The Waikato Times SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1939 ORGANISATION OF FARMERS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20821, 3 June 1939, Page 6

The Waikato Times SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1939 ORGANISATION OF FARMERS

With the object of marshalling the combined forces of the primary industries a movement has been begun in North Canterbury, and an endeavour will be made to extend it throughout the Dominion. Generally the complaint is that the policy of the Government has reacted to the detriment of the primary producers who, through lack of organisation, have not made their voices heard adequately. If the new organisation has the effect of placing the value of the primary industries in its true perspective the movement might be productive of much good, for continued high output of primary produce is of the first importance to New Zealand, but it is to be hoped that the organisation will avoid politics as far as possible; otherwise the effort to improve the position of the farmers will be divided and therefore will lose force. The North Canterbury branch of the Farmers’ Union will ask all primary producers’ organisations to affiliate with the Farmers’ Union, “thus forming a complete federation of primary producers, such organisations to have direct representation, with local branches, and thenceforward with provincial and Dominion executives.” The success of the whole scheme will depend upon the spirit with which it is approached. There can be no doubt that the farming community is suffering certain disadvantages as the result of a system that has forced up internal prices and costs and left the overseas markets, on which the farmers depend, at the old level. Guaranteed prices, if they have stabilised the farmers’ income and given him the assuianee of a certain income for a certain production, have not given him any greater income than the overseas markets have yielded. The output of many primary products has declined, due admittedly in some measure to unfavourable seasons, but also to increased costs discouraging the maintenance or extension of farming operations. That is one of New Zealand's most pressing problems. Production is all important to the whole structure planned by the Government. Mr Nash has freely admitted that increasing production is essential even to the social security scheme. That being so, it is urgently necessary that the farmers’ organisations and the Government should thresh out between them the factors that are impeding production, and in the general interest of New Zealand endeavour to evolve a remedy. Even external difficulties such as quotas and other restrictions on the markets for Dominion products call aloud for united and determined efforts.

If it were possible for New Zealand to contract within itself and live upon its own industries in disregard of overseas markets the solution might be simple, but within measurable time that is impossible. There must be general sympathy with the endeavour to improve the standards of living of New Zealanders and shelter them from the shocks of overseas conditions, but in the meantime stubborn facts must be faced, and as Mr Nash has said, New Zealand prices must bear some relation to overseas market rates. In other words, it would be fatal to allow New Zealand’s economy in general to drift out of relation to that of Britain. Much has been achieved in lifting New Zealand standards, until now the Dominion’s standard of living is the highest in the world. The danger lies in trying to go too far and too fast.