FARMERS SOLD UP.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 171, 21 July 1922, Page 7

FARMERS SOLD UP.

MEMBERS' STRONG CRITICISM. <By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.: WELLINGTON, Thursday. "Unless something is done this ruining of the farmer will go on," declared Mr. R. W. Smith (Waimarino) in the course of his Address-in-Reply speech, when he devoted a considerable amount of time to picturing the difficulties of small farmers, who have had to finance the purchase of stock and find themselves unable to meet their liabilities. Many of these men were being forced to sell up, because lending companies wished to reduce their own liability to the banks, while they also added considerably to their profits by forced sales, when they sold everything, lock, stock and barrel. It was most unfair, unbusinesslike, and against the country's best interest to turn hard-working men off their farms. The member urged the Government to come to their relief. If it could not grant their advances against stock, it might set up a tribunal to which commercial firms would have to appeal before they got permission to put everything under the hammer. Mr. Smith also asked for a statement of the Government's policy in regard to the moratorium. If all mortgages hecame due in 1924 they would have to face five millions loss. A strong appeal was made by Mr. Poland that the -Governmeut should remit the rent of soldier settlers who were unable to meet their rents, instead of postponing them, as was the practice at present. Even if it cost £5,000,000 it would be better to face that loss straight away. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie: Who says there is going to be a loss? Mr. Poland: "I do. This postponement of rents is taking all the heart out of the soldiers. If the Government will strike out one year's rent it will be better than making them pay two years. It would put some heart into them." Mr. Guthrie: How many times has it been done? Mr. Poland: Never in my district.