FARMERS' PROTEST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 261, 18 August 1930, Page 5

FARMERS' PROTEST.

MELBOURNE-BLUFF SERVICE. (Per Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, August 17. The renewal of the Government subsidy for the Melbourne-South Island shipping service was opposed by the Southland executive of the I armers Union, which adopted unanimously a resolution urging that the value ot the service to New .Zealand did not warrant the expenditure of public money involved, more particularly at a time when stringent economy was necessary. The motion was proposed by Mr WJ. A. McGregor, a member of. the Bluff Harbour Board, who has recently returned from the Dominion farmers tour to Australia. He drew attention to the fact that last year the balance of trade between the Commonwealth and New Zealand was adverse to this Dominion to the extent of nearly £4 000,000. On account ot this tact, he'said, it would be more appropriate if the Australian Government provided the subsidy. The new ■ service which was being inaugurated in the .Pacific by an American company would provide direct coneetion between the Bluff and Sydney. Only a mere handful of first class passengers travelled by the Melbourne-Bluff steamer, and the majority of second and third class passengers "come to New Zealand m search of employment, hoping to find conditions better in this country. This was increasing the unemployment pro-bl-m. The service was of very little value from a tourist point of view, as the stretch of water between Melbourne and the Bluff was rougher than the route to northern ports, and tourists preferred to make the smoother passage. . . I Mr McGregor characterised the subsidy as absoluto waste of money, and said the service was not to the general advantage of the country if it was necessary to subsidise it, as bad been done by the. present Government A motion urging the withdrawal ol the subsidy received the unanimous support'of the meeting.