FARMING AFFAIRS

Chronicle (Levin), 11 March 1947, Page 8

FARMING AFFAIRS

[This coloumn is supplied weekly by Pederated Farmers of New .Zealand. The information given is offieial bat any views texpressed are those of the ' federation and are not necessarily those of this newspaper.] Stabiiisation Policy While farhxers of New Zealand have no wish to upset the national eeonomy by disturbing the stabiiisation policy unn^cessarily it is understood that the Dairy Seetion Council, the Meat and Wobl Couneii and the full Dominion Godncil of Federated Farmers all rfesolved at last Week's meetings to give •full support to Ihe aetibh of the Dairy -Board. and Dairy Jndustry Council ifi pressing for inereased paym.ent for farm produce on the basis equivalent to the revvard received by other secitions of the commynity. In its resolution, the Dairy Seetion Council demanded that the labour re ward for dairy farmers and their em ployees should be assessed by the same nieasuring tape as that lised in other industries and shotlld include extra payment for work done on Saturdays S'utidays and statutory holidays. The Council also supported thp hction taken by the Dairy lndustry Cohncil and requested Ihe federation representatives to use their influence to ensure that the principle of the industry's demands were implemented immediately. The Meat and Wool Council passed a reso lution in similar terms. Those decisions were the followihg day passed on to the Dominiou Couucii for its endorsemeent of the principle of payment to other branclies of farjnirig on Ihe same basis. The Dominiou Council in full discussion led by the Dominiou President Mr.

vv. \\ . Mulholland were as determined in attitude as the dairy-men. The Federation will press for an increase in prices sufficient to place farmers on the same basis. as other sections of the commuiiity iiicludiug payment for work dorie on Haturdays, Sundays and holidavs. A special committee was set Up to coni'er with the Meat aiul Dairy iioards on Ihe matter and will work loitcertediy with the Boards in presentbig the turmer 's case to the Governmeut and to the publie. The Federation will also detine its attitude to inereased iabour rewards in evidence before the t'ourt of Arbitration when the claim ior ua over-all wage increase is being heard. In all the Federation has decided to back its recommeudatioiis to the Meat and Dairy Boards to the limits of its powers and resources. The Council recalled how the Govonanent hail already committed breach ..fler breach of the agreement of lJecember 15, 1942. Fven so, liowever, it woukl be contrary to the national intorest for farmers to deuounee the agreenient or take steps deliberately ni/stile to it unless tliey were forced to do so. iJut such had become the generai position in the Dominion and such was me generai attitude of so niany others ■ a tne coiiiinunily, it was decided to make an immediate deinand for the adjustnient of farm prices on the same basis as prices paid to those others. The views of the Council in generai were, however, that it was not for the l'armer aloue to accept the full responsiiiilily of keeping the eeonomy of New Zealand on a sound basis. fiather was ihe oiius 011 the Government to show ttiat stabiiisation had not bei ome ti niockery. ..o part of the origintii policy sliouhl be surrendered to a nulitant ininority without heed for sound eco1 uomics or without consideration for others. Farmers would find it dihicult to accept the position of being held rigidlv to stabiiisation while others eareiessly wcnt their nierry way of allowing costs .o spiral dangcrously. The Special Committe working on the proldem consists of tlie chainnan oi the l'our Produce Sectiou Councils.