HELP FOR FARMERS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 42, 19 February 1931, Page 13

HELP FOR FARMERS

UNION'S ACTIVITY.

FINANCE AND POLITICS

ECONOMIC MEASURES

The executive of the Now Zealand Farmers' Union recently referred the .Question of reviewing its political platiorm and of considering what further notion should be taken to the economic of the union. A full meeting of the economic committee was held yesterday, when decisions were arrived at on a variety of questions designed to help the country and the farming community in the present difficulties. The report deals with farm relief as •well as a political platform particularly in regard to rural finance. ' MORTGAGE ADJUSTMENTS. The following resolution was carried:— "That in order to afford opportune ties for relief in cases of hardship, Rural Finance Adjustment Boards should tie set up in each land district to whom farmers unable to renew their mortgages might appeal, such boards to hear the evidence of both parties, and make recommendations. In the event of such recommendations not being accepted, the board to have the power to submit the matter to some judicial authority to be set up by the Government for the purpose." Members were of the opinion that much useful work would be performed by the district boards in re-arraiiging mortgages, and that some ultimate tribunal was required to which cases could be referred when the boards could not effect a settlement. MAINTENANCE OF PRODUCTION. In order to prevent a national disaster, members were unanimous in stating that the production of primary produce had to be kept up and even increased, also that the working of the Rural Intermediate Credit Board should be supported by the Government in order to enable it to obtain finance. The following resolutions were carried: — : "That the Government should be asked to provide financial backing for "the fertiliser companies for an extended period, in order that the companies might be enabled to extend similar credit to eo-operativc concerns 'and merchants on condition that they in torn pass on the concession to the farmers." "That the Government be asked to consider a scheme for setting up an Appeal Board to consist of the Minister of Finance and the chairman of the Rural Intermediate Credit Board, •the Unemployment Board, aud the State Advances , Board to which the Bural Intermediate Credit Board could submit cases referred to it by the associations of farmers deserving of assistance in the opinion of the associations, 'in order to meet interest payments and maintain them on their farms. That the cost of such assistance be borne by the State in the meantime, but be a secondary charge upon the assets of tho borrower collectable by the Rural Intermediate Credit Board through its associations who, -as agents for the Crown, should undertake the supervision of the borrowers' finance and operations similar to the supervision of their own members, and that one of whose members may appear on behalf of tho •applicants before tho Central Boards." In order to give a decided impetus to tho sale of Rural Intermediate Cre-dit Board debentures, it was decided to asifthe Government to give the .same support to those debentures as is statutorily provided for rural advances bond's. Members were of tho opinion if Diis were done the Rural Intermediate Credit Board would have at least an equal opportunity with the Government of -raising money wherever the bonds were offered for sale. REDUCING FARMERS' COSTS. In support of a reduction of farm cost?, the following resolutions were carried:— ."-This committee, convinced that the effect of the operations of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration _ Act has been to restrict employment, cripple industry, and create stagnation, joins with the employers' organisations in demanding that a system of compulsory conciliation and optional arbitration bo substituted for the existing law." "That legislation similar to that of 1921 In; enacted, empowering the Arbitration Court simultaneously to review all existing'awards. "■ "This committee, realising that rating for roading purposes is no longer a fair burden upon the primary producer, inasmuch as the roads are carrying national traffic in competition ■with the railway, demands its abolition and the substitution of petrol taxation; further, this committee points out to-tho Government that the Dominion's chief competitors have- also abolished land taxation as a capital tax operating unfairly, and draws attention to tho additional hardship and injustice of such a system- of taxation in a country dependent, upon the prosperity of the primary producer." "This committee declares its conviction that the first, essential in reducing costs is to readjust taxation that the necessities and tools of production may bs lowered in price by means of reductions in the Customs tariff, the difference being made up by luxury taxation as well as by increased income taxation." In addition, the committee .was unanimous that the expenditure of both Government Departments and local ■"bodies should be materially decreased. In this respect, the following resolutions were carried: — "This committee demands drastic decreases in all Government and local bodies' expenditure. All items of nonessential expenditure should be eliminated, and costs of administration reduced." "This committee expresses dwapproval at the waste of public money in the continuation of a railway construction programme which has been shown •will add considerably to the enormous loss the railways are already making; and demands the cessation of new work and the utilisation of the labour in proauf.ti.vo employment." • Tho committee was also of the opinion that the Government should give immediate relief to all the recommendations of the recent. Railway Commisson i—i n particular, the divorce of the operation of the railways from political control. POLITICAL ACTION. A long discussion took place regarding ways and means of getting the farming community to make itself felt at future elections, as the opinion was expressed that the farming industry was in a desperate plight. Members were agreed that the only way that the farming community could have its wrongs righted was through the election of jnon who were sympathetic to the i'arminrr industry, irrespective of political party. The following resolution was carried: — "This committee recommends members to stand behind their leaders and do everything in their power to place in Parliament those candidates who will support tho union's platform, and who will undertake to fight for the farmers' cause." , ' «•■ . It u-;is suggested lv t'lo committee Hint where all Ihfi r.inriidates in an electorate siirreoil to till) platform of tho union, tho exp-euri'vo of the union in •which the electorate was situated should decide which candidate was to be supported.