FARM IMPLEMENTS AND HEAVY CHARGES.

Southland Times, Issue 19653, 2 October 1922, Page 2

FARM IMPLEMENTS AND HEAVY CHARGES.

To the Editfir. Sir.—Referring to your correspondent “Tradesman” it was not my intention to reply, but in justification of the farmer’s position, and seeing that he attempts (mostlikely through ignorance) to be sarcastic at- the expense of a body of men who, during most of the year, have half a day’s work done when he starts in the morning and cannot afford to knock off at 5 p.m., nor yet take a weekly half holiday, 1 desire lo put the. actual facte plainly before those who may lie interesting themselves in the matter. It is admitted by all that we are passing through trying times, and by those in authority that many farmers, if not a majority, have been forced to reduce their capital in order to pay taxes. At a recent meeting of the Southland executive of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union the subject of blacksmiths’ charges was under discussion, owing to correspondence sent in to the executive. I mentioned some I facts:—(l) that I had paid for a dray last year £75, and that about eight years before one exactly similar had cost me £32. I concluded that either the former price was too much or else the manufacturer was robbing himself when he only charged/me £32. (2) The case of an engine to which‘some repairs were required to be ! made. When the engine was submitted for examination as to the cost of time it would take to complete the job, two or three weeks was mentioned as the time. It is now some eight weeks and not finished yet.. The job is urgent as the balance of the plant is out of work till the engine is ready, and the owner is losing not only the revenue that- he expected to derive but probably some of his connection; besides he has to pay the wages of his own men in town, so that shortly the position is that I, estimate there will be a loss of income of about £5O, and unexpected wages about £35, in addition to the fact that this is not a contract job but is being charged on time and material. Being anxious to see the job put through with as little delay as possible I made certain remarks at the executive meeting, which by the way were not reported verbatim. Our points all the time are. that we fanners are not making any profits, and that we eannot pass on to any one else extra costs. ’We must lake the price that is going for our products and we simply cannot continue. We would like to see business concerns endeavouring to reduce their overhead charges, otherwise I do not like to contemplate what will be the end.—l am, etc., A. ROY. September 30.