EXPLOITING THE PRODUCER

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6755, 7 November 1928, Page 6

EXPLOITING THE PRODUCER

To the Editor. . i Dear Sir,—Please allow mo to make a fc-w remarks on the above subject, in reference to the pork and bacon markets. It may not be , common knowledge, but it is a fact that these markets, and especially the latter, are controlled by one of two firms, which operate all over New Zealand, having acquired' the main interest in our freezing-works ' etc. Of course, there are exceptions in the shape of small cooperative concerns here and there, but these affect only their own locality and have practically nothing to do with the price fixing. Getting down to business, sir, I would like to ask what sort of a policy tho Government is pursuing when these firms are allowed to come into the country and assume control of one of the farmer’s chief means of making a living, fixing the price to suit themselves. I am a farmer myself and only today was shown a list of prices by a buyer operating in my district. These ranged from 4jd. to 5Jd. per lb., according to the weight of the pig. Now, sir, bacon is selling in the stores at 1/2 per lb. in rashers. Allowing the shopkeeper to make a fair profit, you will admit there is too big a discrepancy. Somebody is getting rich at the farmer’s expense. Personally, I have a lot of pigs this year, which I had hoped would help to pay off a mortgage, but not at the present price of bacon. Yet we are given to under stand that tho Government’s policy if to keep the farmer on the land* One has to bo a farmer to appreciate the irony of it. I am. sir, Disgusted. Longburn, November 6.