POSITION OF FARMERS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22663, 18 March 1939, Page 18

POSITION OF FARMERS

* V ■ “ Serious Plight Of Industry ” MASS DEMONSTRATION TO BE HELD (From Our Own Reporter.) TIMARU, March 17. To bring forward “the serious plight of the farming industry,” with the object of enlisting the sympathy of theGovernment and other sections of the community, the South Canterbury executive of the New Zealand Farmers Union decided to-day to call a mass demonstration of farmers in April next. A committee, comprising the presidents of the various branches of the union was empowered to approach agricultural and pastoral associations and Crown tenants’ associations in the district to ascertain their attitude to the proposal, and to maKe the necessary arrangements for a demonstration in the Theatre Royal, Timaru. The Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) will be invited to attend, and speakers will probably include the Dominion president of the union (Mr W. W. Mulholland). A letter was received from Mr Mulholland saying that the branch could go ahead with the mass meeting so far as he was concerned. He thought it right to give the Government an opportunity to take action. In response to a request made by a combined deputation with the Sheep Farmers Union on January 18, although six weeks had elapsed, nothing had been done. Apparently the good intentions of the Prime Minister were being frustrated by other influences, and the writer could not take the responsibility of asking the branch to keep quiet any longer. . . Mr H. L. Adam said he was not m favour of such a meeting. He thought the subject could be dealt with in a much better way. Statements could be prepared of farmers’ Incomes, which could be submitted to the Government. He did not think dairy farmers would support the union. "My opinion, is that it is no good having mass meetings unless we know definitely and unitedly what we want,” said Mr J. Dempsey. “I think what is in Mr Dempsey s mind is not to bring pressure on the Government, but to educate other sections of the community,” said Mr J. A. Davey. Mr W. Buchan said the farming community could not sit still while farmers were in such a plight. Increase of Costs Costs were piling up, said Mr B. Trumper, who added that during the slump he had been able to employ labour, but to-day, because of everincreasing costs, he could not do' so. It was a mistake to let the country slide into the position it was now in. Mr L. V. Talbot said there was a feeling of hopelessness throughout the farming districts. The chairman said if people in towns could be made to realise the position farmers were in more support would be forthcoming. Mr J. Dobson said the Government had caused costs to go up. Farmers were being killed by the Government. Every section of the community was getting something at the expense of the farmers. “There has been a lot of talk about what we want,” said Mr J. C. Hay. “What we want is the same treatment as other sections of the community. The Government deliberately created this position, and it is their problem to solve it.” It was agreed that the demonstration should be held as outlined. A motion was carried approving of the setting up of a royal commission to inquire into the financial problems of the sheep-farming industry, members expressing the view that rising costs were the principal factor contributing towards the problem, which it was held could not be solved by reducing land values to the production value of property.