GOVERNMENT AND FARMERS

Southland Times, Issue 24181, 18 July 1940, Page 4

GOVERNMENT AND FARMERS

To The Editor Sir,—The Government boasts of its help to the farmers, but let us look into these examples of helpfulness. For years I have bought 54 inch Jute wool packs for 4/-. In 1939 I had to pay 4/8 for them, but now I find them unprocurable. I am told that the Government has fixed the size for wool packs, now 42 inch and that it has also fixed the price for these small packs at 6/6. These packs, which I have just had delivered, are New Zealand flax packs. Now, sir, I am quite prepared to use New Zealand products at a reasonable cost, but why should I, a genuine 70 hours a week farmer, have to pay the price for a bolstered-up New Zealand industry working presumably a 40-hour week? Further, as cartage of wool is charged per bale, cartage costs will soar, from the farm to the rail, on the rail and at the terminus, to say nothing of the wool levy also per bale. Is farming to be a penalized industry? Perhaps some person in his wisdom will say, as I have heard it said, “But look at the profit in farming.” I ask you, if this is so, why people are not rushing to buy farms. No sir, they are not wanting a mortgage round their necks for life but a “gentleman’s” job with 40 hours a week and not too much responsibility.—Yours, etc.,

COCKY. July 16, 1940.