STABILISATION POLICY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 40, 14 January 1944, Page 6

STABILISATION POLICY

MANY CONCESSIONS

EFFECT OF PItESSU RE The fact that the siuation regarding the Government's stabilisation policy was causing, concern to the Auckland Provincial Exejufive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was conveyed on Ist December by the Provincial Seeretar (Mr A. E. Robinson) to the Acting Prime Minister, Hon. W. Nash. It was pointed out that although it was considered that the. stabilisation order was grossly unfair to producers for export, the Farmers' Union had decided Avhen it was introduced to support it in the hope that it would be carried out impartially in both the. letter and spirit. It now appeared however,, Mr Robinson continued, that the Government was yielding' to pressure and was granting or permitting concessions: in many quarters that broke both the letter and spirit of the regulations. If these practices were continued the Farmers' Union would he compelled to reconsider its altitude to the Government's stabilisation policy. In a reply from Mr M. Mar-I shall, a member of the Economic Stabilisation Committee, received at the monthly meeting of the Proving cial Executive of the Farmers' Union it was stated that there had| , been considerable increases sinca ] 12th December, 1912, (the date of* the Stabilisation Order) in prices paid to farmers (a) all dairy products except town milk,, (b) most! meat lines and (e) fruit. Consideration was also being given to the claim for a cost allowance for town milk. The letter added that the pressure for these increases from farmers' organisations had been terrific. The present situation was extremely difficult and lie had to confess fears for the future, so that probably, more than ever, economic stabilisation needs a few strong friends. The president said, that the adjustments made in favour of farmers were entirely .insufficient and were not comparable with those made in other directions. Variousl. speakers, expressed the opinion that stabilisation, as far as it had gone,, had helped the nation considerably but there were far too many breaches in the. Order.