RISING COSTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 April 1939, Page 3

RISING COSTS

PROBLEM DISCUSSED AT LENGTH. BY SOUTH CANTERBURY FARMERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) TIMARU, April 5. A mass demonstration of farmers in South Canterbury was held today to discuss the rapidly-detiorating position of the industry. There was an attendance of 1200. The chief speaker was Mr W. Mulholland, Dominion president of the Farmers Union, who discussed at length the problem of rising costs which, he contended, was the cause of the serious position of the farmer today. He had pointed out to the Government that costs were increasing and prices being lessened, but he regretted that nothing had been done to check the position. Mr Mulholland read an extract from a letter from the Prime Minister as follows: I think that the difficulties of the sheep-farmer would be largely overcome if a like procedure was introduced as has been carried out in the dairy industry. The Government would be pleased to consider the introduction of a guaranteed price for meat and wool and would welcome the support of your organisation to enable this procedure to be successfully introduced. After addresses lasting two hours, the following resolution was adopted: That this mass meeting of South Canterbury farmers urgently draws the attention of the Government and the general public to the steadily-de-teriorating economic position of the farming industry. Notwithstanding the increased personal efforts of the farmer, and the fact that he is not now suffering from over-valuation of land or unduly high rates of interest, the industry, though realising for its products average prices which under normal conditions should enable farming to b'e carried on successfully, is unable from the proceeds to meet the everincreasing costs which are pressing so heavily upon farming as to make the position desperate for a large proportion of primary producers today. MASTERTON SALE. FAT SHEEP IN DEMAND. The Associated Auctioneers report having held their weekly sale yesterday when 1800 sheep came forward and were offered to a small attendance. There was a much larger entry of fat sheep than there has been for some time and these met spirited competition at prices well up to, and in some cases better than last week’s improved prices. Store sheep met quite a good sale in spite of the continued dry Weather and prices were practically up to last week’s improvement. There were quite a few cattle offered, and these sold at prices that appeared good buying. Practically a total clearance was effected at auction at the following prices:

Fat sheep: Fat wethers, 19s to 19s 9d; light wethers, 16s 9d to 17s 9d; fat ewes, Ils, 12s 3d to 14s 6d; fat Southdown ewes, 15s; fat m.s. b.f. 2ths, 15s 4d, 17s 3d to 17s 9d; fat lambs, 16s 6d to 17s 9d.

Store sheep: 2th ewes, 16s 3d to 19s sd; m.a. ewes r.w. S.D. rams, 15s; good 4th wethers, 18s Id; 2th wethers, 14s 8d to 14s lOd; good wolly wether lambs, 108 Id to 10s 6d; med. wether lambs, 6s lOd to 7s; ewe lambs, 8s 4d, 9s to 10s; b.f. lambs,' 10s to 11s 7d; small b.f. lambs, 6s 3d, 6s 6d to 8s 6d. Cattle: Fat P.A. cows, £5 15s, fat and forward P.A. cows, £4 16s; fat Jersey cows, £3 Ils, £3 15s, £3 15s to £3 17s 6d; store Jersey cows, £1 7s 6d to £1 15s; small yearling steers, £3 ss; runners, £2 12s; small weaner calves, 11s.

Pigs: weaners 7s; slips, 8s to 10s porkers 21s.