"DISAPPOINTMENT EVERYWHERE"

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 194, 2 September 1937, Page 3

"DISAPPOINTMENT EVERYWHERE"

Price Described as "Betrayal of Industry" PALMERSTON N., This Day. "Tliat the guaranteed piicc fixed for butter-fat for the current season it totally inadequate to cover costs of production and is looked upon by members as a betrayal of the dairy industry. Further, that the hranch looks to the Farmers' Union to cooperata with all sections of the industry in opposition to the impositions heing placed upon it and to thas end offers its wholehearted support." This was the text of a remit from the Opiki branch endorsed by the Manawata provincial executive of .tho Farmers Union yesterday. Mr G. J. Wildes (Opiki) said there was disappointment everywhere over the newly-announeed guaranteed price which nowhere covered the costs of production. Mr Wilde said ho had roceived quite a number of threats from union members that unless tho matter was taken up wholeheartedly by the union and those working in the interqsts of the farmers, such as dairy associations, they would quit the union. The protests wero most insistent. Mr H. Webb (Levin) seconded tho remit. Mr Wilde said the dairy farmer would be getting less over the current soason than he did last year, owing to the added costs of production. Mr H. J. McLeavey (chairman): Right throughout New Zealand there are protests. Mr Wilde: The farming community in the Manawatu is loolcing to this union to make some statement in conneetion with the issue, such as endorsing this protest. Unless we do there will bo disappointment and there will be a detrimental effect on the union niemberehip. It is time there was less talk and more definite action. The chairman: Unless farmers fight they won't get a fair go. They are supplying the massses' with the neCpssities pf iife »t under cost, The

tarmer is not getting what no anticipated, what with his fong hours of work, trials and • tribulations, noxious weeds, parasites and diseases. This "next to nature" cry is called in. We are next to nature but nature is fairly hard, as the farmer knows. Mr W. H. Gimblett (Rangiotu): What action does Mr Wilde suggcst? Mr Wilde: I don't think it will be any use protesting to the Government. We should specd up the compensated price idea and now that farmers are disappoin'ted with the new guaranteed price might be the time to strike. Mr E. C. Burnett (Whakarongo) thought it might be in the minds of the Government not to make the guaranteed price too high ubtil mortgage adjustments were finalised, otherwise the price of land might go too high. , The chairman: But we can't get the women and children out of the cowsheds on the guaranteed price. Mr E. 0. Bond (Awahuri) said it seemed the Government had not given full effect to the recommendations of the committee appointed to go into the matter. The remit was carried.