SERIOUS POSITION

Rotorua Morning Post, 31 August 1931, Page 5

SERIOUS POSITION

OP SHEEPFARMERS RELTEF WANTED FROM HIGH OPERATING COSTS. T'ne present serious economic posi!ion of Ihe sheepfarming industry was analysed by Mr II. D. Aclund in his presidential address at the ananui meeting of tlie New Zealand Sheepowners" and Farmers1 Fedoraiion " Last year we had reason for grave 'oucern over ihe large drop in the money value of our wool, meat, pells, ete.," said Mr Ac-land. " Our worst fears have heen realised, as I believe that 110 other hranch of primary production has been affected hy the present depression to the same extent as the sheepowning industry. Since last year the deiiation of prices has continued unlil to-day wc lind that Ihe ratio of production costs to money iv ecived for our products has reached an impossible stage." Unless some relief was given, Mr Aclund said, there was grave danger 'of many high-country runholders in tlie South Island throwing up their eountry, as the mustering costs alone in some cases required nearly 50 per cent. of Ihe gross wool cliy to meel them. " If it is correet tliat the prices of New Zealand primary products' have falien hy ahout £30,000,000," said" Mr Aclund, " this is equivalent at 74 per cent. to writing off £400,000,000 i'rom the value of the farming lands oi' New Zealand." Mr Acland stated it was urgently necessary that the primary iiHluslries should he removed from the jurisdietion 01' Ihe Arbitration Act, as those primary producers wlio were under awards could 110L maintain the noecssary slai'fs for thef successftil wurking oi' their properlies under existing awards.