Injustices To Farmers?

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 53, 9 June 1948, Page 5

Injustices To Farmers?

PRODUCE PRICES NEED ADJUSTMENT Addressing the annual meeting of the Waimana branch of the National Party on Friday night, Mr W. Sullivan, M.P., dealt at some length with reciprocal trade between the United Kingdom and New Zealand, pointing out that Britain’s export prices to us had increased 170 per cent since pre-war, whilst New Zealand’s average -export prices had increased only / 70 per cent. Our country’s economy Was wrapped up in a fair and equitable exchange of our exports for the exports of other countries, he said. If .import prices could not come down, export prices must go up. Mr Nash ; had said that the 85 million sterling in London would buy only what 34 millions would buy in 1938. Unless some adjustments were made, the inequitable exchange would lead to more controls with a con- . sequent lowering of living standards in this country. During the war the New Zealand . farmer had agreed to accept less than world parity for his produce, but now the position was due for .re-view. English financial circles had commented that, within a year, New Zealand’s sterling balances

might be as low as 20 millions, when Judged on a pre-war basis of costs; al this went to show how important the primary producer was to the welfare of the country. He had been controlled by Mr Nash, the “farmer of farmers” and the farmer had had enough. The Government’s stabilisation policy has cost the producer much, particularly so when all his surrounding costs had risen, whilst he was battened down, Mr Sullivan claimed. Producers should know that butter sold on the local market at .222/- per cwt., whilst the F. 0.8. price was 256/-. This cost the producers £660,000 this year. Likewise

cheese sold at less on the local mar- , ket than F. 0.8. and cost the farmer £IIB,OOO for the year. Similarly bobby calf skihs showed ■ a difference of £320,000. Also, the difference between the local and export price* of hides amounted to £1,000,000. Tallow, pelts, sheep skins and the by-products of the meat industry were all treated in like manner. “It can reliably be said that the farmer of New Zealand is contributing well over 3j. millions this year towards the Government’s Stabilisation Policy,” Mr Sullivan asserted. “Today, the call goes out to the producers for Aid to Britain. With his limits, the New Zealand farmer is doing his best, and will in loyalty, continue to do so, but injustices to him should be removed.”