DECLINE IN PRODUCTION

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20740, 25 February 1939, Page 6

DECLINE IN PRODUCTION

Why has dairy production declined substantially in New Zealand in the past two years ? That question is seriously exercising the minds of the primary producers, the Government and the general public, for the decline has already meant a serious loss, and if continued, will be disastrous to the Dominion. Delegates to the conference of the Dairy Board’s No. 1 Ward at Morrinsville decided to take steps to have a comprehensive inquiry held to determine the reasons. The matter is of such vital importance to the Dominion that it is. to be hoped no time will be lost in discovering the causes and applying the remedy.

Various causes for the decline have been suggested, but no one seems to be certain. Speakers at the conference suggested that the shortage of farm labour was responsible, and others have declared that climatic conditions, diseases in herds and financial difficulties are responsible. It is reasonable to assume that all these influences have contributed to the fall in production, but in the end it will probably be found that the real cause is that the incentive to produce more has to some extent been taken away from the farmers. Whether that fact can be established by the sifting of evidence at an inquiry is another matter.

When the producer received the full market value of his butter or cheese there was always the hope that prices would rise and provide a handsome return for the farmer’s labour. That is why dairy production increased in leaps and bounds in the days when men scrambled for land to produce butterfat at up to half-a-crown a pound. Costs were lower then also, and there was always an element of chance of high prices which appealed to many people. Now the production of butter and cheese has been placed on the more prosaic basis of a business that will yield so much and no more. Regimentation, control and fixation of prices, together with heavy and rising costs of production, have undoubtedly caused many farmers to cease to strive for greater production or rendered them incapable of doing so. The business of dairy farming is simply not as attractive as it once was.