For All Slices

Farm Problems Reviewed In Brief Presented To Transport Commissioners

poiiowing ls the text of the ma: presented Yesterday to the Board of Transport Commission- ors by Mr. W. R. Shaw. Deputy tiiinisicr oi Agriculture.

or}... “m. producers of Prince

.p;dward Island extend ' the

ineuibers of your Board a ordisl welcome to this Province and mi.- appreciatlon of this oppor- tunity of presenting some of their ..i....-,. relating to a proposed in- rrrosc in Railway freight rates}

“No province in Canada has a xfggfﬂ‘ dependence on agriculture than Prince Edward Island. The industrial life of-the Province outside of that relating to acri- cuitiire is relatively small. We have no mines. no coal deposits, no timber preserves. no hydro power. no deposits of raw lime- stone rock. Our towns are small rural towns and our citizens gen- erally are mainly dependent on msourcr-s derived from the soil. The bulk of our products must be sold outside the Province. hence our economy is particular- li‘ susceptible to conditions af- fecting the delivery of products to these markets. _

“Our farms which average slightly over ninety acres of which about sixty acres are im- proved. are not large farms arid because of the nature of our plan- ning. which might be termed a mixed production program, the implements of production neces- ssry under modern conditions are of a large and varied char- acter. and include farm machin- ery of all classes. fertilisers, ground limestone. feeds and scores of ctlicr articles necessary for the iarm and home. These also are rvailablc only at distant points.

iilgid Economies Required

‘The adverse conditions with which this Province has had to contend have made the economic situation one of great difficulty. and demand resourcefulness and sacrifice on the part of produc- ers in order to provide for in- dividual needs and public serv- ices, 1t has only been through the exercise of rigid economies and the application of the ut- siost skill in the development of niperior quality in our products that our farm people have been able to carry on. Even with their utmost efforts in this re- Ipect the cash returns to pro- ducers have consistently occu- bied a low income bracket. Eta- tistical information prepared by our economists provides the fol- lowing detail of cash incomes per ism and the per capita income leer the various provinces of Can- a s:

10M 1080 1001 1D“ P. I. 1. 824 520 005 1ll8 "We Bcotia .. 351 888 610 B07 I. Brunswick 208 8'15 600 1010

Quebec . . 120 078 037 I003 Ontario 774 1004,1000 2805 Manitoba . 770 111B 1400 2002

Saskatchewan 668 1128 118B 8629 Album ooi i202 15H also Brit. Cnl. aio 107i 1m 2405

income Per Capits Iorni

Population

Ill 1* 10H Prince Edward island 78 12d 270 Nova Scolin ....... .. 80 OI 100 New Brunswick 00 73 197 Quebec .. 7! 128 2B8 Ontario Manitoba . Saskatchewan ‘We as toe Ill‘!

....... .. I lrit-ish Columbia I06 N! 020

“We figures clearly show the bouillon of producer! in this vines in comparison with the "on of producers in the larg- ‘P and more centrally located hﬂncos of Canada and indi- W the narrow margin on which m ilrm producers are working. m o small income any change ma?" o! Dfbduotien or trad!- menm" ml? seriously affect and ‘m crate our whole Island , "liltursl program,

m, h: impact of increased ‘m! rates under conditions of m hauls to markets for our "ufvlll- sail lone hauls bacir M mplemrnts of production. n l! be other than disastrous. t °Y the utmost importance h mill" economy be protected n mllktient of at least the m,‘ lndigtrei; which are here-

Anicauaral Program

'5 ord i | , "" M3§re°3'i'i’$iig" shrussornn

prices will come down. discounted.

COME T0 EITHER STORE

At i0 Percent _0ff

on necessary services it is im- perative that this. practically our only industry. agriculture, shall function with the greatest pos- sible efficiency. The soils of Prince Edward Island are not. rich soils. They may be classified as ordinary to poor. ‘rho protec- tion of these soils, however, their fertility and productiveness is a matter of tremendous importance to all the people of the Province.

