THE DAIRY FARMER’S POSITION

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 9

THE DAIRY FARMER’S POSITION

To The Editor Sir, —At the last election the Labour Party wooed the support of the dairy farmer. The Government now has the temerity to suggest that its guaranteed price policy has been a boon to the “cow cockie.” Does the Government believe the average dairy man to be incapable of working out a simple sum of arithmetic? Anyway, here it is. The average price realized under the guaranteed price has been approximately 1/2 a pound butterfat. The increased costs which the Government admits the dairy farmer has had to bear by reason of its legislation amount to 3j>d a pound butterfat or one quarter of gross revenue. Our dairy produce last year realized approximately £22,000,000; therefore one quarter of this amount, or £5,500,000 was filched from the fanner by reason of increased costs. In return for this the Government claims to have handed the industry £650,000 clearly leaving it nearly £5,000,000 worse off. Is it any wonder that more women and children are being driven into the milking shed than at any previous time in the history of the country.—Yours, etc., DAIRY MAN. September 17, 1937.