DAIRYMEN NOT SATISFIED

Southland Times, Issue 25350, 29 April 1944, Page 7

DAIRYMEN NOT SATISFIED

“Paltry” Increase For Butterfat

Dissatisfaction with the action of the Government and the acceptance by the “so-called leaders of the industry” of the “paltry” increase of 1.21 d for butterfat was expressed by the Dairying Committee of the Southland Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union in a resolution which was adopted at a meeting of the Provincial Executive yesterday. The committee pointed out that the increase would not. pay more than £3O a labour unit annually. It was of the opinion that the dairy farm worker was entitled to a wage equal to that received by any other worker who worked a 70-hour week. The increased price to the dairy farmer was insufficient to -enable him to pay a wage to compete with other industries, and the reward to the farmer. himself gave him no cover to meet unforeseen contingencies and the definite increase in the cost of production and the cost of living. “There is in our opinion no valid excuse for the powers that be not paying the New Zealand dairy farmer a price equal to that paid willingly to the Canadian dairyman,” stated the resolution. “Had such been done there would have been no need for all the present tinkering with the industry. “As things are at present it is only the unswerving loyalty of the. dairy farmers to the Mother Country and to the great issues at stake in the present conflict, and the need for the maximum effort in production of foodstuffs, which urges them to keep going.” It was decided that the committee’s resolution be forwarded to the Dominion executive of the union.