Higher Farm Costs

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 289, 7 December 1936, Page 2

Higher Farm Costs

UNION TO ASSEMBLE FIGURES All dairy farmers have received a circular from the Government Statistics Office asking for information for consideration in calculating next year’s guaranteed price, but no reference is made in the questionnaire to farm costs, an aspect which was criticised at the last meeting of tho South Taranaki Executive of the Farmers’ Union. It was decided to co-operate with the Dominion Executive in gathering data on the extent of the rise in costs.

Men were asking 3/6 an hour for ensilage making, and one farmer had turned his cows into the padocic rather thau pay it, commented a member.

The Dominion executive asked for assistance in assessing the increased farm costs. Accurate information on factory costs was readily available, it was pointed out, but farm charges should be considered in the calculation of the guaranteed price. Dairy companies had supplied the Statistics Office with lists of suppliers, said tho secretary, Mr E. K. Cameron, and ho understod the purpose was to question the dairy industry on farm costs.

Mr H. Eiulay then produced a questionnaire and it was seen that it did not call for information about farm costs but only about production, stock and residents and employees on properties. It was decided to collect information and forward it to the Dominion executive.

It was almost imposible to tell what the increase in costs would be until tho end of the year, and then not unless a complicated system of book-keeping was ■followed, said Mr Finlay. Small increases in the aggregate formed a large figure.

Increased country rates and higher wages for casual labour were instances, said the president, Mr W. A. Sheat.