FARM PRODUCTION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 81, 30 October 1939, Page 6

FARM PRODUCTION

FAIR PRICE AN ESSENTIAL THE UNION VIEWPOINT

At the recent meeting of the Avtck land Executive of the 'Farmers' Union held on the 18th October, there Avas unanimous agreement that the Government, in fixing the guaranteed price for dairy products for the coming season at the same level as last year, was endangering the "more production" policy it had already laid down as being necessary for the successful prosecution of the Avar and the meeting of this Dominion's obligations to Britain. The principle accepted in regard to every other industry—that leturns -must be sufficient to cover costs—had been abandoned in the case of the dairy industry, it Avas contended. The Minister of Marketing had deliberately fixed last year's price at a lower figure than that recommended by the advisory com-

mittcc appointed by the Clovernmcnt itself, and in the intervening period there had been fresh increases in costs. Provision had been made for the sanctioning of increased prices of other goods, where increases in costs justified them, by the price-fixing tribunal; and the wages of industrial workers could still be raised by the Arbitration Court. The fanners alone were tied to a price that was. on all the evidence available, not sufficient To eov er the costs of production.

"I come from the Old Country, and I am as loyal as the next man'' said Mr J. 11. Furniss (Huntly) "bui •I see no reason why the farmers of this Dominion should allow themselves to be taken advantage of."'

A Fair Price,

"There is only one way to get increased production, in war time or at any other time," said another speaker, and that is to pay a fair price for it. To increase their output farmers must have more stock, and more feed for that stock, and to gei these things they need money to pay for them. Apparently the Government thinks that butter, cheese and other farm products can be produced out of thin air." It was decided to appoint the President, Captain H .M. llushworth as '-lie union representative on Ihe committee set up locally, under the Government's scheme, to attend to

matters in connection with prima reproduction, and "to make his continued attendance at meetings oi

the committee contingent on a clea

and unambiguous assurance having been obtained from the Government that the following conditions will be fid filled: (1) That prices of primary produce will be sufficient to rover costs of production, as assessed from time to time by an independent tribunal having the confidence of the farming industry: (2) that adequate efficient labour will be available; and (-S) that the disposal of post-war production surpluses will be provided for in such a way that no detriment will be caused to individuals engaged in the industry."