Cockies not so hard up

I would like to draw attention to various aspects of Kevin Wright's article in the last issue "The Cockies Plight" which I consider misleading.

Firstly, the table 'Comparative Incomes 1965-75' has a steeply falling sheep farmers income 1974-75. This is in me realms of pure speculation, but seems highly unlikely to be this pronounced. A collapse of prices by 50% (which is what this entails) is unforsecable—even the great 1966-67 fall was 'only' of the order of 25%. At least those constructing this table should have made it clear that this only a projection.

Secondly, the tables start from a period that was favourable to farmers, the early sixties. Wool prices in particular were high in this period, and to use figures that take no account of this is irresponsible (or is it in someone's interest?)

The tables from the Institute of Economic Research are misleading in that they do not contain the effects of the last two years. There is no quarrel that the farmers position in the late sixties was distinctly unfavourable, but to use this fact to argue a crisis now is ridiculous.

Kevin's article very wisely makes little use of the results obtainable from these figures and is a good guide to some of the problems farmers face. There is one point that worries me—why, if one of the major concerns of farmers is the variability of farm produce prices do they oppose in toto a scheme that will take at least a little of the uncertainty out of the situation?

Lastly, congratulations on a very good issue.