FARM PRODUCTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1939, Page 5

FARM PRODUCTION

INCREASE UNDER LABOUR RULE CLAIMED BY MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE. GUARANTEED PRICE CHALLENGE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. The quotation of figures which he claimed showed that the farmers had benefited very considerably from the Labour Government’s policy and a personal challenge to a dairy farming member of the Opposition to produce his own balance-sheet to support statements he had made to the effect that the dairy-farmer was not better off now, were features of the speech of the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Lee Martin, in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Martin claimed that the guaranteed price had not only stabilised the position of the farmer, but also had increased his receipts and given him an opportunity to develop to an extent which had not been possible previously. “Under the guaranteed price the farmer's position has been considerably improved and no amount of argument can alter that.” the Minister said. The dairy conference, he said, had had an opportunity of accepting a tribunal to fix the price, but it had not accepted that. It had suggested that an advisory committee be set up and that the Government should take the responsibility. The Government had done that and had fixed the figure. Mr Martin challenged the Opposition member for Franklin, Mr Massey, to produce his balance-sheet to prove that his position was not better now.

Mr Massey: "What is the challenge worth?”

The Minister of Education, Mr Fraser: “The hon -gentleman’s reputation."

EXPENDITURE DETAILS.

Proceeding. Mr Martin said there had been record rate collections by counties. The greatest increase in total isator returns had taken place in the farming areas. In 1935 the farmers had used 461,000 tons of fertiliser. In 1938 they had used 621,000 tons, an increase of 160,000 tons. The area topdressed had increased® from 2,684,114 acres in 1935 to 3,873.989 acres in 1938. That was an indication that the Labour Party’s policy had not hurt the farmer, but had assisted him very considerably. The number of , land sales taking place, the Minister contended, showed that land after all was the safest investment. Why, he asked, were people putting money into an industry which was said to be languishing? > The Minister said it was wrong to say that more women and children were working in the cowsheds than ever before. He quoted a letter written to a man in Alberta by the president of the Farmers’ Union, Mr W. W. Mulholland, in which Mr Mulholland had conveyed the impression that in dairying in the Dominion it was the usual practice for the family to assist in farming work. He had said that provided the Canadian family were prepared to do that they would have an income of from £3OO to £5OO a year. The Minister asked whether the attitude taken up by the Opposition in connection with direct action was by arrangement with the Farmers’ Union. Mr Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitomo): "By arrangement with the Left Wing." The Minister: "The member for Temuka, Mr Burnett, said he would lead the procession in revolt against the conditions of the farmers.” DIRECT ACTION THREATS. Mr Martin said he also wanted to know whether the. Opposition was behind a plan which a Farmers’ Union organiser was reported to have said at Paeroa had been worked out for direct action to be introduced when, the guaranteed price was announced. The Loader of the Opposition. Mr Hamilton: "Wo arc behind the Kuku farmers. The Minister: "I sometimes blush with shame when I hear the statements of some of those who are professed leaders of the Farmers' Union.” In 1938. said the Minister, there were 3.200.000 more sheep in New Zealand than in 1935. There were 2.870 000 more sheep shorn in 1938 than in 1935. There were 212.000 more cattle and 5180 more horses. The only decreases shown wore in dairy cows and in pigs. The Minister said the decline in dairy cows had been mainly in sheep and cattle areas, and there had been considerable increases in the number of cattle and sheep. There was greater production under Labour today than thorp ever was under the Reform Party.