Earnings Of Farmers, Miners Under Review

Northern Advocate, 15 March 1944, Page 2

Earnings Of Farmers, Miners Under Review

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Question time occupied less than a quarter ol‘ an hour before the debate was resumed on the Adflrcss-in-Reply when the House of Representatives met at 2.30 yesterday afternoon. Mr J. W. Munro (Govt.-Dunedin) said Opposition members had convicted themselves of not giving help to the war effort. They all claimed that there was a fall in primary production, but said that if the Government would subsidise farmers, farmers would produce more. Was that: not evidence that the farmers were not producing all they could? Mr J. A. Roy (Oppn.-Clutha) discussed the manpower problem and said that grade A men on farms should serve in the forces like any others, but they should be replaced. On the question of rehabilitation, Mr Roy urged a distinct department, mora decentralisation, and more power to local committees. He said the machinery in use at present was too slow and unless it could be speeded up there would be a serious bottlenecy when the majority of men began to return. Mr E. P. Meachen (Govt.-Marlborough) said much had been heard of the financial difficulties of farmers, but little could be seen of the difficulties today. In the large farming district he represented most of the complaints came from a few who were stirred up by forces opposed to the Gov-

eminent. Miners’ Earnings Mr D. C. Kidd (Oppn.-Waitalci) said he was satisfied that if any man was entitled to a decent wage it was the miner, but there was evidence that the miners were going slow at some mines. He quoted figures to show how the earnings of miners had increased since the outbreak of war and said that the average earnings of hewers at the Liverpool mine were £568 in 1942-43. If their latest demands were granted, earnings for the same output would be £675. The average of the Strongman mine was £562 and the demands would increase that to . £669. What was the miners’ motive in asking for another 1/- a ton, he asked. They had already had a 36 per cent increase since the outbreak, although the Government claimed an increase in the cost of living

of only 13>/ 2 per cent. Government Plans Mr W. A. Sheat (Oppn.-Patea) said that the people of this country had been waiting to hear the Government’s plans for the serious problems that had to be considered by the House. They had been looking to the Minister for Labour to give a lead regarding industrial problems, particularly that of coal supply, to the Minister for Railways for information regarding the duration of rail restrictions and to the Minister for Works for information about what was to be done to overcome the serious hydro-electric shortage which was affecting both the industrial and domestic life of the country. They had also expected something about plans to overcome the serious housing shortage. Mr Sheat said it appeared as if the Government considered that the people were not fit to be told the truth and the country was getting to a stage where people would not believe a statement when it was made. Increased Primary Production

Discussing the position of farmers Mr J. Thorn (Govt.-Thames) said there was a I great increase in primary production i during the war. A document presented to the House by the National Service Department showed a great increase in the production of wool, while meat and the acreage in crops also had increased during the war years. As for dairy produce, during the years 1939-41, it was maintained at the average of the three previous years, except that in the 1940-41 season, production was 12,000 tons higher than the previous three years’ average. Production had fallen in the 1942-43 and 1943-44 seasons and last year New Zealand produced 23.000 tons less butter and cheese than in 1941-42, but the reasons for this were well known—changing back and forth between butter and cheese, loss of fertiliser, labour shortages and unfavourable weather conditions. Great stress should be laid on this factor, for where the weather was favourable it actually had been demonstrated that the farmers cooperated with the Government to increase their production.