A FAIR DEAL FOR THE FARMER.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1920, Page 2

A FAIR DEAL FOR THE FARMER.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Pot Some time oust much thought has been given to the possibility of obtaining a much higher price for New Zealand butter on the London msrket, and with a view to bringing this all important question before the farmers I wish to draw their attention to tome of the different phases of present conditions. As a farmer myself, 1 cannot too emphatically stress the Immediate need for the farmers to become keener observers Of the present exploiting marketing system. Mr. Massey is by no means prepared to mal;e any definite statement as to whether the Imperial commandeer will expire or not, and has been endeavouring to avoid any unrest among the farming community (the cIaSS he so reverently purports to represent!, by his usual "wait and see" policy. He apparently, forgets how he has permitted the profiteers of London to secure, for practically an Indefinite period, the sole right to purchase our produce at considerably lower prices . than the retail prices In England. Be has also overlooked the fact that the farmers are now obliged to pay 200 to 300 per cent, more for manures and farming material generally, and after all we hear his patriotic Utterances and appeals tot Increased production. Under present conditions, and at the current rate of butter fat, the farmer cannot possibly be expeoted to put very much, If any," back Into his farm for the purpose of increasing his returns. 1 note an article in your Issue of the ioth Inst, tinder the heading of "Value of Commandeer" gives £139,300,000 as the official amount received from the Imperial Government for our produce, but fall to see where the remaining two-thirds of the total retail price has gone. From last month's Issue of the New Zealand Dairyman, I notice that fresh butter was being sold at 6s per lb nt Hereford In February last, and I take It that tliia butter is Inferior to New Zealand make, so contend that the producers of this country havo been robbed In a very clever manner of neatly £300,000,000. A glance at the recent balance sheets of the large shipping companies and banking Institutions should suffice to show the urgent need for the farmers to co-operate with labor in Its aims of obtaining State owned ships and a State bank. Mr. Watt, Federal Treasurer of Australia, who proceeded to London for tho purpose of securing a rebate of some of the profits made out of the Australian produce, and being unable to obtain his full demands, deemed It nocessary as a patriotic and loyal Australian to resign' hl3 position. Unfortunately, New Zealand has not as yet produced a Mr. Watt, but the time will soon arrive when the controlling of the political destiny of this country will be rested 111 the hands of young New Zenlanders who will be possessed of such patriotic qualities as our Australian Treasurer.—l am, etc., lbo ami. Hurford Road, June 14.