Proceedings of a seminar on costs beyond the farm gate, held at Lincoln College 12 March 1976

The economic climate in which New Zealand has found itself in the last couple of years has placed great stress on the farming sector and farm service industries. To the individual farmer the problems have centred around the consequences of the downward saving in export commodity prices and the escalation of costs of production. Nevertheless farmers’ leaders and Government have concentrated almost exclusively on commodity price stabilisation measures, maybe because of unwillingness to face the discipline of rigorous cost control. The Unit believes that cost containment, or better still, reduction, is equally important and deserves substantial study. We decided that a Seminar would be a useful way to set the background and highlight areas of possible investigation. This discussion paper includes the full text of the following papers: J.R.M. Wills, The Problem as it affects the Farmer; J. W. Habgood, The Road Transport Operators' Present Situation, Viewpoint, and Suggestions; L.A. Cameron, The Meat Processing Industry's Present Situation, Viewpoint and Suggestions; N.F. Reynolds, The Dairy Processing Industry's Present Situation, Viewpoint and Suggestions; J.D. McIlraith, The Wool Industry's Present Situation, Viewpoint and Suggestions; C.H. Speight, The Sea Transport Industry's Present Situation, Viewpoint and Suggestions; W.R. Cameron, The Problem of Cost Escalation as seen through the Eyes of the Trade Union Movement