ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 42, 18 January 1936, Page 6

ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS.

In practically all countries the primary producers have had to be assisted to meet the effects of the depression, and in some countries, the United States for example, the help given the farmers has been very substantial. The farmers in New Zealand have not received anything like the assistance that the farmers in Australia have received. Between July 1, 1920, and June 30, 1935, Commonwealth expenditure by way of assistance to primary producers aggregated £22,226,921. This sum included £5,101,549 paid in 1934-35, and covered payments under various bounty Acts as well as other forms of direct assistance,* including wheatgrowers’ relief. The wheatgrowers appear to have been the recipients of the greatest amount of State charity. In 1934-35, the total of bounty and relief payments to them was £4,335,266, making the total payments since July 1, 1931, £11,939,835. A sum of £608,750 was held in the trust fund for expenditure in 1935-36. Under the Cotton Industries Bounty Act 1930-32, bounties, were payable on seed cotton and yarn. For 1934-35, the payments totalled £21,729. The Raw Cotton Bounty Act which came into operation on February 1, 1935, repealed the former Act and altered the form of payment.. The amount of bounty paid under this Act in 1934-35 was £96,752. The Flax and Linseed Bounties Act, 1930-34, expired at the end of February last year. The Act provided for the payment of a bounty not exceeding in all £IOO,OOO. The actual payment from March 1, 1930, to June 30, 1935, was £2777. The butter producers’ receive a fixed price of 142 s 6d per cwt, irrespective of the London price, and there is in addition the 25 per cent London exchange which benefits all ext porters. The Commonwealth has not forgotten the manufacturers. The Iron and Steel Products Bounty Act provides for bounties on fencing wire, galvanised sheets, traction engines, and wire netting. During 193435, £6192 was paid in respect of traction engines and £10,644 in respect of wire netting. The Papua and New Guinea Bounties Act, 1926, provides for payment on specified . agricultural products on importation for home consumption into the Commonwealth. For 1934-35 the payments were £1430 wholly in respect of New Guinea products. The Sulphur Bounty Act provides for a bounty of £2 5s per ton on sulphur produced in Australia from Australian ores. The amount paid for 1934-35 was £50,831. The Wine Export Bounty Act necessitated the payment of £20,511 in 1934-35. The Commonwealth pays these bounties oyt of taxation and loan money. In the past four years its Government, gas bdrrowed in Australia £130,000,000 and cannot very well stop borrowing.