FARMERS' DEMAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23482, 20 October 1939, Page 11

FARMERS' DEMAND

DAIRY PRICE TOO LOW BAR TO HIGHER OUTPUT MARKETING ACT OPPOSED MOKRINSVILLE MEETING [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] MORRIXSVILLE. Thursday Protests against the treatment meted out to dairy farmers by the Government in the price decided on for the 1939-40 season were made at a meeting of farmers and their wives at Morrinsville to-day. The attendance, estimated at 1500, was double the capacity of the theatre, and loudspeakers were used to reach those outside. Mr. E. Pallister, of Waitoa, who presided, said the large attendance indicated the strong dissatisfaction of the farming cominunitv with the price offered to the producer. Those present would possibly be accused of disloyalty, but. one had only to analyse the enlistment figures to note that the rural districts had contributed more than their fair share of recruits. " Something Wrong " There was something radically wrong in New Zealand, said the chairman. The United Kingdom had asked New Zealand to increase its production, and the farmers realised that the successful termination of the war depended largely upon the Dominions'. capacity to produce foodstuffs. It. was felt, however, that the New Zealand Government had adopted the wrong course in asking support of its appeal for increased production. It was stultifying its own request by its action in fixing the price below the cost of production. The only way the desire of the Government could be acceded to was to make further money available for capital expenditure, Mr. Pallister continued. He believed .the Government was perfectly sincere in its appeal for increased production, and was perfectly honest in its desire that the Allies should win the war, but the farmers were far from satisfied with the way in which the Government was treating them s Socialisation of Production Colonel N. P. Adams, president of the Auckland Shcepowners' Association, said his organisation realised that when war broke out it was right that S reduce should be controlled. The inustry was prepared to make a number of sacrifices it would not agree to at any other time. Similar enactments were passed with respect to thev 1914-18 war, but there was a clause in them that would cease at the end of the war. No such provision was made in the recent regulations The Government's actions looked suspiciously like an attempt to introduce the socialisation of production and .to check the freedom of the people. . Colonel Adams added. Producers in Germany thought the same tiling _regarding a dictatorship as those in New Zealand, but they dare not at present express their views. Something should be written into the legislation to make it clear that the measures taken were for the duration of the war only. j Viewpoint of the Wives The point of view of the farmers' i wives was expressed by Mrs. J. M. Wallace and Mrs. M. E. Barrowclough. both of whom said the women in rural districts were anxious to help to increase production and to promote patriotic efforts, but their activities were restricted owing to the shortage of income. The price for the farmers' produce gave no margin over the cost { of necessities. Mr. W. Marshall, deputy-chairman i of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy j Company, Limited, and a member of ' the 1938 Guaranteed Prico Advisorv j Committee, said that production of ; butter and cheese had been dropping and a serious position had been developing. The farmers of New Zealand were anxious to help the United Kingdom with the supply of all the foodstuffs they could, but it was axiomatic that if the price paid for the produce was too low. it was impracticable and impossible to increase the output. Too many of them had to depend on the unpaid labour of their wives and children. and there was grave danger of a decline in output on marginal lands. Public Works Wages

Coil tin uing, Mr. Marshall said that prior to 1014 the New Zealand farmer received 114s for his butter. The .labourers' wages were then Is 3d an hour. During the last season the produce realised Ills, but the Government had just increased the wages of Public Works Department labourers to 2s IJd an hour. In other words, the farmers wages had remained stationary, while the labourers' wages had increased by 60 per cent in the last 2o years. Since the outbreak of war the dairy producers' representatives had told the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, that all questions in dispute would be left, in abeyance, but that consideration be given to the payment of an extra penny per lb. to cover part of the heavy increase in costs. These representations were an earnest of the farmers' loyalty, but the Government had fixed the price at the same figure as last year. "I think the farmer has had a raw deal," said Mr. Marshall. The community should understand tlfat a low price for butter-fat meant less purchasing capacity and a setback to secondary industries. A satisfied farming community was a benefit to the country as a whole. United Effort Urged

Mr. Marshall said the price the Government wonlri receive for the produce was still subject to negotiation, but it was apparent that an increase of f>o per cent in freight and an increase in insurance would bring the purchase price up to l.'Hs per cwt, for butter. There was no need for secrecy, and confidence would result in greater cooperation in the Empire's war aims. Mr. Marshall urged all farmers to join the Farmers' Union so that they could speak with a united voice. He suggested that authorised representatives should he appointed to put the recommendations of the farmers before the Government and that the farming community should support these representatives wholeheartedly. Mr. F. X. Smith (Kiwitahi) said it was a crying shame that the farmers should he held back because of the Government's efforts to enforce control. "I am" not prepared to accept Socialism under the cloak of a war emergency." lie added. The Oivil Service "The statement by the Minister of Marketing that the civil servants would hnve more work to do in future portended one thing—Socialism,',' said Mr. F. Tiny ward (Ngarua). He added that lie objected to the surreptitious introduction of Socialism. The increase in the jvages of the public works labourers meant an expenditure of a further 1N'.00.000 per annum of public money. "To say that the guaranteed price is the .same as last year is a lie." said Mr. F. \V • Seifert. chairman of the Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy Company, Limited, "because it was reduced by the amount of the increased

costs;" Mr. Seifert said the ■ farmers should do everything in their power to demand justice. - - • The. - following resolution was carried:—"ln accordance with the patriotic desire of farmers to increase production during the period of war, this meeting of farmers is prepared to make any sacrifice equal to'other sections of tlie community, but emphatically protests against the recent legislation; the Marketing Amendment Act,, which, under cover of emergency, places the primary industry under the permanent control of whichever Government is in office; and, further, we demand that the Government will', during the next session of Parliament, so amend this recent 'control' legislation as to bring about its repeal within 12 months •of tht! end of the war." It was further resolved: —"That this meeting fully realises that the best contribution farmers can,' at the moment, make to New Zealand and the Motherland is increased production of primary produce, but must emphatically draw the attention of the Government to the fact that a stimulus to production cannot be brought about so long as the. farming industry, through inadequate prices, is unable to pay competitive rates of wages and meet the increased costs of production. "With a full knowledge of our responsibilities to the country, we definitely express the opinion that the increased costs in the farming industry, the wages required for increased labour on farms, and to the point of shipment, and the other expenditure necessary to stimulate production, necessitate our demanding from the 'Government that nothing less than the price for dairy produce suggested by the Dairy Industry Council in its representations to the Minister of Marketing is a just one and should be paid for the 11W9-10 dairying season.

"further, we the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to call a national conference of primary producers to cliss the position with the Government, to demand an urgent answer, and in the event of an unsatisfactory reply we promise to support the executive in any action it may consider necessary along the lines of the resolutions carried at this meet<»g-"

FIXED PRIOE INADEQUATE ALBERTLAND COMPANY'S VIEW' A resolution expressing the opinion that the price to bo paid for butterfat this season is insufficient to allow dairy farmers even to maintain their production was passed at a. meeting of the. directors of the Albertlaiul Cooperative Dairy Company, 'Limited, at Wellsford. "The directors recognise the fact that costs are rising and that, even should labour be available, suppliers will not earn the income required to increase production, which they realise is so urgently needed." the resolution added. "Tliey would, therefore, respectfully request that the Government reconsider the price to be paid for dairy produce."