FARM COSTS AND PRICES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 244, 16 October 1939, Page 6

FARM COSTS AND PRICES

INTERESTING COMPARISONS I EVIDENCE PLACED BEFORE ASSESSMENT COURT Enlightening evidence as to farm costs in comparison with prices obtained for farm stock and produce, was placed before the Court which sat in Wanganui last week to deal with objections to valuations placed on properties in the Wanganui County. It was shown that a matter of far-reaching effect on the farm- ! ing industry is the increase in . local bc/y costs, particularly when these are viewed in comparison with prices obtained for produce exported tn rn the land. Special rates struck by he pital and harbour boards were mention-., with emphasis. It was stated that rates levied by the Hospital Board on one local budy near Wanganui, a county, had risen 100 per cent, in the last 20 years. It was shown that in the year 1929- . 30 the levy by the Hospital Board ■ amounted to £2340, and in that year , the county s total levy was £14,060 I (round figures). According to the evidence placed . before the Court, the farmer in that , year obtained 7id a lb. for his wool, wethers were se’ ing at 26s bd eacrewes at 17s, fat lambs at 235, four- . year ewes at 245, five-year al 20s, and • white-faced lambs at 15s. Rising Local Body Levies; Falling Prices. By the year 1939-40 the Hospital Board's levy on this county had risen to £3280, and the Harbour Board rate . had gone up from £1350 in 1931-32, , the year when it was first struck, to i £2460. In 1939-40 the total rate . struck by the county was £15,780. But while higher rates had to be • met, the prices the farmer was ob- • taining for stock and produce was falling, except in the case of wool. In 1929-30 wool had been selling at 7id. ' In 1938-39 it had risen to Bid. Fat wethers had fallen by 9s 6d a head, fat 1 ewes were down Bs, fat lambs 4s, fouryear ewes 2s, five-year Is, and white faced lambs Is. It was conceded in evidence that in view of recent legislation affecting social services, Hospital Board levies might be reduced. The question was asked, however, was not the actual position merely a prospective change of method in collecting the necessary amount ? There was no guarantee that the actual amount of the levy would be reduced. Labour Costs. Reference was made to labour costs, to the effect that, during recent years, the main difficulty had been not so • much increased wages but a poorei 1 return for the money expended, ue cause of the difficulty in obtaining ’ satisfactory and competent farm labour. L “Undoubtedly, the housing of em- ’ ployees and provision for the housing of married men is one of the main J difficulties, but in a great many cases, even it satisfactory labour was forthcoming, the farmer's nett income is I not sufficient to enable him to build houses at the high constructional costs now ruling," the evidene stated, p "That this question is considered of . national importance is shown by re- » cent legislation dealing with priority i of mortgages in cases where financial ■> assistance is necessary to enable farm--1 ers to erect required buildings.” - Transport Charge*. It was stated, in regard to transport r charges, that the cost of cartage of z wool from one particulai Wanganui . property had risen from 1s 9d a hale ] in 1928-29 to 2s 8d a bale in 1938-39, - a rise of approximately 50 per cent. There had also been a general rise > in all classes of freight other than fat ■: lambs, the cost of carting them being • the same It was pointed out. howr ever, that it had been found necessary recently to increase freights and - transport charges on all Government- •• controlled services by 10 per cent. 5 Because of the raising of the petrol tax by another 4d a gallon, it was as- ‘ sumed that transport costs will rise ' rather than fall. z Fencing Materials. The cost of wire, the evidence , stated, had risen by approximately 50 ' per cent, in the last four years. Eng- ! lish wire that was selling at £lB a ton ’ in 1936 is now selling at £27. Austra- • lian wire has risen from £l4 to £2O a 5 ton. Posts, the evidence declared, f listed at £1 4s a 100 in 1936, are now 1 quoted at £l7. Figures were quoted to show the effect these prices had on ' contract tenders. A contract, for the ] erection only of a fence, was let recently for 16s a chain. The price four to five years ago would have been 10s s a chain. t Full evidence was given also as to i’ the spread of noxious weeds, and the _■ added cost to the land of having to t clear them or keep them in check. ? Diseases in stock, particularly facial eczema, were referred to. Reductions in Values. ’ The Commission, which comprised ? Messrs. A. A. McLachlan, of Christ- ' church (chairman), H. Leighton, of ]. Wellington (Government Assessor), r and 11. J. Duigan, of Wanganui i* (county assessor) reduced the Government capital valuation of the county by some £50,000, which, it has been 1 reported, will mean a reduction in rate over all of only £5OO. In regard > to unimproved values, however, the ’ Court made considerable reduction, in some cases as high as 40 per cent. . This will result in considerably less t land tax being paid than would have - ben the case had the assessments of ; the Crown been sustained.

“iioomps-a-Daisy.” Although nearly everyone is familiar with the latest song hit, “Boomps-a-Daisy," the fact that it calls for an extremely delicate piece of manoeuvring on the dance floor is not always appreciated. At a recent dance, after the pair had execuited some lively movements, a girl was heard to ask her partner if he had anything in his pocket. 'The partner apologised and removed a large bunch ol keys. Thereafter the dance progressed to the satisfaction of the two concerned.