CORRESPONDENCE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 75, Issue 6443, 7 November 1947, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE

VIEWS OF OUR READERS * | HISTORICAL MUSEUM Sir, —I was glad to see “Growler’s” paragraph in your issue of 2nd inst. calling attention to the imminent risk of the loss to Te Awamutu of the society’s museum. It is not given to everyone to (interest themselves in historical research -or in preserving relics of the past, but every resident is interested in the prosperity of the town and district and the existence of the museum is a not inconsiderable factor in that prosperity. To provide a proper museum building in the future the Historical Society has opened a fund for voluntary contributions which will be gladly received by the treasurer, but the urgent need is for a building to house the museum exhibits until a permanent building can be erected, which will not be before the present housing shortage is overcome, and the high cost of such a building has been provided. Meantime if the Society could be assured of sufficient revenue to pay Mr Gifford a reasonable rent for his offices this would meet the situation.— I am., etc., H. A. SWARBRICK, 'President Te Awamutu Historiai Society. THE MYTHICAL FARMER Sir, —'Much publicity has been given to a speech by Mr A. J. Sinclair dealing with the “ mythical ” farmer. I hesitate to cross swords with such a doughty opponent of the guaranteed price and its originators as the gentleman from Te Awamutu, but I feel there may be some points which readers of his speech may have overlooked. Mr Sinclair refers to one of these “ mythical ” people, assisted by one “ adult male unit of labour,” milking between them 48 cows and producing 12,000 lb of butter-fat. I cannot speak for what occurs in our friend’s district, but I agree that such people in most farming districts could be described as mythical, for, as he must surely know, it is usual for two men to milk on an average 70 cows, and sometimes up to 90 cows. In that case, > that (their hours would be long, it would be futile to deny that they receive substantial overtime payment. It will be contended that the average of 250 lb of fat per cow in the price formula is above the average production. While this may be so, the advantage to the working farmer on the labour reward side is a compensating factor. One remarkable point, however, is that the opposition to the guaranteed price formula comes, not from the man with low production, who is glad of the security he is offered and usually needs, but from the “ big shots ” with production up around the 300 lb mark or over. So their protests are obviously made with their tongues firmly in their cheeks. Me Sinclair mentions the cost of herd replacements, but I might state that it is not unusual to receive an average of over £1 a head for bobby calves, which he will agree compares favourably with the Is 6d and 2s 6d a head of the pre-guaranteed price days. The stock market reports make it obvious to anyone able to read that the price of cull cows has shown a similar increase. Mr Sinclair enumerates a number of distressing ailments which constantly threaten farmers’ herds, but may I mention that these phenomena, like the poor and political agitators, we have always with us, and are things for which at least Mr Nash cannot be blamed. It might be pointed out, too, that, in addition to Mr Sinclair’s list of calamities, it was not unknown for the bottom to drop out of the price of butter-fat and it may be agreed that the guaranteed price goes some distance toward correcting this last disaster. As for the horse? which fall into drains the people of Te Awamutu will be pleased to learn that in progressive districts, especially since > the guaranteed price tractors are rapidly overcoming this problem. Regarding replacements of pumping plants, etc., it is gratifying to notice the increase in recent years of such equipment, and one may presume that the price of butter-fat has been sufficient to cover their cost—or would Mr Sinclair suggest that perhaps investments on the “ tote ” have been used to finance such things ? About the “ reserve for contingencies ” overlooked in the guaranteed price, perhaps oui' Te Awamutu friend can tell us of the days when the “ Tooley Street Boys ” used to tack on a penny or so to cover such things. Mr Sinclair’s reference to interviews with bankers was a little high and out to one side, for if .statistics regarding mortgage reductions are any guide one could be pardoned for believing that the majority of interviews with these men are for the purpose of repaying, and not raising, loans.—l am, C. R. PARKER. Kent Road, New Plymouth.