Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1937. FARMERS’ COSTS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 231, 30 August 1937, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 1937. FARMERS’ COSTS.

There will be general commendation throughout the large country district of the Wellington Harbour Board of the splendid stand taken by its members against the increased harbour charges passed last week, and regret that a worthy protest met with no success. In order to meet rising costs the Board has increased its dues to importers, exporters, and ships to the extent that the revenue will be increased by £22,000 to avoid a deficit on next year’s working. Higher wages for waterside labour, the 40-hour week, special overtime payments, and greater costs of materials have imposed an additional burden upon the Board, which the better revenue from the improvement in trade generally does not by any means meet. Two very important points emerged from the discus-sion—-the concern of the country members that ‘‘for some considerable time past the Board has not been receiving a fair and reasonable return for the increased wages,” and the greater burden placed upon the farming community. The figures showing the increase in labour costs on the wharf are most illuminating and tell their own story. Since 1934 the rate per ton has nearly doubled, but the complaint was made that the “Board was not getting a fair return for a fair day’s pay.” This, it was made clear, did not apply to all employees; but a “large n umber did practically everything they could to obstruct and delay work on the wharf, and conditions had become nothing less than a public scandal.” It is well known that such a complaint has a good deal -of justification behind it, and now that waterside labour has its bureau system it will be hoped that the service asked of those who have improved wages and conditions of work will be much more satisfactory. It is a matter for regret that vessels should be delayed in their itinerary, thus adding materially to the costs. The Board’s new scale can have no other effect than an increase in the cost of living for those affected. Importers and others naturally will be compelled to pass the charges on, but the farmer does not enjoy this privilege. His exports to the overseas markets through the port will be obliged to bear the extra charges which will be deducted from the price he receives. He will, however, be compelled to pay, just the same as others, his share of the increased costs. In this respect the farmer’s position has been far from enviable in the past twelve months. He has found his costs rising steadily and in many instances has been compelled to dispense with labour

and work longer liours, with tlie help of Lis family. Yet, on figures quoted at tLe Board’s meeting, tLere are waterside labourers surely earning much more than many dairy farmers possibly do, and working not niucb more than Lalf tLe latter’s weekly Lours. To counteract tLe tendency of rising costs tLe Board’s country members made a determined effort to Lave the increased cLarges deferred, and tLougL it was correctly pointed out to tlie majority—tLe city members — that it was tlie duty to decrease instead of increasing cLarges, as the farming interests could not pass on their share, the appeal unfortunately fell on barren ground.