FOR THE FARMER

Opunake Times, 8 January 1935, Page 1

FOR THE FARMER

NOTES AND COMMENTS WHEIIE It EE GUM IS NEEDED lu pointing out that the big reform needed in the dairying 1 industry is at the farm end of the business w e have stressed the remarkable fact that the leaders in the industry the men loud in their destructive criticism of the report of the Daily Commission, are quite ignoring this fact. The editor of the Live Stock Bulletin, of Sydney, takes exactly the same view. The production of dairy herds, he says, and his remarks apply equally well to New Zealand, runs all the way from 1201 b of fat a cow on thousands of farms and 40011) (or perhaps 0001 b) on hundreds of farms,

Again, lie shows that the feed cost of producing butter varies all the way from, say, 5d a pound to 2s a pound. This is due, he contends, to a lack of knowledge, whichever way one looks at it. It is no use blaming England, it is no use blaming the local Government. The trouble lies at the lack of knowledge of the great majority of farmers—not wilful, but a lack all the same. The Sydney editor then goes on to say: The objective of alj boards and councils or committees ever put in charge of any part of the industry has always been to raise prices. A worthy object no doubt, but an approach to the problem from the wrong end. A hopeless approach, in my view, and largely responsible for our present position. If a manufacturer devoted his attention to producing his goods at the lowest possible cost, his competitors would run him off the market in a very short time. That is what our competitors will do to us ii we don’t . look out. TlTey are awake to - the fact that world prices are gp.ing to remain at a low level for a long time, and they are determined that they shall be in a position to meet the market without leaning on their fellow taxpayers any further. ’

A Good Friend. The Dominion has a rather good friend in Mr T. Gillard Stapleton, of the British Dairy Farm ers’ Association. Writing to the Scottish Farmer in regard to dumped foreign butter he points out that the Ottawa agreements were drafted with the object o( encouraging Empire as against foreign trade. Yet, he says, tnc total imports of Continental Putter into Britaain increased by the colossal figure of 42-3,000 cwt., or 23 per cent, in the first six months of this year. He goes on to say that lbs a cwt. protective duty which Britain imposes is useless against the economic devices to which foreign producers resort in order to flood British

markets. Practically all the European dairying countries now assist their producers to export flutter at uneconomic prices—most of them by subsidising or by stabilising domestic prices. The situation is aggravated by the imposition of rigid quotas by countries that were formerly considerable importers of butter e.g., by Germany, which has virtually closed her market to the Baltic States, Consequently, ex-: porting countries had t<T find g, way of overcoming the Britisli tariff barrier, and “stabilisation” of domestic prices was found to be the mpst effectual weapon. Why all (his fajk about Empire quotas y Surely, he says, the first step towards preventing the saturation of the British market should he a clear warning to foreign countries against persisting in their uneconomic practjc.es. M uch has been said about the

economic pov er wielded by buying countries, he concluded, but when, he asks, are we going to barn to apply it? Meat Export Position The meat export trade, faced with possible restriction has been the subject of discussion between leaders of the Governments of New Zealand and Australia. It would be a relief to know Lie trend of the deliberations, and if our politicians are to allow vhe interests of British investors In the Argentine to be placed before the interests of the Empire producers. It is the Argentine or the Empire. One phase of the position that is being overlooked is that Britain is looking to the Empire to absorb her surplus population. If the primarv industries of die Empire are to be restricted and their development consequent 1y retarded there will be little opporiunitv for settling British poopie in Empire countries .Apparently vested interests are more powerful that Imperial sentiment. It is time, however, to take a stand and remind the Home Government of its duty to countries whirl) have loaded th"iiise]ves with debt for Imperial safety. The tendency in Austin a is to view the matter in this light. If is tn he hoped our leaders may he influenced by the Austra 1i a u attitude.