PRODUCTION OF FOOD

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24912, 27 June 1946, Page 4

PRODUCTION OF FOOD

RESTRICTING FACTORS DISCUSSED TAXATION, HOUSING, AND 40-HOUR WEEK (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June M. “Unfortunately, at a time when maximum production was never so urgently needed, there are certain factors which have and will continue to have a restricting effect," said the chairman of the National Dairy Association (Mr F. Parsons, of Patea) addressing the annual conference ot the association to-day. “These factors are high taxation, the 40-hour week, labour and hourfhg shortages, and the latest sharemilking conditions,” said Mr Parsons. Mr Parsons added that at the end ot March the overall reduction of output of butter-fat was more than 8 per cent It was likely that this reduction would continue. He believed that under existing taxation farmers would not be encouraged to extend their output. Tim same situation had arisen throughout commerce and industry. Mr Parsons said he was not oppqped to the 40-hour week, but to have brought it in when it was brought in could only be described as sheer madness. It was already having an effect on production. It was obvious that it would become increasingly difficult to get work done on Saturdays. Without adequate housing it was difficult, to attract reliable, steady workers to dairy farms and factories. The new sharemilking conditions were such that fanners were avoiding sharenillkIng if they could possibly do so. Mr Parsons said he favoured the encouragement of secondary industries, but not at the expense of primary in-. dustries, nor at the cost of restriction of imports from Britain. “But let’s forget all our troubles, let’s forget the 40-hour week, and go forward to greater production,” said Mr Parsons. "The people of Britain saved us. Let us now save them by giving them all the food they want.”