“Any factor that improves the production of raw or finished products or on the other hand re- duces our yields. directly in- flucnces our economic standards.

-.._

Cattle Sheep Boga . No.

1022 144.000 106.000 75,000 ‘Low 93.000 40.000 60.000 1045 100.000 00,019 110,000 1946 102.000 55.000 105.000

“In our program of agricul- tursl production primary im- portance is attached to soil health and farm practise la en- couraged in its various ramifica- ilons to preserve and protect this valuable natural resource. In carrying this into effect our con- firmed opinion is that the best interests of our forms and our people may be promoted by a vigorous livestock policy with the adoption of a cash crop produc- tion held within the limit-s of a well balanced farm program. For many years this plan has been promoted and has proveri of merit.

"We base our livestock program on cattle, hogs and poultry with dairying as the main develop- ment. Unfortunately, however, costs of production have period- ically interfered with our plans and as a result our livestock pop- ulatlon has occasionally decreas- ed and our genera! economi posi- tion weakened. The following figures over the past twenty-five years indicate this trend:

Poultry Butter x Cheese x No. Lbs. Lbs. 823.000 1.275.000 1.7‘ﬂ.000 843.000 1.673.000 212.000 1,264,000 4.316.000 1,050,000 1.154.001 3.935.000 744.000

' Iiow for Cattle and Sheep-Year 1036. Low for I-fogs and Poultry-Year 1934, ' Low for Butter and Cheese-Year 1985.

x Creamery and Cheese factory

"The influence of price and cost fluctuations very directly af- fected the population of live- stock and of dairy products, and depressed our farm income to the extent where farmers, in order to survive. were compelled to draw on capital investments and were forced to operate with inferior machinery, decreased farm fertil- ity and a generally broken down situation in finance. At the same time farm debts and liabilities rapidly increased.

"While conditions in the 30's may be stated a_s unusual in this respect, we are not nevertheless. confined to this particular period to indicate the great impact on production which any change in costs as related to market returns may bring about.

Production Coat Effects

“The results are familiar to ‘every student of agricultural economics, The figures of our cattle population show in the period mentioned a decrease to a low in 1936 of 98.000 with a levelling out in numbers until 1940. After this date, under the impetus of more favourable con- ditions lncluciing lowering cf feed costs. o population of 106,000 was registered in i945. The tendency in 194B was again downwards.

"Ibis seine tendency was also noticeable in our dairy products which dropped in butter to 3.- 035.000 and in cheese to 744,000 lbs. Seasonal difficulties may be blamed for a part of this de- crease but on the other hand in- creased costs in production coup- led with grave doubts as to net returns from the industry under existing conditions were respons- ibls for a substantial percentage of the depreciation.

"Under this influence there has been a growing tendency during the past year to sell live cattle. This in itself is not poor policy providing the basic herd sources are not depleted. As a matter of fact the sale of sur- plus dairy cattle is an important support to dairy investment in this Province. Prince Edward Is- land was a few years ago the first province in Canada to apply a general test for bovine tuber- culosis. The first and subse- quent generai tests as well as special tests for Bangs Disease. revealed a remarkable freedom from infection.

In Big Demand

"As a result of this Island cat- tle have been in popular demand. and orders have been filled over t\ wide export and domestic mar- ket. when markct levels justified sales.

"Not long ago a substantial trial shipment went forward to Mexico. while wlthlii recent years ttolilldersbie numbers have beln mid in the Upper Canadian prov- inces, Newfoundland and the United States. Wwltﬂl of 9M head of choice dairy cattle were sold in the latter country in i948, while Newfoundland also absorbs ti! quite substantial numbers. I large percentage of which were forwarded by rail to North Syd- ney, As already intimated this is good businels, providing it la not a move to unload and dissipate herds because of uneconomic 0i!- s alien.

‘"15 my opinion Prince Hwerd

‘increases in food prices and sul-

receipts only.

