FARMERS’ PRODUCTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 117, 14 April 1930, Page 8

FARMERS’ PRODUCTS.

(To tire Editor.) Sir, —The crash in the price of but-ter-fat shatters the vain ideas of these farmers who think it impossible to produce an over-supply of dairy products for the Home market. So many countries are now producing all kinds of farm products, in super abundance, that all consuming centres are overstocked. The use of fertilisers and other aids for mass production creates supplies in excess of demands. The economic effects aro a first-class problem for statesmen to ' solve, because with increased productions lower and lower values will rule unless artificially la, iTie United States of America .is artificially raising the prices of her farmers’ products by the imposition of gigantic tariff rates. Australia is guaranteeing her grain growers a minimum price for all wheat grown, and also is subsidising her butter producers. England is legislating to protect her grain and sugar beet growers; consequently, Now Zealand must now take steps to stop her primary producers from being driven off their farms as they were in the 1920 Slump. ’ .. rr t 1 The Government of New Zealand should guarantee primary producers minimum prices at the rata of one shilling per lb for wool and butterfat; eightpenco per lb for prime lamb and sixpence per lb f<3r all primo baby beef pork and wether mutton produced for export. The Dominions should recoup as much as possible of the loss that will occur in years of poor prices at Homo bv taking all the money all or any of these guaranteed price products may realise in a profitable market at Home above the minimum production value. Apple growers are guaranteed a minimum price for their crops and the time has now arrived when all farm products must be similarly treated. The general community cannot ue fed and clothed with the best the man on the land can produce at prices which are below the actual cost of production. The public must, therefore, be taxed to provide funds to subsidise the man on the land to the extent in which he is undernaid when selling his essential necessaries of. life an the world’s open markets. —I am, etc., F. T. MOORE. Palmerston North, April 13, 1930.