REPORT WANTED ON FARMERS’ POSITION

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19272, 8 January 1931, Page 6

REPORT WANTED ON FARMERS’ POSITION

CONFERENCE WILL DISCUSS DAIRYING. (Special to the “Star”) WELLINGTON, January S. A conference to discuss the economic position of the dairy farmers was opened at Parliament Building to-day by Sir Apirana Ngata, who welcomed a very representative gathering on behalf of the acting-Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture. “ What we want is a diagnosis of the present ills of the industry,” said Sir Apirana Ngata. He expressed the thanks of the Government to the chairman of the Daixy Control Board for his assistance in getting down to realities. In adopting the suggestion of a deputation from the dairy associations that a conference should be held and in deciding the personnel, it was felt that what was wanted was not so much the heads of the industry, but the active services and advice of the men handling from day to day the affairs of the farmer.

It was necessary to get hold of the facts and diagnose the troubles. At such a juncture people were apt to ** get the wind up ” and exaggerate in some ways, and the Government did not wish to make a difficult position increasingly difficult by too much dust. It was thought that if such a conference could be held, and a statement submitted of the real position, with helpful suggestions, that the Government could assist. However, Sir Apirana added a warning that the Government had its difficulties and would appreciate it if the conference made its requests on the minimum scale.

The order of reference was wide, and it would be for his hearers to interpret its terms and go into the actual business details involved. Having got the diagnosis he would suggest that a certain amount of discrimination should be shown between dairy farmers who, owing to excessive capital costs, or other reasons, would be unable even in normal tunes to meet their obligations. Even the best-equipped Government could not be expected to come forward to help the man who overloaded himself, either in dairying, sheepfarming or any other business. On the suggestion of Mr W. loms, chairman of the Dairy Control Board, Mr Brash, secretary of the board, was appointed chairman of the conference. 'Hie order of reference states that the object of the conference is as follows: “ To discuss the economic position of the daisy farmers under the conditions of exceptionally low values for dairy produce such as exist at the present time: to report to the Minister of Agriculture the opinion of the conference upon the above-mentioned position, the report to include information as to the probable extent of the ability, or otherwise, of dairy farmers to carry on and met their obligations without assistance in some form or other.”

Specific points for investigation are enumerated and the committee is asked to report if it considers some measure of relief is necessary in order to maintain the industry in a position to continue production, at, or about, its present level, and how such relief can best be given.