Island should have a minimum livestock population. of 150,000 cattle. 200.000 boas. and upwards of 2.000.000 poultry. The fact that our herds and flocks were not expanded beyond their pres- ent status durlh! W6!‘ 1'63". leaves good argument to support the idea that the margin of in- come to the farmer has been ex- ceedingly narrow. The present tendency to sell therefore. may have as a background the dissipa- tion of herds rather than expan- sicn.

“Any further addition of costs. brought about by hlsher tron» portation charges will not only adversely affect the production of dairy products, the bulk of which must be sold in outside mar- kets. but also this important cattle trade, which our breeders. under reasonably favourable ctr.- dltlons are specially fitted to supply.

ﬂog Production

"One of our strong livestock programs has been concerned with hogs. Over many years provincial hog breeders have eo- operated to make this Province the source of high class hog pro- duct. "One breed. one type. and high quality" was the slogan. This plan brought results and at the present time Island commercial hogs delivered to inspected plants grade the highest in Canada. This policy also produced what is recognised as the Prince Edward island type of bacon hog for breeding purposes.

"Hog production responds more quickly to trends in cost and market conditions than possibly any other branch of livestock. Figures submitted indicate the change in this industry over a quarter of a century. The i046 hog population was lower than that of i045.

"The present hog sentiment ls not healthy in view of possible

gestlons oi increased transportat- ion costs. Our commercial mar- ker; for hogs are chiefly at Moncton and Charlottetown where our hogs. lambs. and to some extent live cattle are delivered for marketing.

Freight ChlfItI H] PM“?

"Over a period of years the bargaining price for local Idle has frequently been prediosted on the price for hogs st Montreal less the cost of freight from the local area to Montreal. "rnrough organization of market pro- cesses and improvement o qual- ity, the over all price of hogs has been advanced; but the prices nevertheltls. delivered to Mari- time abattcirs has been under normal conditions on the Melit- rsai (less freight.) basis.

"It is quits obvious then that any increase in freight chariot will weaken the bargaining ion of our farm rs in marketing their hog produ ts. The fsrtiilr the producer is removed from the central markets of Upper Canada the greater will be the dlﬂerence in the prices fealild.

"Reference has already been made to the market for breeding stock. The value of Primer Id- tvard island breeding hogs s well recoinrxcd throughout the min- ihion and a particularly I001!

INFLATION can BE LICKED. WE ARE DOINGOUR PART.

Such a fine response to our “May” 10% price cut has encouraged us to offer for the entire month of June a 10% reduction on all shoes. If others join us all over the Maritimesuother lines also- Remember all our newest and choicest summer patterns are also‘

WRIGHT SHOE CDM PAN

rasigoment with the Canadian Government, who. in 1941, recog- nized our needs. transport Western feeds to East- ern Canada at low costs. "Unfortunately the maintenance of the livestock program and its increase ls threatened at the pre- sent time by the announcement of the cancellation of draw backs on grains. which have granted by the,Domlnton Govern- ment to offset partially, increased prices grains, as at August of the pre-

and Central Canada. Our sup- plies of registered hogs are only now under process cf develop- ment. New breeders have estab- lished herds during the present year with the hope of taking advantage oi expanding markets. Unfortunately freight costs to distant points are hlgli and in Bhipplsg boars and sows cars have to be penned off and usual- ly an attendant must accompany the shipment.

"Au increase in freight rates would strike a very deﬁnite blo\v at this market and would injure materially the swine industry of this Province and prevent the industry in other Provinces of Canada from securing the excel- lent material which ,we are in a position to supply. At the pre- sent time Island hogs are grad- ing about 50% Nor-while some of the Western Provinces have a level of less than 25% A's. The inﬂuence of this trade on hos quality on the Prairies or for that matter in any part of Canada would go far to improve and en- courage our bacon supplies and consolidate our position in the British market. -

"The freight rates are at pre- sent restricting this trade partic- ularly to the Prairies. A carlcad of mixed breeding stock was ship- ped to Edmonton last year on which the freight rate was $241.40, the fitting of the car and other lncidentala being additional to this sum. Should an increase of 30% in freight be permitted. this trade, valuable to both the West and this Province. would be effectively restricted.

