FARMERS’ POSITION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 56, 3 February 1927, Page 4

FARMERS’ POSITION

STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT. LOSSES ON OPERATIONS. WELLINGTON, Feb. 3. Speaking at the meeting of the executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday, the president, Mr W. J. Poison, said ho wished to refer for a few moments to the case of the freezing workers, which was to come before the Arbitration Court in a few days. They as farmers knew that no increased charge could be paid by the freezing companies without it being passed on to the producer. The freezing companies found that competition was so keen that they could not pay additional charges without pasing them on. It was also impossible for the producer to pay additional charges, or, indeed, the charges he had to pay just now. He did not wish to be considered a “croaking Jeremiah” or a pessimist, but at the present time the Dominion balance-sheet showed a depreciation of ten to fifteen millions sterling on their stock. They were down ten millions in the value of products as comparod with last year. From an analysis of the balance-sheets of a number of farmers, it could be shown conclusively that when they had paid labour, interest on mortgages, and the ordinary charges on their farms they were on the losing side; quite apart from the question of getting any revenue from their capital, they were* on the losing side to the extent of many millions sterling. The losses on farming this year were enormous. At no period, with the exception of one year, during the last ten or twelve years, had farming in New Zealand paid as it should have done, or as any ordinary industry had paid. This year they had been eating into their capital with their increased mortgages; they were, in fact, living largely on their capital.

SERIOUS STATEMENT. “It is a serious statement to make, but I am bound to take the responsibility of making it,” continued Mr Poison. “We as a farming community aro enormously interested in the decision of the Arbitration Court, and if that decision means an increase in wages to employees it will deal a tremondous blow to the farming industry. We can show that the industry is at a standstill. Production is not increasing in this country as it should do. As far as the pastoral industry is concerned it is completely at a standstill. There is a decrease in the number of employees on farms; there is a decrease in the number of occupied holdings since 1924 by 400; there is a decrease in pastoral holdings between 1920 and 1923, the latest figures available, by 6123. Figures show that the value of meat exported last year was £600,000 lower than the average for ten years, and two millions lower than for the previous year. They show' that unemplovment is increasing in this country, that the conditions of the producer are getting harder, and the responsibility placed on the Arbitration Court in com nection with this dispute is enormous. “An increase in charges will deal such a blow at the primary industry that the court may be just in the position of putting the last straw on the camel’s back.” In those circumstances, continued Mr Poison, it was important that they should be attached to the case, and should come in as third party, and put a case before the court showing their position. He had done a lot ot work in that direction, and understood they could not be attached as third party. They could only give evidence by the good-will of the freezing companies. PRODUCERS’ POINT OF VIEW. Replying to an interpolation, Mr Poison said he was not going to hurt anything, but was going to state the position as he saw it. He was only anxious to state the position from the producers’ point of view, and considered that he was entitled to explain to the farmers’ executive the steps which had been taken. Therefore he took the responsibility of making that statement, 'they had to deal with Mr Milne, chairman of the North Island Freezing Association. Mr Milne declined to allow' them to do more than give evidence and call one or two witnesses. They found that would be unsatisfactory from their point of view, and asked for further concessions to enable them to state their case. Great pressure was brought to bear to enable them to do so, as the situation was so serious for them. As a result of that Mr Milne informed him by telephone that lie would agree to the suggestion that they should takh part in the proceedings. He (the speaker) asked for it to bo put in writing, but had received no communication, and so came to Wellington. On discussing the matter with him, lie was more anxious to have industrial peace—such was the speaker’s impression—than to protect tho producers from further charges. Ho folt that to be his attitude, although lie could not definitely say so. AMENDMENT OF LAW WANTED. The position was that they could only go in with witnesses under the direction of the man in charge of the case for the freezing companies. It was unsatisfactory because it gave them no freedom of action in attacking a question of this kind. Ho asked the executive to consider the question, and whether they should not urge upon the Government the amendment of the law to enable the body which actually paid to have some say in what it was going to pay. They had relied on the amended Act to enable them to be represented in the case, and, although it may have been intended to give them that opportunity, it did not do so. Olio member thought they could be given the opportunity at the discretion of tire Judge. Mr Poleon replied that they wnro not officially connected with the freezing industry. They must be a section of tho community actually engaged in tho operation of freezing. They were out of court. It was very important, for it was based on the cost of living; but it seemed to him that the cost of living should bo worked out impartially for nil who assist in production. Tlroy should not got the whole of tho benefit while tho producers got nothing. This cane vim apparently boyond ihoir ’•each, but other cases would como along where increases would bo wanted, and they should got the Act amended so chat they could bo represented, “Wo want that altered,” concluded Mr Poison, “ami wc want tho court to understand how vitally we are affected by any award thac is n ado at the present tirno. ’ Mr 0. P. Lynch mid ho ha 1 never heard that a friend of the court Irad not been heard, Mr ft, D, Dux field ■ Wo ire so vitally interested that i! is only right wo should be lepresoiileil. On tho motion of the president file following resolution was i arried . “That the urgent attention <>i tho Government b <! drawn 'o the l.ict that section 126 of the i 925 Act, providing for the attachment ol third

parties, docs not meet the case, inasmuch as it does not allow producers who are most vitally interested to bo uttachod as third party in connection with the freezing dispute ard that an amendment bo .sked for in tho next session us a mutter of urgency.”