TYPHOON IN PHILIPPINES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 288, 6 December 1939, Page 8

TYPHOON IN PHILIPPINES

WORST FOR THIRTY YEARS U.S. W ARSHIPS MOVE TO SAFER ANCHORAGES MANILA. Dec. 4. A typhoon which is approaching is declared to oe the worst since 1908. It has already ravaged live southwestern islands and isolated seven provinces and many towns. The destruction of communications prevents the receipt of information about damage and loss of life. Doctors and food have been sent to Samar Province. The United States warships at Manila have been moved to safer anchorages.

Kaupokonui 18.024 Island (Southland)lB.33 Dalefield (Wairarapa) 19.46 Normanby (Taranaki) 18.37 Awarua (Southland) 19.134 “Is it not clear that the dairy industry is receiving much more than lhe basic guaranteed price which has come in for so much discussion? As to costs which may increase to a major degree, 1 have already suggested that in regard to fertiliser the Government will see to it that there is no material increase in the price. The dairy industry has suggested that it would be better to incorporate in the guaranteed price any increase in the price of fertiliser. 1 have suggested that it would be better to pay a subsidy. Clearly ,a subsidy is preferable. For a subsidy pays out what is necessary to see that the price of fertiliser bought is kept stable to the farmer, whereas if it were incorporated in the guaranteed price it would mean that some farmers received much more than they would have expended on fertiliser while others received much Variation in Farms “Farms vary within the districts themselves, they vary from district to district; some farms need more fertiliser than others, some farms need different types of fertiliser from others. This, surely, is elementary is any consideration of farm problems. That being the case, how can the dairy industry justify a request for inclusion in the guaranteed price of any increase in the cost of fertiliser if the Government itself is wiling to meet the amount of the increase? Is it not much more rational and much more in the national interest and more just in the individual interest to see that for every ton of fertiliser used, ‘no increased price is passed on to the dairy farmer? There are no grounds for including in the guaranteed price any increase which may occur in the price of fertiliser, if a subsidy can be made available. Furthermore, we have undertaken to assist Great Britain in her war effort by maintaining production and extending it. In doing this, fertiliser is an important factor and by concentrating any additional expenditure which may be necessary on the provision of fertiliser we are directly assisting New Zealand in her production programme and the United Kingdom in the prosecution of the war. Average Payouts to Farmers From the tables in this statement it. will be seen that the dairy farmer on the average (some more, some less) received the following payouts for butterfat;— Butter. Cheese. 1934- 9.500 10.125 1935- 12.125 13.125 1936- 13.558 15.176 1937- 14.812 16.389 1938- . . 16.199 18.060 If the output is compared with the total payout the figures show that compared with 1934-35 output last year (largely due to climatic conditions and facial eczema) declined by less than 10 per cent, but the pay-out increased by over £9,000,000. “Even compared with the record production year of 1936-37, the total payments to dairy farmers were higher last year by £382,000 despite a production decrease of 16 per cent. Production was well down but the total payment to the farmer was increased. “The dairy farmer with other citizens is rendering good service to the nation and to the Commonwealth; he is worthy of reasonable pay for his work; and the Government will do everything possible to see that he receives it. Dairy Farmers Doing Well “All the evidence that I have received from various sources in New Zealand is to the effect that dairy farmers on the whole are doing well and with few exceptions are quite satisfied with the guaranteed price. However, if the industry has some evidence relating to dairy farmers’ balance-sheets which they would like to submit to the Government, I am | sure that the Government would oe very willing indeed to examine individual farmers’ returns. ' *

A shell hit and sank the trawler Dolphin when she was entering Lyttelton Harbour on October 12. The captain and owner of the ship, Mr. James Brassell went down with his ship. The other member of the crew, Mr. W. Willman, was saved. It was reported that the trawler failed to respond to signals to halt and, acting under normal instructions, one shot was fired from a port battery, which was meant to go in front of the bow of the vessel. The shot went thivugh the boat, injuring Mr. Brassell, who was below decks. The Dolphin was a well-known trawler from Lyttelton and was about 40ft. long. When the shell exploded Mr, Brassell was severely injured, one leg being shot off. He was unconscious when the trawler sank. Mr. Willman, narrowly escaped drowning. He was slightly injured in one leg, and, a poor swimmer, he clung to a lifebuoy when the Dolphin sank. He was picked up later by the examination steamer. An inquest was later held.