MOUNTING COSTS

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 445, 29 May 1937, Page 6

MOUNTING COSTS

DAIRY INDUSTRY Mr W. 5. Polson’s Views Dannevlrke, May 28. “During tjje last 18 months we have witnessed a very revolutionary change In our Government,” stated Mtf. iW. J. Polson, M.P., former Dominion president, a"t the jnterprOvincial conference of delegates, of the Farmers’ Union. "That change has brought fundamental differences where the farm, er is concerned,” he continued. “The present Government believes in and has introduced Socialistic principles, whereas the , farmer believes in the freehold of property and freedom of thought and, action. There is a vast difference between the social service of the past Government and the Socialism of Labour. The one is accomplished by way of taxation, but the other means equality of income for everyone, restriction of opportunity inhere the individual is Involved, the destruction of ambition an£ even interfering with, the freedom of the Press.” Referring to the guaranteed price on primary produce Mr. Polson said he had .endeavoured to get ths past Government to introduce a similar sclrme, not ;o finance its assets in good times, but as a safeguard against bad times and thus keep the “pot boiling.” While he agreed with the principle of the. Primary Products .Marketing Act, the rocketing of costs which was linked with the present scheme would mean ruination. The average wage of ths farm employee for the past 10 years was £2/4/-, but under the Agricultural Workers Act it had increased to £2/17/40. The average butterfat production annually was 2851 b. per cow, which meant that it cost to produce ■ that bul'terfat 2.305 d. -per lb. The maintenance of homes had gone up 20 per cent., transport costs 50 per cent., aqd other costs similarly!. Added! together they meant that a colossal increase had been saddled upon the primary producers. The farmer was entitled to receive” the sajne benefits and advances that Labour was placing m t h e hands of other sections of the community. If the Dominion failed as a result, the farmers woul 1 be at least on the same footing as efht rs In Bite opink.n the lest plan, would to be place the ctiJr; on a proper footing by getting <<it a down, and he contended that it was essential that the union should stand up and ;

fight to resist Socialism by coining out into the open where pollticalmat. ters were involved.