THE SMALL FARMER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18592, 28 June 1922, Page 8

THE SMALL FARMER

TO TH* EDTTOm. Sib,—We read from time to time the optimistic, views expressed by farmers and pastoralists regarding the present and future of the farming'and pastoral industries, and we sometimes ponder over the thought, do these optimistic views tend to intensify our industrial troubles? And from whom do these views originate? On our land we have our rich and our struggling farmers—farmers who own large estates and those who own small farms; men who have the pick of the land and men who hold inferior land; farmers who own the freehold unencumbered and others who own the freehold but are heavily mortgaged: and men who own the leasehold, either privately or from the Crown at a reasonable rent, and others who lease the land, but at an exorbitant price. In these days of industrial chaos and financial stringency it would be impossible for farmers holding such varied positions to be of one mind regarding our present and future outlook. In fact, - farmers holding the minor positions invariably leave these matters to the well-to-do.- farmers whose opinions I do not think could be called wholly in accordance with the views that would or should emanate from the smaller farmer. Compare the freeholder unencumbered and the man whose land carries a heavy mortgage. When the last three years are considered it would be absurd to think they could arrive at the same conlusion as to the prospects, especially when the interest paief by one would probably pay more than all the household requirements of the other. It is from those well-to-do fanners and farmers of leisure that these optimistic views are gathered, and I am sorry to say that they do not by any means constitute the majority. When the slump in stock came about three years ago, and a rather pessimistic wave passed across New Zealand, and farmers were loud in their complaints, Mr Massey took them to task over their - assertions, and informed them that they must not express their pessimistic opinions publicly, as it might tend to interfere with the financing of the country. This sounds very well, but these optimistic views may tend to bolster up statements that are made from time to time by agitators in connection with our various industrial troubles. These industrial troubles along with the high cost of production will yet, if the country is not careful, bring many of the small farmers to the wall, and that will ultimately end in the aggregation of farms when the greatest want is really segregation and immigration. * During the last eight years the upkeep of the farms has been neglected, the cost; of labour and the high cost of materials being the chief cause. When these costs become reasonable thousands of pounds will be spent on and about the farms, but this is not likely to happen while unemployed in Dunedin are receiving 12a per day. Apart from all this, the all-important factor for the farmer is production, and to make this a success the country has two other factors to keep in view—namely, industry and transport. If the country fails to do its part the farmer cannot produce to any extent profitably, and I think that is what is wrong at the present time’and probably what is acting as a deterrent is the optimistic views expressed by farmers. These views are obtained from the gross production and not from the net returns. Our net returns do not bear relation to the high cost of production, and the factors responsible for this state of affairs must either be our industries <?r transportation, cither separately or collectively. When brought home, this means labour costs or middlemen's profits, as the case may be. To substantiate this statement, take our wool. The average gross return for crossbred wool for the last two years could not be more than 5d peij lb. Compare that with the price of the manufactured article, and I think readers can judge for themselves the direction in which the fault lies. It is not want of production, as we have an over-abundance for home consumption and can export freely. With regard to our cereals it cannot be from want of production that the country is suffering. Our prices for wheat and oats are below export values, and although they are, practically speaking, a drug on the market at the present time, bread in the country is selling at up to 14d per 41b loaf. Oats at the present time are* quoted at 2s fid per bushel, and oatmeal per 251 b bag is 6s 3d. About- 20 years ago. when oats were selling at the same price, oatmeal was quoted 9d. This does not sound like want of' production. The same applies to our meat industry. Beef is at bedrock. The same can be said of mutton. Lamb for the last three years has been very erratic, and a fluctuating market is detrimental to the small farmer, as be has not the accommodation, either in money or in feeding capacity, and cannot, therefore, hold for . n convenient sale. Dairying has helped die country considerably, but all farmers cannot participate in that at a 'moment’s notice; neither are’ all farms suitable. Nevertheless. during the time that the Government granted the subsidy of 3d per lb on butter, it was the small farmer, and ©specially the back-blocker, that had to pay the piper. The farmer is undoubtedly producing, but our industries are dead. The selling price of the prepared article isexorbitant, when compared with the price -me producer is receiving for the raw product. Our industries can only supply an article for, say, 12s, which any other country could supply to us for Bs, bar protection. Some of our industries are protected to the tune of 30 and 40 per cent.. What becomes of this 30 and 40 per cent, when the raw product is procurable in the country or is allowed to enter free? Competition is dead and the only thing that will put life into the country, and set the machinery going properly is suitable immigration and plenty of it Shake up the profiteering commissioners, equalise labour equivalent to the Cost of production, and the cost of living must, follow suit. Get the men into the country, where there would be no end of work at a fair wage. This has got to come soower or later, and if it is deferred too long will ultimately mean ruin to many small farmers, and it is the small farmer who is really the'backbone of the country.—l am, etc.. Interested. Lovell’s Flat, June 26.