DAIRY PRODUCTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 122, 22 April 1940, Page 6

DAIRY PRODUCTION

AUTHORITY’S WARNING. COSTS VERSUS OUTPUT. “Production has been falling in New Zealand during the past three seasons because dairying under to-day’s high cost conditions is less attractive than formerly. The present season’s small increase is not duo to any increased popularity in dairying. The symptoms that have caused the decline m past seasons are still there, and .unless particularly favourable climatic conditions are experienced next season there is likely to be a downward trend once more despite all the effort which farmers will make to increase their production as part of a great war effort.” Thus stated the chairman of the New Zealand Dairy Produce Board (Mr AV. E. Hale) in addressing the board’s ward conference in Palmerston North to-day.

“It may be said by some who are not well acquainted with our industry that there lias been an increase in production this year and that this proves that the present price is adequate. This year’s increased production has been brought about by the forces of Nature and a particularly kindly season in those districts from which our greatest quantities of dairy produce come. Jn part, too, it has been brought into being as a result of greater effort on the part of our dairy farmers, their wives and families, who now, to a greater extent than ever before, are called on to assist on the farm. “Without doubt there is a feeling in all country districts that the effort required to produce a very modest living from dairying is much greater than that required from the majority of city workers, and that the hours and conditions of work compare exceedingly unfavourably,” Mr Hale proceeded. “New Zealand depends on her production. It is her life-blood, and I notice that at the recent Labour Party conference, the Minister of Finance (Hon. W. Nash) himself drew attention to the fact that we had consumed £28,000,000 more in goods over the past few years than we had produced, his point being that further progress must come from increased production oil the part of the workers. One would he more hopeful of the future if one saw some evidence that certain sections of the workers —such for instance as tlie watersiders —were showing recognition of the fact that only bv increased efficiency could better living conditions be secured. Dairy-farmers who are tied, under Ihe guaranteed price, to very high standards of efficiency—standards which have been arbitrarily imposed by the Minister — feel that it is about time that efficiency of a similar nature is demanded from other sections of the community in their work. It is difficult to attract labour to farms when city conditions. both as to wages and hours of work, are made so exlr-emelv attractive. and unless some very radical alteration is made in present poMm- I cannot see how increased production can be secured. LABOUR POSITION SERIOUS.

“Tiio farm labour position is. infinitely more serious to uay tnan it was last season because ot uie laige liumOer of enlistments ol country ooys in the Army,” Mr Halo adtleu. "mom a kuowlcuge ot a number of different districts I would hazard the opinion i that from 20 to 25 per cent, oi those who have so far gone overseas have been farm workers. In the first instance their enlistment was welcomed by the military authorities, who realise the calibre of men who are used to a.ii outdoor liie and who can quickly be trained to become good soldiers. Representations were made to the Government before long, and I must say that the Government did everything it could to help improve the position. Its efforts were, however, only partly effective. I expect you know —as 1 do—of numerous eases where a farm boy went to enlist, was told that he was in a reserved occupation, so threw up his job, became unemployed, and thereafter was accepted. Aon cannot blame hoys with an adventurous spirit. It is all to the good that we still have these qualities in evidence in our young people, but we said, and still say, that the only way to prevent their going—and the only way which is fair to them —is either to have conscription, or at the very least to have a national register of man power. The truth of the matter js that to-day production is so vitally important from the viewpoint of Great Britain that a trained farm worker is of greater value in his job than in a uniform. If there were conscription that position would be clear, and no stigma woura attach to these farm boys. As it- is to day many of them feel that it is their duty to go, and by devious ways they sec that they do go. I have no doubt that the conditions will be tightened up to prevent many more country boys from getting away, but even now the position is extremely difficult. Before the war came we were short oi farm labour in mnnv districts, and now with some thousands actually in the lorces, the situation is acute. “If we are to have increased production next season this farm labour question will have to be tackled sortously by the Government, winch is the onlv authority able to deal with the matter. I must confers that tlie solnjtion of the difficulty is a thing which puzzles me. and I am afraid that some form of subsidy appears inevitable under present conditions.” A AVAR DUTY. “As dairy farmers we have a very definite dutv to-day to do evci\thing we possible can to win the war. There is little need for me to urge you to increase vour production if you possibly earn The greater the amount of butter and cheese we send to Britain the better aic we arming her against her foes. This applies particularly to pork and bacon, and though 1 know it involves you in extra work when you may lie handicapped for want ol labour, I do most earnestly urge you to do everything you can to increase pig production. None ol us to-day know exactly what lies ahead, but all must be prepared to play their parts in the common effort. Before very long we will be meeting the Minister of Marketing to discuss next year’s price. AA r e will do our very best as a board to place before him a thoroughly sound ease on your behalf. I onlv hope that the outcome will relieve you of some of your present worries and give you a price which bears closer relationship to your costs than does the guaranteed price to-day,” Air Hale concluded.