LIVELY MEETING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22595, 7 December 1936, Page 12

LIVELY MEETING

INCEEASING COSTS FARMERS AT CAMBRIDGE QUESTIONS TO MINISTER HIGHER GUARANTEE WANTED [by telegraph—own correspondentj CAMBRIDGE, Saturday One of tho largest gatherings of farmers ever held in the Cambridgo distrist listened last night to the Minister of Labour, the Hon. H. T. Armstrong, answer numerous questions dealing with farming problems attributed to tho Government's legislation. 'Jhere were many interjections, and at times tho uproar almost drowned the speaker's voice. At the end of the Minister's remarks, a vote of no confidence in the Government was proposed. It was not carried, hut received considerable support. A series of prepared questions on tho lines of those dealt with at other meetings addressed by the Minister were presented by members of the Cambridge branch of the Fanners' Union. Ihe Minister answered many ol the questions, and promised to reply in writing to the others. In addition to the questions asked, a number of resolutions were put to tho meeting and carried unanimously. A livelj' discussion developed on the question of the guaranteed price and its effect on farmers. At one stage the meeting had to be called to order by tho chairman, Mr. F. Griffin. Resolutions Carried Mr. W. Harbutt, chairman of the Cambridge Dairy Company, moved a resolution, which was carried unanimously, to the effect that, as it was the intention of the Government to increase wages, which resulted in increased costs, tho guaranteed price as fixed for this season was not a fair or equitable one for the dairy fanner, and that they demanded an immediate review of the position, and an increase in the guaranteed price for this season, to cover extra manufacturing and farming costs to which the dairy farmer Mas subject. Another resolution on tho same subject passed by the meeting requested that the Government should give an undertaking that should there be a surplus in the Dairy Industry account at tho conclusion of the year, it should be distributed to the producers. A third requested the Government to gixe effect to the compensating price, to ensure producers the actual exchange value of their products. Government Promises Mr. R. Coulter, M.P. for Waikato, maintained that the Government had adhered strictly to its promises. " Wo gave you a figure, fixed upon averages over tho.past eight to ten years," he said. " The increased cost of living does not amount to more than a Ad a pound of butter-fat. This can be proved by figures." ' The cost of living would also be considered for next year's guarantee, he added. Mortgages would be adjusted on the basis of the guaranteed price. ]f that was low, mortgage interest would be low in proportion. Resolutions asking tho Government to protect farmers against the increased costs entailed by higher wages and shorter hours, tho possible regimentatation of the dairy industry by the Industries Efficiency Act, and tho system of pooling butter-boxes to be administered by tho Dairy Board, and demanding that all restrictions against the importation of butter boxes or cheese crates should bo removed immediately, were carried and will be forwarded to the Government.