Poultry Industry

"Reference must also be made here to the expansion in our poultry industry. This has been encouraged through improved ine- thods of production and market- ing. The ccntrol of disease has cost the Province and its poultry producers large amounts of mon- ey. It is a matter of pride, how- ever, that in this respect we have reached a level of disease im- munity that is in many respects not equalled in any other part of Canada. This has been done through the most rigid inspection and control policy. As a result

market has developed la western

hatching eggs have been expozted to Maryland and Virginia and the general quality of our flocks has been widely recognized.

"The Province has now sixty- seven grading stations where the eggs are processed, graded and packed under ideal conditions. our product moves to distant markets chieﬂy by rail. The in- dustry, however, is beginning to feel the impact of increased pro- duction coals. The recent increase in price of wheat. the most im- portant ingredient in the poultry ration. has brought about a con- siderable reduction in sales of this commodity and to some ex- tent a cancellation of chick or- ders at hatcherles.

"The poultry industry. valued st about $2,000,000 annually on present market levels is an im- portant factor iii our farm econ- omy. and its decrease will defin- itely affect farm resources and the income which its mainten- ance and expansion brings trans- portation lines.

"As I have already stated. my opinion is that Prince Edward Island should have a minimum level in its livestock commitments‘ of at least 150.000 head of cattle , 200.000 hogs and upwards of 2,- 000,000 Poultry. 1 deem this level necessary for the protection of our soil fertility and under fair earning conditions for the main- tenahce of our people on ia fair standard of living. In oriier to reach this minimum standard in livestock population it will natur- ally be necessary to expand our acreage on pasture. hay and root crops. In this respect our soils are eminently fitted to produce and our program is at the present time aimed toward the establish- ment of ern-ianent pastures and improved ay pr-‘uctlcn.

Grain Importation

"Our dependence. however. on the increased quantities of coarse grains and proteins will be chieﬂy from outside sources. on the basis of the livestock population of lim- we imported into the Province 09,100 tons of wheat, oltl. barley and fliillfeed, 1h Id- eluon to this there would be sp- proximoteiy 11,000 tons of pro- tein and other feeds making a total dependence iii i946 of about 66.500 tons of outside material.

"On the basis of bushels of barley this would mean the im- portation in i046 of about 2.250.- 000 bushels. or about one-third of our own provincial total produc- tion of grains in a normal year. ‘I'M present modest improvellieht in our livestock holdings has

been made by our farmers’ org- anizations. however. with a view to adjusting prices on our farm products at a level, which, if sco- ured will offset some of the re- sulting increased prices for feed grains should draw backs be re- Our producers are defin- itely of the opinion that. if in- creased" freight rates are permit- ted, the present rather doubtful outlook will be further developed and our policy of improvement in our livestock levels will be seri- ously endangered.

"The movement of grains and feeds during 1946 to this Province contributed very materially to the traffic of the railways.

ground limestone. In order to encourage the use of limestone the Provincial Government of this Province in co-operatlon with Federal authorities, has establish- ed a limestone policy, Under this policy we are now importing ap- proximately 80.000 tons of lime- stone yeariy. The volume has been held down chiefly through lack of supply under war snd post war time conditions. 1 would estimate that this Province could use annually from 75.000 to B0,- 000 tons of ground limestone.

"It ls my opinion that the De- partment of Agriculture has gone as far as it can to subsidize this movement. As a matter of fact. if present arrangements sliould terminate with the Federal Gov- ernment it may be possible that the cost of limestone will be in- creased to the primary producer. Our present sources of supply are chieﬂy from the Province of Que- bec, New Brunswick, and to s lesser extent Nova Scotia.

