Dairymen Ask For Better Treatment

Northern Advocate, 12 April 1940, Page 4

Dairymen Ask For Better Treatment

Farmers should be able to recover« their costs, plus a remuneration forj their efforts from the price paid byi the Government for dairy produce, j Speakers stated this at the ward] dairy conference here yesterday. i A remit from the Maungaturoto] company was amended to read: ] “That this conference is of the opin-< ion that, in view of the cutting off of] dairy produce supplies from’ the Bal-, tic States to Great Britain, the New Zealand Government be urged to ex-] tend facilities which will enable the, dairy farmers of this Dominion to develop to the utmost their potential resources so that New Zealand may assist Great Britain further in obtaining her essenital food supplies.” Ordered to Tighten Belts. In the discussion, Mr D. A. Finlayson (Maungaturoto) said that the farmer was the only section of the community in this country that had been asked, in fact ordered,, by the Government to work harder and yet tighten their belts. It was the one section that was not receiving fair remuneration for its services rendered. With rising costs, other sections approached the Government and were given extra remuneration. When the farmers had approached the Minister for Marketing he had told them that if he gave them more for their produce they would be getting more than they were entitled to. That was absurd. The country depended on the primary producer. It had to be realised that sacrifices had to be made and the war won, but these sacrifices should be evenly spread and the farmer not be asked to carry more'than his share.

How could production be increased if the industry was not allowed to recover costs? Piece-Work on Farms. “If I hadn't been a dairy farmer I might have misunderstood Mr Finlayson’s remarks, said Mr. Harrison (Hokianga). The dairy man worked on piecework and received recompense for any extra work he did. For instance, this season he had increased his production by 20001bs of fat. Mr Hale: Did you have a favourable season? Mr Harrison: I don’t get your meaning. Mr Hale: Was the weather kind? Mr Harrison: Do you mean—Did I get rain my neighbours did not get? The remit was carried.