SMALL FARMERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1939, Page 4

SMALL FARMERS

INCOMES FOUR TIMES THOSE

OF 1035

ACCORDING TO MINISTER OF HOUSING.

FIGURES CITED IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day

Figures to show the increase in the income of farmers since 1935 were quoted by the Minister of Housing, Mr Armstrong, when speaking in the debate on the Financial Statement in the House of Representatives last night. "Opposition members talk of the increase in the farmers’ costs,” said the Minister, "but the farmer now has four times the income he did in 1935 to meet those costs.”

The average net income of all classes of small farmers with land valued at less than £3OOO. said the Minister, was £259 in the year to March 31.. 1937. That figure included dairy farmers of whose plight so much was heard. He had had figures taken out for 500 dairy farms for the four years from 1935 on, and they showed that the farmers was immeasurably better off. In 1935. said Mr Armstrong, the average income of the 500 dairy farms studied was £75 a year. In 1936 it was £156, and 1937, £253. and in 1938 £263. “The farmer now has four times tne income he had in 1935 after he has paid all his costs.” Mr Armstrong concluded.