SHEEP FARMER’S CASE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 November 1938, Page 6

SHEEP FARMER’S CASE

IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION URGED PRICES DOWN & COSTS UP PROVISION FOR SOME RELIEF ADVOCATED PER MEDIUM OF DISTRICT COMMISSIONS "The case of the sheep farmer as outlined by myself and others on several occasions calls for immediate investigation to provide a means of assisting the individual farmer, who through no fault of his own will find himself in financial embarrassment, resulting in a reversion of much of our second and third class lands to scrub and noxious weeds which would be a national calamity,” stated the president, Mr H. Morrison, at today’s meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union. “In recent statements to our executive and to the Press,” continued Mr Morrison, “I have endeavourtd to clearly set before you the position of the sheep farmer on first, second and third class country, embracing also the fat lamb producer, the wool grower, the breeder of ewes for the fat lamb trade, more particularly the grower of store wethers from third class country, and the farmer who embraces one of these activities. I have also stated that in my opinion, an individual examination of each farmeris case under a system on the lines of the recent Mortgage Adjustment Commissions with a view to providing a bounty in necessitous cases, and a subsidy on second and third class country for the purpose of maintain such necessary improvements as seeding and fertilising, control of scrub and noxious weeds, subdivisions on deteriorating land and other similar requirements is the most desirable procedure to advocate. “The underlying reason for this proposed course of action is to offer the greatest possible protection to the individual farmer whose circumstances leave him most open to suffer as a consequence of the difficult present outlook, and the principal sufferer will be the smaller man on second and third class. country, also including many estates and subdivisions on larger properties who will also be in v difficulties. A determined effort must be made to arrest and prevent deterioration, reversion to scrub and noxious weeds with ultimate abandonment of a very large tract of second and third class country and individual examination of cases may be the means of preventing a national economic calamity. “In cases where floods and stock diseases such as facial eczema have greatly depleted the production of some of the first class land, even to the extent of the complete extermination of the flock leaving individuals without the financial means to re-stock, the value of examination of each case on its merits becomes still more apparent. If a universal bounty were obtained it would not grant the correspondingbenefit that the more necessitous cases warrant and here again is a strong plea for the examination of the individual case as offering a measure of assistance according to the urgent needs o the individual. . “Brieflly summarising my previous statements the position is as follows: (1) “Wool costs Is per lb to produce. Present pi'ospects, including a possible temporary rise in crossbreds owing to rearmaments, will leave us with a return well below the cost of production. Increasing competition from artificial substitutes point to the permanent reduction in wool prices. (2) “Lamb has opened with a drop of lid with heavy supplies on hand likely to either depress the market. Possibility of slight recovery as present glut quantities overcome, and Australia’s output reduced owing to drought conditions continued; low prices for wool react in increased Australian output of lambs in the future. (3) “Mutton—wethers and ewes. Market continues low with prices easing. Prospects of mature mutton market very limited. (4) “Beef. Prospects for chilled beef for the immediate future are well maintained. South Africa and Rhodesia show an increasing output while Mr R. p Allen Australian Department ot Commerce, anticipates much heavier competition from home-grown beef to the extent of 400,000 cwt in 1939-40. As the result of Mr Morrisons remarks, the following resolution was cubmitted: “That this executive, realising the serious outlook for the sheep farmer, particularly on.secand third class country, owing to falling puces and rising costs, advocates the . setting U p of district commissions to investigate individual applications for hearing, so as to provide measures of ielief in necessitous cases, relief mec " sures to include a bounty for the puipose of maintaining such necessary means of production as seeding; and fertilising, control of scrub ji°x ous weeds, sub-divisions of deteriorat ing country,' floods, disease, and othei ; visitations of nature and any othei ... factor tending towards the infliction of ; persona! hardship or the reduction ot • . national primary production. SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION

After a general discussion Mr Morrison’s motion was withdrawn and a resolution was passed supporting the following remit submitted by the Southland branch of the Union: “That the Dominion Executive approach the Government in a spirit of co-operation with a view to holding a round-table conference to discuss what the Government is prepared to do towards assisting the primary producers, the future action of the Union to be determined accordingly.”