IN ANSWER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 266, 10 November 1939, Page 3

IN ANSWER.

TO FARMERS , LEADER. ] COUNTRY'S PRODUCTION. PROMISE TO GREAT BRITAIN. ] (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. 1 "As f;ir as the farmers are concerned ' they now have more stability than ' ever,* , said the Prime Minister, the Rt. ' Hon. M. J. Savage, when commenting on . a letter he had received from the presi- - dent of the New Zealand. Farmers' ( Union, Mr. W* W. Mulholland. declaring i that production was threatened by high < costs and insufficient labour. "We have been at this problem for < months; it is no new thing," continued 1 Mr. Savage. "Anyone who has to face ' exchange control, with its possible < results, must have had their minds on < making a transformation in Xew Zea- \ land by shifting men from public works ' into industry, where they would !l>e * producing good* now coming from over- ] eene. Unfortunately, some people think ' the transformation can be i:>ade over the I week-end, but those with a knowledge 1 of the subject know better. ' "New Zealand has been in a self- * governing stage since 15.)6. The pro- \ cess of building has been carried on all the time, and now we are asked to * change the whole face of things over the week-end. It cannot be done, although we are doing it as rapidly as we can. I would like those complaining of exchange control t<. think of the benefits) received from millions of pounds which accumulated overseits that were all brought back in goods passed over the counter by business people. But that is not nearly enough. We have to get a better balance in our internal affairs. "We are anxious to see farming extended, but it must be realised that there are other sections of the community who need some consideration. If farmers get more than their fair share ■ of New Zealand's income, other people will get lees. Curiously enough, yesterI day's newspapers contained information • about a great demand for small farms iu the Waikato at favourable prices to sellers. This appears in the same issue as the warning by the Opposition Leader, the Hon. Adam Hamilton, regarding the future, but the facts do not look like fear for the future. Jf private enterprise cannot provide the production tha.t is necessary to us to carry out our promise to Great Britain the Government will have to seriouslv consider other methods of doing the < job."