DAIRY FARMERS TO RECEIVE BENEFIT FIRST?

Northern Advocate, 23 March 1936, Page 6

DAIRY FARMERS TO RECEIVE BENEFIT FIRST?

OPERATION OF THE GUARANTEED PRICES PUN

[Special to “northern Advocate.’! WELLINGTON, This Day. pROM indications given, it. seems apparent that, for a start at least the Government’s guarantee prices scheme will apply to the dairy producers only.

A Sliding Scale

Early in the session a measure to give effect to the guaranteed prices scheme will be introduced. It seems from the plan to fix farm workers’ wages and conditions of work, that the Government intends them to share in the , benefits which the farmers will receive. Indications that the guaranteed prices • scheme will operate with some elasticity are given in a statement that the wages to be paid farm workers under the proposed agreement will probably be on a sliding scale. On the heels of this wage agreement it is expected that there will be some move in the wages paid in other branches of farming and agriculture. Another factor will be the basic wage, which it planned to fix generally shortly. A suggestion that special attention to the dairying industry is likely to destroy the-balance between agricultural and pastoral activities was referred to the Prime Minister, who said the Government appreciated the situation.

Inquiries seem to show that the Labour Government feels that the producers of wool and meat do not peed assistance so urgently as the dairy farmers, who, as a whole, have slibwn their efficiency by doubling their production during the last few years.

At the same time as the guarantee prices scheme comes into operation, a special arrangement will be reached on the questions of hours and conditions of work of farm hands already in dairying.

The Minister of Labour, the Hon, H. T. Armstrong, said on Saturday, that he had conferred with representatives of the Farmers’ Union on the farm wages subject, and an agreement had been reached. He could not, however, reveal the details yet.

Mr Savage admitted that many felt that the dairy industry was overcrowded, and .that there might be some difficulties should other producers turn their attention to dairying.

However, the proposal to assist dairy farmers was, he said, only part of a general policy of planned production, and steps would be taken immediately to cope with any difficulties which might arise. Mortgage Question. The Prime Minister said the Government was going into the question as thoroughly as possible. The mortgage question was one which could not be overlooked, and he was satisfied, criticism notwithstanding, that the solution to existing problems lay in the realisation of the mutual difficulties of mortgagor and mortgagee.

The angle from which the problems should be tackled, Mr Savage continued, was that of the ability of the average farmer. The mortgagee, in some cases, might have to accept jj(ess, but he might lose all his equity if the present state of affairs was allowed to drift.