of the community. “The Minister of Finance at one time claimed that the payments to the farmer should be measured with the same tape as that used in dealing with other sections of the community and that there should be equal pay for equal service. This question must be settled, and I hope that before the Minister of Finance returns to Washington he will be able to adjust the matter to the satisfaction of the wool producers particularly. [ Did Not Assist The Farmer j “The Government has stretched its measuring tape on numerous occasions, . but it has never stretched the tape to assist the farmers. Fanners have always constitutional methods to > settle grievances, but that method has not met with much success. When the farmer sees the methods adopted by workers such as the go-slow-method and the strike weapon, one wonders why he is so patient. He never goes slow or strikes. He does not think of striking while a war is •n. /‘The farmers can expect little sympathy from the Government as long

as the decisions of the Government are dominated by the Trades Hali people. The farmer has awakened to the fact. The Minister of Finance should reconsider the question of payment for the increased price of wool. The non-transferable bonds are of little use. “Certainly there is a hardship clause, but it is difficult to get money under that provision. Only Farmers’ Agent “The Minister of Finance once stated that the Government was only an agent for the farmers. What would happen if a farmer sent wool to an agent to sell and when he received his return he was told that he would have to take 5 per cent, of the proceeds in non-transferable bonds? “I have something more to say about stabilisation. Any section of the community other than the farming section that works 40 hours gets time and a-half or double time. Recently I read about a subnormal man who had deserted, from the Army and who had walked on to the wharf at Auckland and in two weeks had received £35 before the Army authorities gathered him in. “The wharf labourer who handles the farmer’s produce gets anything from £9OO. to £7OO. There are not many of them getting £9OO but hundreds of them get between £7OO and £BOO and quite a number of them get between £BOO and £9OO. There is no such thing as a 40-hour week for the farmers. They have to carry on in spite of every injustice. “They carry on with depleted staffs and often with only the help of their wives and families. What Forces Want “When the Prime Minister was talking about the primary producers last evening there was almost tears in his eyes. The farmers don’t want that sort of stuff. What they want is payment commensurate with their service to the community. “Recently the Minister of Marketing visited my electorate and a pretty good meeting was staged. Mr Holland: Was that the Morrinsville show? Mr Sutherland: Yes. I met the Minister there and he thoroughly enjoyed the meeting. I remarked to him “This is a good audience and I am sure you are going to have a good meeting.” The Hon. Mr Barclay: It was a good meeting. Mr Sutherland: Yes, it was a good meeting. It' was called for half-past seven and opened at a quarter to eight o’clock. There were no vacant seats and there was no more standing room. The proceedings continued till twenty minutes past twelve o’clock. Morrinsville Resolution “Towards the close of the meeting the following resolution was carried unanimously:— “That in view of the fact that the Government has persistently refused to grant a just price to the dairy farmers for their produce and has been unable to effectively control costs of production, this meeting of farmers and representatives of farmers’ organisations of Waikato resolves to convey to the Government its utter dissatisfaction with the stabilisation proposals under which it is obvious the dairy farmers will be called on to bear all increased costs since 1938, and calls on the Government to take such action as will immediately enable dairy farmers to meet the cost of production, provide for deferred maintenance and enable them to enjoy incomes comparable with other sections of the community giving equal or comparable service.” Mr Holland: Was that carried before or after the Minister addressed the meeting? Mr Sutherland: After. There were between 850 and 1000 present at that meeting and although the chairman give ample opportunity not one voice was raised against that motion. “That is what the people of my district think of stabilisation.”