MEAT LEVY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 321, 7 September 1932, Page 2

MEAT LEVY

PRODUCERS' POSITION NOW WORSE THAN LAST YEAR. REDUCTION SUGGESTED. Suggestions that the levy imposed by the New Zealand Meat Producers' ! Board on producers should be abolished for one year were made at the annual meeting of the Eleetoral Committee during a general discussion regarding the hoard's activities. Mr. J. H. Joll ,Hawke's Bay) said he was tsill a believer in the board, which was essential if they were to have orderly marketing. He congratulated the farmers on having increased production, at the hehest of the leading men of the country, but he could not congratulate them on having benefited themselves. They were worse off to-day than they were 12 months ago. What the farmer wanted was more money, and the meeting would be a failure if it did not keep that fact before it. He believed a good deal of good had been done at Ottawa, but he regretted the postponement of the financial conference which was to have followed. Mr. H. J. Stace (Nelson) suggested that the board might consider cutting the levy in half during the coming year. Mr A. Y. S. Reed (Hawke's Bay) suggested that the levy should he cut out altogether. He was not satisfied with all that the board had done. Mr. Joll said the reserve funds should he drawn on. The funds had been built up to assist th'e farmer when necessary, and surely it was necessary at present. The board would secure the confidence of the farmers if it did so. Mr. L. R. C. Maefarlane (Mid-Can-terbury) took the view that reserves were needed at the present time. The board should not be cramped financially. The acting chairman (Mr. T. A. Duncan) said the board had felt that its duty was to endeavour to widen markets, in view of the increased production. Th'e board had decided not to reduce the levy further, but to expend the money on improving markets. Mr. P. A. M. Macdonald ( South Canterbury said he thought the farmers , would be satisfied if the board assured them that there was a need for the reserve fund. Such an assurance would quieten criticism. Later the meeting rejeeted a motion calling for the suspension of the levy for one year.

As showing what can be accomplished on land in the immediate vicinity of Rotorua, it is stated that a man with a 44-acre section is carrying a herd of 22 dairy cows, and young stock besides.