THE FARMER'S BUDGET

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22469, 13 July 1936, Page 12

THE FARMER'S BUDGET

Sir. —When ate the promises made to the farmers by the present Government going to materialise? So far they have had nothing, but are told to live in hope, while they see others receiving a bonus of £250.000, increased . wages and shorter working hours, knowing full well that tho money that pays for all this has to bo earned by those who work on the land. Every industry throughout the world is dependent upon the land for its raw material and other products, so surely workers on the land should receive the first consideration. The legislation so far passed by tho Government, instead of helping the farmer, is only increasing his expenditure and forcing the wives and families into the milking sheds. Ihe price of butter suggested by the Government of an average of prices during the last eight or ten lean years will not be sufficient to meet all the farm expenses, provide his family with the necessities of life, pay the increased price proposed for labour, and leave anythinc over for the unfortunate farmer and his SO-hour a week's work. 1 append a few figures showing the position or a farmer milking 40 cows on an aoacre farm. Allowing a returu of ~10 & cow, which is far above the average received during the last few seasons, his milk would bring him in £4OO « year, provided all his cows come into profit, a most unusual event. Against that income he has the following expenses:—Manures, £6O; benzine tor milking, £25; repairs and renewals, £2O; insurance and rates. £ls; keeping fences, etc., in repair, £2O (posts cost 2s each); wear and tear and upkeep of motor-car, £25; wages and keep o a boy or man to assist in milking an ' farm work at .'sos a week ami fouiM for 10 months of the year, £100; total expenses, £265 —leaving tho farmer £-1 plus, any profit ho may make from p'P> and bobby calves. If lie is fortunate may get a return of £3O from these, giving him £165 with which to pa? anv interest on his mortgage, all nw household expenses and incidentals, and/or interest upon the capitall'he HM invested on the farm. If it is a freehold without a mortgage, surely the tarnis is entitled to sortie interest on his capi tal. If lie has a mortgage and interest to pay there is very little left oyer tor himself and his family, so the only possible way out of tho difficulty is to dispense with outside labour and M" tho wife and family to assist him in the milking shed. Please notice that have put the wages, at 30s; the Government is talking of much more than that, and the average return for tae cows during the last few years wctuia work out at less than £S a cow. I have made no allowance for deaths or disease in the herd, and based my figures on Is I}d per lb. of butter-fat. An extra ljd would give the farmer another £w< but increase the wages of the far®, labourer by 15s a week according to tue proposed scale. Reflex.