PRODUCERS' PROBLEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19953, 23 May 1928, Page 14

PRODUCERS' PROBLEMS.

OUTPUT AT HIGH LEVEL. ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES. "REFORM IN SYSTEM NEEDED." [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] HAMILTON, Tuesday. A review of the work of the Auckland provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was given by the president, Mr. A. A. Ross, at the opening of the annual conference at Hamilton this morning. Among the matters approved by the executive during the year, said Mr. Ross, was a scheme for a subsidy on export pork, proposals in the revision of the customs tariff, and the need, for assisting the Ngaroma settlers. A protest was made against the abolition of the import duty on maize. Farmers' finance had been dealt with at the 1927 conference, and a long step toward the union's object had been gained in the full recognition of the principle of long-dated amortisation loans to farmers, but a good deal yet remained to be done before an entirely satisfactory position was attained. There had been a notable increase in the union membership in the Auckland Province. On April 30, 1927, there were 2563 financial members, and on the same date this year the membership totalled 4073, an increase of 1510. A further 515 orders from new members had been received. Dealing with the position of farmers generally, Mr. Ross said the volume of production bad been well maintained. The number of sheep in the Dominion was now increasing. Wool had reached high values, while the production and export of fat lambs had proved to be a satisfactory branch of farming. The volume of dairy produce, in spite of the recent long spell of dry weather, was practically equal to last year's, which was a long way ahead of any previous record. i'ig production had been increasing considerably. To place this industry on a sound footing, the right type of pig for bacon purposes should be bred and production costs must be lowered. The total production of grain this season had greatly exceeded all previous records, and it was regretted that duties and restrictions on imports were necessary to enable the industry to exist. Bread was made more costly, the cost of living was raised and the pig industry was placed m a very precarious position. The poultry industry continued to languish, and the only hope for it was foodstuff at its natural level of prices. A greater volume of fruit had been exported during the year, and a satisfactory position could be anticipated in the near future. Prospects for the export of beef were much better owing to the prevalence of foot-and-mouth disease in the Argentine Viewing farming as a whole, continued Mr. Ross, it would appear that the industry ought to be in a flourishing condition. Production was at a high level and was being maintained, while prices generally were good. In spite of all this it was quite clear that the position was not satisfactory, and farmers were finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. The difficulty was to be found in the fact that the producer for export under the present economic arrangements was the only man who was working under competition. Reform in New Zealand's economic system was needed before the present difficulties confronting the farmers could be permanently removed.