“FOOL’S PARADISE”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19978, 1 July 1939, Page 7

“FOOL’S PARADISE”

DOMINION DAIRYFARMERS HIGHER COSTS BURDEN NEXT SEASON’S PRICE COMMITTEE’S BASIS URGED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A unanimous decision to urge that the recommendations of the 1938-3 J advisory committee should 'be accepteci as the basis of the guaranteed puce for the 1939-40 season was made 'oy the -National Dairy Conference to-day. Immediate representations on the subject are to-be made to the Government. The motion earned stated. “That this conference of delegates to the representative committee set up last year, consisting -of representatives of the National Dairy Conference, the South 'lsland Dairy Association, tnc Farmers’ Union and the Dairy Boaid, takes the responsibility of placing before the Government without delay the urgent necessity of establishing the recommendations of the 1938-39 advisory committee as the basis of the guaranteed price for the 1939-40 season, and that the committee be requested to report to the industry -the result of its conference with the Government, and that this conference agrees to support any recommendations that the Committee might make.

Not Recognised by Labour

In the course of discussion Mr. A. J. Sinclair, Te Awamutu, said: “We are fully aware of the financial implications involved by our just demand, but it is beside the point to say that the country cannot afford it. There are many things which this country cannot afford to do. but we see no indication -on the part of organised labour to recognise this fact. Neithei do we see any indication on the part of the Government to recognise it. We are living in a fool’s paradise. We cannot go on as we are doing, and all that -the dairyfarmer asks is that if he is compelled to make sacrifices, other sections of the community should be called upon to make comparable sacriifi'CoS. ’ Increased costs, he said, were nullifying the benefit of the increased wages. The dairy farmer refused to be • singled out as the scapegoat of organised labour, and the time would soon come when, he would have no alternative 'but to consider “appropriate action.” Declining Production

The problem of declining production was discussed, Mr. D. G. Begley, Heretaunga, moving that the serious decline in' the production of dairy farm produce must be arrested, and that the matter be referred to the committee appointed to consider the question of the guaranteed price, with the addition of a representative of the Pig Marketing Association. He said that in actual fact there were 70,000 fewer cows being milked today. The labour problem was acute. It Was difficult even 'for fanners to keep their own sens on the farms. He suggested it Was possible to evolve a plan under which young men would be attracted to rural industries. Farming should be -regarded as a skilled trade and the farmer should strive to improve the type of worker. -