FRUITS OF THE EARTH

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 416, 28 December 1932, Page 4

FRUITS OF THE EARTH

Wheat is selling at the lowest price in history, at least for 350 years, because of the tremendous volume on the world markets. The earth continues to yield her increase in disregard of low prices. Latest statistics shows that the year's harvest is slightly above last year's, and is being unloaded on a market al- , ready labouring nnder the problem of disposing of old stocks or "carryover," now the largest in moderh times. During a period of falling prices economic activity is supposed to run down to a level of output. The manufacturer curtails operations. It often happens that he is faced with competition outside his own country. Sometimes, indeed, he is making an article in common with only a few others, who will naturally follow suit. But the , farmer is singularly handicapped in making the same adjustment by the fact that he is one of millions- producing the same commodity throughout the world Livelihood, routine, or sheer habit.persuades him to sow his wheat even when he sees by the newspapers that the returns are hardly likely to compensate him for his labour. Maybe there will be a failure in the crop in another part of the world. Perhaps prices will improve for this or another reason during the long interval between sowing and harvest. So the farmer in general remains faithful to his soil. This problem is nowadays aggravatecl by several new develop- ! ments. One is the inclement forc1 es are less and less likely to come ! to the aid of the farmer in readj justing his lot. They would most jprobably be counterbalanced by j the continuance of superabundance in areas not so visited. The fact is that the world is.no long-

er suffering from a deficit economy. Smiling fields everywhere mock the expectation of a drastic cut in yields. Is it something which should disturb humanity that the earth is so full of the goodness of ihe Lord? Just the reverse. It should challenge human organisation to divert its technique from production to consumption. A great step forward has been taken by the disappearance of the old plaint that over-production is the trouble. This has already heen laughed out of public discussion, and men and women are now turning their thoughts to the subject of what can be done to overcome the real difficulty, which is under-con-sumption. Along this path a better return for the farmer could be achieved.