HIGHER COSTS ON FARMS

Southland Times, Issue 23443, 25 February 1938, Page 8

HIGHER COSTS ON FARMS

Smaller Production Foreseen UNION PROTESTS TO GOVERNMENT RECENT LEGISLATION BLAMED ' (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 24. Considerable time was spent at the Dominion executive meeting of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union today discussing the effect of recent legislation on primary producing industries. Reference was made to the increased costs being heaped on farmers, the increase in freezing works costs, the increase in dairy factory costs, and the general increase in the cost of living. Evidence was given from all provinces that farmers were very apprehensive of the ultimate result of the present legislative trends. Although the. union will not take part as a union in party politics it was felt that farmers in all electorates should take an active interest in politics.

The following resolution, sponsored by the Southland Provincial Executive, was carried unanimously:—

As representatives of the primary industries of New Zealand, upon the welfare of which depends also the welfare of all sections of our people, we wish to protest emphatically once again against the position into which primary producers are being forced through present conditions and recent legislation. We protest, especially in the face of falling prices, against the endless mounting of our costs, recent disproportionate increases in wages, and reductions in hours for certain industries. This means a reduction of the spending power of the producers and ultimately reduced production; in other words, purchasing power has , not had the results claimed for it, as, in the face of rising costs, values of farm products are on a gradual and marked decline. Our Dominion has been made and. maintained by the enterprise, industry and thrift of our people and we fear that if the farmer is forced to work long hours ? with little hope of improving his position (as under present conditions) the volume of primary production will decrease. Moreover, during recent years he has suffered considerable capital loss as' shown by the Dairy Commission and the Readjustment Commission. Our claims and protests have previously been couched in moderate terms but since no notice is apparently taken of the economic disadvantages under which the farmer labours, we submit these as indisputable facts and demand British justice for New Zealand’s most important industry. HIGHER TARIFFS OPPOSED The following resolution also was carried:

The'New Zealand Farmers’ Union, on behalf of the farmers of New Zealand, protests in the strongest possible terms against any increase in customs tariff against Australian goods, as any such tariff increase must result in every section of the community paying Higher prices for both imported and locally-manufac-tured goods. This increase in cost of living will very seriously affect the farmer as it will increase farm costs for such articles as wire netting, galvanized iron, etc., and will (a) automatically decrease the guaranteed price for dairy and other produce, and, (b) throw out of balance al’ adjustments made by the Mortgage Adjustment Commissions.