MINUTES OF EVIDENCE. 



75 



2 September, 1919.] 



MR. E. COLTON Fox. 



[Continued. 



grumble. But the guarantee should cover his work- 

 ing expenses, and leave him a profit if the season is 

 favourable. 



7383. Do you think that a guarantee of 60s. as a 

 minimum, with the prospect of making higher prices 

 when the markets were favourable, would be suffi- 

 cient to induce the farmers to carry on cultivation? 

 For wheat? 



7384. Yes? Yes. I think if all went well that 

 ought to compensate him, provided that the expenses 

 do not go up. 



7385. Of course, if the expenses went up that figure 

 might have to be reconsidered ? Yes ; that is taking 

 the whole country. On my schedule of expenses I 

 should be satisfied if I could get my average crop. 



7386. If you had that as a guarantee and took 

 your chance of the markets to make your profit ? But 

 you see for that 60s. you could not base that on 4 

 quarters to the acre. That would not pay you. 



7387: That is my point. I am not arguing that he 

 should be paid every year, but that he should be 

 guaranteed against a severe slump? That guarantee 

 would be sufficient for next year, because the play of 

 the market would allow him to make more than 60s. 

 But I do not say that in two years from now that 

 guarantee of 60s. would be sufficient, because the 

 play of the market would not allow him to make more 

 than 60s., and 60s. alone, with no prospect of an 

 increase. By making it a guaranteed minimum and 

 a maximum, it would not pay him. 



7388. But if the world's market price fell con- 

 sistently below 60s., that would mean that the cost of 

 living was reduced, and all other costs would be 

 proportionately reduced? My point is this, that 

 although the cost of living as regards food might drop, 

 will the general price of wages that produce our 

 raw materials drop and allow us to buy things 

 cheaper? Food prices may drop, but the wages may 

 not in the towns. 



7389. On the other hand, of course, they may, if 

 living is cheaper? I hope they may. 



7300. You suggested that there should be a sliding 

 scale as between the cost of produce and the rate of 

 w:iires. Was that so? Did not you suggest the cost 

 of produce should regulate the wages? Yes : I wish it 

 could bo done. 



7391. Have von thought of any basis on which that 

 could be done? No. I have not. T think it was done 

 in the slate quarries. It was fixed every three years, 

 and it worked perfectly well. 



7392. You think that would be a means of giving 

 confidence to farmers, if such a srhpnie rould be 

 carried out? It would save a lot of trouble. 



7393. Dr. DHIII/IHX: I see in your statement* about 

 the eost and returns of your crops, you do not allow 

 anything for straw? No. 



7394. Why is that? T suppose I should have done. 

 730."!. That would make a substantial difference, 



would not it? That really comes into the question of 

 feeding cattle. 



7396. But you do not suggest that straw is of no 

 value? We do not sell any straw, you see. And some 

 of us have been feeding bullocks rather at a loss. 



7397. ] do not suppose you sell all your oats either. 

 do you? I wish I had told you how much T hnd used. 

 but I never thought to bring it. I know exactly how 

 many oats in each year I sold. I have it down here. 



7398. But you credit yourself with all the oats you 

 grow, whether you sell them or consume them, but 

 do not credit the crop with any straw? I do not sell 

 any straw. 



7399. Is not it a mistake not to put some value on 

 the straw? I ought to put some value on. 



7400. Do not you think so yourself? At nil events. 

 you do not put anything in for it. Take your second 

 and fifth columns. Are not you first claiming a 

 profit in one column and claiming it again in the 

 other? You have allowed for a profit of 2 3s., and 

 then you put down 2 Is. Id. Does not that altogether 

 make a profit of 4 4s. ? Yes. ] have found that out. 

 I was in a hurry. They wired me to send it next day. 



7J01. You rerognic you have counted something 

 twin' over there y T quite realise that second profit 

 should have been simply as regards the guaranteed 

 (iriie. You see what I mean the difference between 

 rny profit nnd the guaranteed price. 



7402. I think there is more than that, is not there? 

 You have put yourself down as having made a lose in 

 certain cases when, if you take into account your 

 20 per cent., you would have actually made a profit. 

 Is not that so? On the oats? 



7403. Yes? The calculation on that price was very 

 heavy. 



7404. I am dealing with the figures as you give 

 them. I put it to you, after you have charged the 

 profit in the second column, you deal with the profit 

 in another column, and that is an entire confusion? 

 You mean I have taken the 20 per cent, and then 

 T have taken the profit of 2 Is. Id.? 



7405. Yes; and you make yourself out to have lost, 

 whereas, in point of fact, you had a profit? My 

 intention was, but I have not done it, to show my 

 actual receipts taking the 20 per cent, on my ex- 

 penditure and then showing the difference between 

 that and what I should get on the guaranteed price, 

 and I put it wrong. 



7406. You make a suggestion that wages should be 

 based on the price of corn. Do you think that would 

 be an acceptable proposal? I think it would avoid 

 friction. 



7407. But do you think the suggestion would be 

 accepted by the workers? I think surely it would, 

 because the men know perfectly well what we are 

 doing now. 



7405. Have you ever put it to them? No, I have 

 not 



7409. You are merely guessing when you say they 

 will accept it? That is a suggestion that I shall 

 bring up at the next Local Conference. 



7410. .S't'r William Ashley: Do you consume pro- 

 duce off your farm? Yes, I consume the keep for the 

 horses. 



7411. Have you allowed anything for that in 

 these accounts*? No, I have nnt allowed for that. I 

 have taken each acre as if I was selling all the pro- 

 duce. I have taken down my five quarters of oats 

 as though I was selling every bit, and of course I have 

 consumed that at home. Still. I have counted that 

 in as my actual receipts. 



7412. Does any of your household consumption 

 appear in these figures? I allow for that in my 

 balance sheet, for produce consumed in the house. 

 It is something about 70. It is all in my accounts. 

 There is so much butter, milk, cream, bacon, potatoes, 

 and ohiekens. 



7113. Mr. Smith: Do we understand -that these 

 figures apply to this area that you have given in your 

 precis of evidence? My cost per acre? 



7414. Yes? Yes. 



7415. And are the costs actual figures? Yes, the 

 cost of actual operations. 



7416. The others are estimates? No, the actual 

 costs based on my estimates per acre for ploughing. 



7417. But the probable yield is an estimate? It 

 is an estimate, but I think it is correct. 



7418. How long is it since you have made the esti- 

 mate? The estimate was made partly when I started 

 rutting, and also a fortnight before" when T walked 

 round with the Government Inspector. 



7419. What is vour reason_for suggesting a guaran- 

 tee fur corn? I have pointed out before that, person- 

 allv. T am against a guarantee: but it must be done 

 to give us confidence 



7420. Do you think that is the general opinion of 

 farmers?- I do. It has been expressed at two Clubs 

 to which T belong. 



421. Have they not any confidence in the future? 

 They have no confidence. 



7422. Did I understand you to say that you were 

 urged to come here because there was a difficulty in 

 eetting other farmers to come? Yes, for this reason. 

 None of them had any balance sheet to produce at 

 all. They none of them had any figures as to what 

 eorn they had sold this last year ; and they are all of 

 them men who are good in their line, but uneducated 

 in book-keeping. 



7423. Have not these questions been discussed by 

 farmers? Not at meetings. 



. Would not you think that if they were so 

 doubtful as to the future they would discuss these 

 t.hings amongst themselves? Yes; but the only thing 

 I know is that we passed these Resolutions asking 

 for a definite programme for five years. 



