Personal

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 56, 9 March 1944, Page 4

Personal

Air. L. Ballinger (Linton) has been nominated by the Manawatu provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union as the producers’ representative on the »Stock Supply Rationing Committee in Palmerston North. Sympathy with Mr. G. G. Alitchell, of Shannon, in his recent accident was expressed at yesterday’s meeting of the Alanawatu executive of the Farmers’ Union. Hopes were expressed for a speedy recovery. A motion of sympathy with Air. L. Ballinger, of Linton, in tiie death of his mother was also carried, members standing in silence. Farm Costs At its February meeting, the Alanawatu executive of the Farmers’ Union decided to write the Alinister of Agriculture complaining of the increase in prices for farm requirements in relation to returns received from primary products. The Alinister has replied stating that the prices of all requirements mentioned by the union were fixed bj r the Price Tribunal and Stabilisation Commission. The increases were due principally to the shortage of raw' materials and high cost of labour. It

should be emphasised, the Minister said, that the expenditure by the farmer on these imported articles was a relatively small part of his total outgoings among which such items as fertilisers and lime W'ere subsidised by the Government. Increases in prices received for farm products had been granted from time to time and in assessing values the cost of production, which would include the cost of such items as those listed by the union, were taken into consideration. The Minister added that the Department w r as keeping this matter under close supervision as it was realised that primary production was almost entirely dependent upon the relationship between costs incurred and the cash returns secured for commodities necessary in national and inter-Allied economy.