“The increase of 30% in freight rates would very seriously inter- fere with the importation of ground limestone and ultimately endanger our production program. This quantity of limestone is a large item of movement over the transportation system and we are cults sure that the rail compan- ies would not wish to see it dim-

dltlons are such that the mini- mum objectives indicated may be reached it will mean that the Province of Prince Edward Is-

outside supplies up to and above Provincial production grains and livestock feeds to the extent of 150,000 to 175,000 tons

"If on the other hand condit- ions are of such a nature that livestock levels sag back to the extent that has been experienced on some former occasions it will mean a. weakened agriculture, re- duced revenues for for our citizens generally and for the transportation companies that cater to this area. ~

"The volume of traﬂio coming and going out of this Province is at present of an impressive not- ure. To the extent that the farm- ers of Prince Edward Island are enabled to increase the produc- tion of livestock, dairy products and field crops, the trend of this volume will be steadily upwards. I "Farmers require large quanti- ties of equipment and materials

has been their inability to rin- aricc their purchases. cnts placed in the way through increased freight rates or increas-

lnishod but rather increased to the levels suggested.

“This product has a distinct effect as far as the railroads erre concerned. namely: in maintain- ing volume of traﬁlc entering the Province and by its inﬂuence on production in materially expand- ing volume of traffic going out of the Province.

Fox Ranchlng

"Fox ranching has for mmy years been an important enter- prise on Prince Edward Island. Aside from the dramatic develop- ment associated with the early establishment of the industry. the returns, which have been of great value in supporting our ‘economy. have nevertheless been associated with large costs, great risks, and many discouragements. Investments in breeding stock, wire, equipment and labor have been unusually high,

“Within recent years, ranchers have been contending with extra.- ordinary costs, and if it we're not for the evolution of new types, rigid weeding out of inferior ani- male, and the maintenance of ranches on a high plane of breed- ing and production skill and ef- ficiency. the decline in our" fox

ed costs of any kind which nar- row the margin of income or re- duce market prices below costs of production cause an deterioration in production to un- favorably low levels.

"This condition has for reach- ing repercussions not only of an immediate and domestic nature but it removes demand for large quantities of needful materials tn distant factories. dacreggeg ployment, the movement of goods and consequently the revenues of the eéraneportatlcn companies in-

Farm Machinery

"It is scarcely necessary todraw the attention of the members or this Board to the large volume of farm machinery, equlpmgnt and household necessities coming into It must come in from far distant D11‘. ‘the position in this Province as compared with

source of machinery supplies is

1m rates ordinar- mean in our costs? Freight ses a minimum addition over dian prices of over

$7.00 on a tractor plow. n s tractor while the dif- ih the cars and truckg 040.00 t0 356.00. On all the rates are of a corresponding nature, ther addition of that our farm p find machinery c will ltmlgls atone with "W" Wt equipment a omlbarrass production

- ‘The question of im commercial fertilisers r brief and ii need

that fertilizers are‘ factor not only in tion but also in ret- lt‘. pasture and livestock plannln .

90% will mean

Ground uaaeatone

‘were is one product, however. I would like to mention. which is vitally neceasa y for the improve- ment of Prince

HIM MIMI B! ll N-‘Mlil Ind their productivity: II;

population, which has steadily taken place, would have reached disastrous proportions.

"At the present time the fox industry is encountering i difficulties. During the war pk. iod, feed and other costs were sharply increased and prices cf pelts remained at a level which scarcely covered these costs, and at the most left a very small margin of income. Ranchers re- doubied their cﬂorts to meet these conditions in the hope that new and better marketing condlt. ions would develop with the end of the war.

"Unfortunately the reverse h“ actually taken place. The average price for pelts on 1947 auctions has netted Canadian ranchers a bare $16.00 per pelt. Accurate costs of production provided by our more efficiently organized ranches show the cost of produc’ ing a pelt for market to be bc- tween 03500 to $38.00 per pelt. 0f this total cost the actual feed costs involved amount to from $18.00 to $19.00 per pelt.

"This situation in the industry l! CHI-loin! very grave alarm and unless some redress can be ap- plied. an industry of great value to this Province will practically disappear.

