Old Hand Tells Farmers To Chase Hare Of Costs

Northern Advocate, 28 May 1940, Page 3

Old Hand Tells Farmers To Chase Hare Of Costs

[Snecial to “Northern Advocate ”] AUCKLAND, This Day. “Give up chasing other hares and chase the hare of costs,” said Captain F. Colbeck, a veteran farmer and foundation member of the Auckland Farmers’ Union 40 years ago, in opening the union’s annual conference today. The president (Mr H. M. Rushworth) presided over a large attendance of members. “If you chase costs you will get somewhere,” declared Captain Colbeck. “Costs must be reduced if there is to be any future in New Zealand. “In every case the test is whether the exporter can afford the costs of any service to the community.” The Last Straw High costs have become a serious problem to the farmers, said Captain Colbeck. The last straw was the Government’s instruction to the arbitration court to increase wages in accordance with the cost of living, because costs had been raised as a direct result of shorter hours and high wage rates. The average wage in New Zealand was between £4 and £5 a week for a 40-hour week. ‘Can the average farmer pay that wage and make ends meet ” Voices: No hope of it. Reductions in hours and increases in wages had placed a huge burden where it could not be passed on, added Captain Colbeck. That was on the farmers. If the farmers were given a reasonable chance, they would increase production, but they could not do it against the increasing obstacle. High Tariffs “A major factor in costs in New Zealand is high tariffs,” said Mr R. Parlane, another foundation member of the union. “Rising Customs duties’ tax on industries which compete in the markets cf the world is one of the great problems of today, and it is a very serious problem. “High wages handicap the farmer by making labour flock from the country to the town, and passing the burden back to the country.” The only other surviving foundation member of the union, Mr A. A. Ross, was unable owing to health reasons to attend. Captain Colbeck will be 80 years of age on Friday. Mr Parlane is in his 75th year.