BURDEN OF COSTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 12

BURDEN OF COSTS

INCOME OTJTSTfiIPPE

SHEEPFARMERS' PLIGHT..; I a__ "V I 'ii; NECESSARY WORK NOT DONE

[BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT! \ GISBORXE. Friday v • Grave concern for the sheepfarminj : industry was expressed by Mr. J. Graham, president of the Povertj ' Bay Agricultural and Pastoral As. sociation, at the annual meeting"' of the association to-day. He said ' that because costs had far outstripped income, hundreds of miles of damaged fencing in the district remained unrepaired and stock was not receiving , proper attention. A decline in produc. tion was inevitable.

It was the object of the association said Mr. Graham, to raise the stanl 1 dard of production in order to mak 6 New Zealand's products more acceptable in the markets and command the best prices. '"lt is production that estab. lishes and maintains settlements, and its value which measures prosperity, a' fundamental fact which many citizens show little sign of appreciating," he continued. -

"In this district the necessary pro. duction comes from the fanning induj. try. There is no other offering or in sight. Therefore it should be plain to all that this foundation industry should be kept in a thriving condition but I am sorry to say it is not in that healthy state.

"Production costs far outstrip production income. Hundreds of miles of fen c . ing damaged by last year's floods, and other necessary repair work, have not been attended to simply for that reason. Stock are not receiving proper attention for the same reason. All this means a decline in production which sooner or later, will be felt by everyone."