FALL IN FOOD SUPPLY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 68, 28 April 1944, Page 2

FALL IN FOOD SUPPLY

URGENCY OF PROBLEM

CAUSES AND REMEDIES

CONFERENCE IN AUCKLAND

A report of a conference held in Auckland to consider conditions in relation to the production, distribution and export of foodstuffs, and resolutions passed, was submitted to the Auckland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union on April 19. The conference, which was held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, was attended by representatives, of the Federation of Labour, Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Auckland Provincial branch of the Farmers' Union, Auckland Provincial Employers' Association, Auckland Manufacturers' Association and the Auckland Bureau of Importers. The • president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr F. G. Baskett., presided. The president of the Auckland Farmers' Union (Captain H. M. Rushwortli), in presenting the report, explained that the conference had been arranged by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce in consequence of the receipt of a circular distributed by the Auckland Farmers' Union to the various organisations. The agenda had been prepared by the Farmers' Union. The conference reached the conclusion that the. man causes of the fall in the production of foodstuffs in Zealand were: — 1. Shortages of manpower on farms. A large number of farmers have experienced the utmost difficulty in'securing permanent experienced and competent farm workers at ages where they are useful on a farm. 2. Shortages of fertilisers and other necessary material, largely the result of war conditions. 3. The fixing of prices for farm products at levels below those which are needed to give the producer a fair reward for his labours, to enable him to pay a fair wage to his employees, and to cover the recent increases in costs of farm operation. 4. Inequitable treatment of farmers in the matter of taxation, e.g., the levying of tax on fictitious incomes and the refusal to allow the producers to treat as, part of their current expenses the amounts they have to put aside to-day in order to meet delayed expenditure on maintenance and the restoration of the land to full productivity. 5. The physical and nervous exhaustion of the men, women .and children engaged in the production of these foodstuffs, owing to the foregoing difficulties. 6. Weather conditions have been variable and unfavourable in the past two seasons but the facts show that this is not a predominant cause. The following resolutions were passed unanimously by the conference, after a discussion lasting 3% hours: — (1A) That all suitable manpower should be made, available to farmers: (IB) That the Government be asked to make available on loan (with the option of purchase) to farmers pre-fabricated houses or military huts. (2) That the Government, be recommended to make every effort to increase the supply of fertilisers essential to primary production. (3) A recommendation for the fixation of prices for farm products

at levels equal to those needed to give the producer a fair reward for his labours, to enable him to pay fair wages, and to cover the recent increase in the cost of farm operation, but without any increase in price to local consumers, ami under •conditions ensuring that special accounts (the meat pool for example.) be not drawn upon. (4) To amend the present treatment of farmers in the matter of taxation on fictitious income, -and by the making of provision for tax exemption on the farmer's income in respect to that amount which he would normally spend on manures and maintenance, the amounts to be invested in war bonds and made repayable to the farmer in the immediate pO'St-war period for the purpose of creating l , employment, in the reconditioning of farms, (5) That encouragement be given to the building up of capital livestock. (6) That steps be taken immediately to implement, the resolutions especially in view of the. time li'ke-* ly to elapse before the desired results could be achieved. Seme of the resolutions, although unanimously agreed to, were passed subject to confirmation by the various bodies represented at the conference. It was decided to forward copies of tike resolutions to the Prime Minister. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs Baskett, F. Craig, A. E. Robinson and Dr E. P. Neale was appointed to prepare the communication to the Prime Minister. The meeting concluded with a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman, delegates emphasising that the unanimity displayed was. due to the goodwill of those present, but also in no small measure to Mr Baskett's tact and ability in the chair.