THE "FAMOUS" FARMERS' DEPUTATION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17317, 1 December 1921, Page 10

THE "FAMOUS" FARMERS' DEPUTATION.

to THB IDITOIt OF "THBPBESB." ; is now some little time, sinoe the farmers' deputation, with. Mr Hunt as spokesman, waited on Mr Massey, to show him the unsatisfactoiy position of the farmer and the Dominion to-day. They were ridiculed by 1 the Premier, and many farmers, who at first agreed with the deputation's views, turned a complete somersault when they heard the Premier's ridicule, and subsequently condemned the spokesman, Mr Hunt. But these farmers are men whose visions are very limited. The Premier told , the deputation that the country must not be cried down to the London money-lender, as he wanted more loans, thereby admitting the Dominion waa hard tip. Par better for the farmers if New Zealand had d bad name with themoney-baga of London. as the interest on the money borrowed for nonproductive work always falls on the farmers. v. . . Beading Mr Hunt's views, and Mr Massey's views, and 1 other very " prominent people's views. I say without any hesitation that Mr : Hunt is' the only'man that thoroughly understands the position of the Dominion to-day, and' that is saying a great deal. '■ What is' the position of jfche Dominion to-day? We have plenty of money to run the country, but" it is running in the' wrong channels. Quantities of merchandise are lying dead with money borrowed on it, whilst many farms are partly idle for want of 'money to run them. Teams are wanted for many farms, 6tock is also wanted, but the farmer has to let part of his land go idle as he cannot get the money. This is, a very unsound- position for the-Do-minion, and is' a crying shame to the authorities. _\ What is the position as regards production P The advancement of the Dominion depends on the prosperity ,cf the man on the land. The-man on the land is faced with high prices for everything he produces except wheat (the Government having robbed the wheatgrower the early stages of the war, has now to givfe a bounty in order that the wheat-grower may get a bit of his own back), and butter (which promises to fall' at the, first hurdle). The farmer ia confronted with a sure loss or' no, profit. ■ Can the oountry be prosperous in face of the above? The worst:feature, that confronts the man .on the land is the Arbitration Act, with its preference to unionist claase. This Act- was steadily undermining the fanners before the war, it was not notioeable during the war, but. since the crash came tnero has been. immediately thrown on the .farmers an exceedingly staggering burden. Through this Act the mdentor, manufacturer,' and their workmen have been enabled to throw their taxation in income, pro-1 perty,.and Customs, on to the man on the land, and, further still, its evil is still farther enhanced oy the workman bringing. dowif lus labour energy on a par with th 6 tad work* energy. This Act, if continued as it has been, will eventually place the: farmers in the same position as the pre-war Russian serfs, and the sooner it is altered the better.it,will be for. the prosperity of the Dominion. | Our railways are another heavy burden. A rake wants to be drawn over the whole service. There are many men in the service who are honourably earning their money, but there are many who do not do' a decent day's work in' a week. i Any perron who. in good faith says the ' Doininion- is -« - fair, .position wants his head .examined, by a epecial- ' ist. I can guarantee Hunt

does not require his head to be examined. If the Government fails in its duty, that is, to recognise its position, and act accordingly, "it is up to the_ farmers to do it, as they have the cue in their own hands, though it will be an unpleasant undertaking, and done in selfdefence. The farmer will have to do two men's work, and sack all men possible, buy as little as possible, and borrow from his neighbour. Then the Government's hand will be forced, and they will have to act intelligently.— Tours, etc., BRUTUS.