Lower- Rsts Needed

"Fox meats which constitute the bulk of the ration are derived mainly from Western Canada, while cereals on the average cen- ter ln the Toronto ares. For many years fox producers have urged a more favourable gate on such products as horse meat. tripe, trimmings and other cheap pro-

prune

lriag ‘risk reilek ceaseless. fast-drying. IQ IQIOBI odor.

Grafton

ducts of slaughter houses. These products bear a freight tariﬂ similar to that provided for high-

er priced meats for human coral

eumption. and entirely out of lino

Queen St. Store

PAGE. 315E

t

8t. Store

with the value of these materials.

“The following table lndiclfdl the freight rates lnvolvﬂ if g j increase is permitted:

Present Freight Rates and l-low It Will Be Affected By 309i

Increase Points from which we receive goods Cariois Edmonton 12.06 Refer Bwift Current .. 1.89 Refer Winnipeg London ‘Toronto Montreal

Orillis

"These rates are based on full caricts of 40.000 lbs. or over, and do not include icing charges in transit, which add materially to transport costs. In view of the general situation affecting this industry, the imposition of an additional carrying charge on feeds would unquestionably bring about depressed results. and force the great bulk of our ranchers out of business.

“Instead of an increase in car- rying charges. it would seem more urgent that readjiistments be made in present freight tariffs to lower levels in order that this industry may be enabled to carry over the next few years to what fur producers hope will be a fut- ure of brighter prospects.

P. l. I. Contribution

“It is our opinion that the Pro- vince of Prince Edward Island has something of value to offer to Canada as a whole. As already indicated we are able to produce abundantly, provided conditions are reasonably favourable, natural products in the form of seed po- tatoes. breeding hogs. cattle, poul- try and foxes of extraordinary quality and freedom from dis- ease.

“Our Province is- a seed bed of these commodities of value to the

whole Canadian economy and Canada's value may be materially advanced if this Province is able to produce 1n abundance and dis- perse its materials to distant Canadian points with reasonable ease and cost. In this respect we hold an important position in Canadian development and it is our desire to accept our full re- sponsibility as farmers to take our place and exert our full in- ﬂuence in contributing to nat- ional welfare to the extent that our circumstances permit

“In so doing we ask in turn for the fullest ce-operatzcn from the National Government and such important public institutions as our Transport Companies, that will enable us to fulﬁll our obli- gations to cur people and gener-

_ 30% Increase Total Rate .62 $2.08 Rate .57 236 Rafa .42 1.01 Rate .26 Lilli Rate .22 1.18 Rate .191; .0454 Rats .20 is .6856

ally the citizens of Canada.

“Fhrm producers of this Prov- inve have labored under seriouq economic difficulties. They have,‘ by the full co-operation of the farm unit, men. women and chil- drcn. built and expanded and produced. and by so doing have staved off disaster and in the main, remained on their hold- ings. The nature of their work. their tradition and their business have, in any event, impelled them to remain on the job. They be- lleved not in the philosophy o! strikes. or in turning the key in their doors, awaiting better day's. True. m'any have been forced out of business, and approximately 500 abandoned farms supply dis- mal proof in part, of the losing struggle of producers against load- ed economic dice. When sales of farms have taken place the re- ceipts in many instances havi not. ‘covered the costs of the build- ings on the farm. In most cases, however. the farmer _teok his loss- es, reassessed his values and car- ried on.

"In conclusion, farm producers of this Province operating under conditions as herein outlined, are deﬁnitely opposed to the proposed freight increase, and feel con- vinced that if any increase ll

permitted that their position, far from markets and supplies, and dependent on practically one iss- dustry, will be most seriously en- dangered.”

TRACTOM VERQU! ILIFI DAR m SALAAM. hnlsasiyiisn-

different parts of the world In on their way here to start clear- ing tsetse-infected wasteland f6! development of a peanut produc- tion scheme. A community of some 3,200 African workers and their families will be built.

DAILY NEED

Since the body does not 5M1‘! vitamin c. humans need fresh

fruit daily.

ONE PRODUCT TO DO

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