SURPLUS CROPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 92, 15 October 1940, Page 11

SURPLUS CROPS

LOSS TO GROWERS FEARED

MORE-PRODUCTION APPEAL

GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) ASHBURTON, This Day. Claiming that an evasive reply had been, given to him by the Prime Minister on his representations in the interests of producers, many of whom, he feared, might be crippled financially through over-production, Mr. C. A. Campion, chairman of the Mid-Canter-bury Primary Production Council, has resigned his seat. Mr. Campion's letter to the secretary of the council states: "For some time I have been concerned lest other sections of primary producers who have responded to appeals for more production should be let down and financially crippled, as the potato growers have been. I wrote to the Prime Minister asking for an assurance that any commodity overproduced as the result of appeals for extra and more production should not be allowed to financially embarrass the producer, who should at least receive the bare cost of production. The Prime Minister's reply is nothing more than an evasion, and in some respects is contrary to fact and a complete shirking of any responsibility. Therefore I can no longer honestly remain a member of a council appealing for increased production, knowing that some may be crippled financially as a result."

The Prime Minister's letter to Mr. Campion said: "The Government cannot be expected to accept the responsibility for surplus crops unless, of course, the growers concerned desire the Government to organise the industries on a national basis."