FARMERS' RALLY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18918, 5 February 1927, Page 16

FARMERS' RALLY.

SUPPORT OP TdWNSPEOPLB URGED. (roass utMunoi nutoaui.) DANNEVIRKE, February 4. A farmers' rally, embracing the district from Woodville to Hastings, was held in the Dannevirke Town Hall last evening in continuation of the Farmers' Union campaign to enlighten the townspeople as to conditions against which farmers at present have to con- . . tend, and enlist their sympathy. The speakers included the Mayor ■ (Mr A. J. 0. Runelman), Messrs W. J. Poison (Dominion president of the Farmers' Union), Sir Andrew Russell v . and Mr J. 8. Jcssep (vice-chairman of the Meat Board). ' Mr Poison touched npon the High cost of production and the necessity for '• reduction in taxation, the exploration 1 ':o|;'i•Sjr^tiwk•t■ l . tariff'reform, and lav boar problems. Ho advocated a square deal for the farmer, and said - that if town and country people pulled together they would be!able to get legislation patieS which" would right the present wrongs. Sir Andrew Russell said that the standard of life was what they could dig out of the soil—that and nothing else. The fanners did not want to pay lower wages, but wanted a better reward for what they paid, and a bigger outsat., He touched on the necessity for cheap money, better knowledge of farming, hud work, and thrift. Mr Jessep commented npon the present unemployment, Which, be said, was • crying shame, and attributed the " blame hugely to the Arbitration Court, which had outlived iti usefulness, and had Become merely a wage-flxing Court without regard to whether the Industry could stand increases or not. Resolutions were carried similar to . those carried at the Wanganui rally in December, referring to the security of labour, economy in public expenditure, a redudton .of taxation, and a rural ananee market.