Support group plans help for farmers

Press, 21 January 1987, Page 3

Support group plans help for farmers

The leader of the newly-formed Provincial Support Group, Mr Collis Blake, of Levin, says he is thrilled with the tremendous support the group has already received from the farming community. The group was formed this week in response to the deteriorating financial plight of people in provincial areas, said Mr Blake. Eighteen farming representatives from throughout New Zealand attended the inaugural meeting at Shannon. Mr Blake said the group was

independent of Federated Farmers and fully supported the federation, but the provincial sector had

run out of steam because of the effects of the Government’s policies, broken promises, and now the , drought One of the group’s first aims was to prevent any more mortgagee sales caused by the rural downturn. Mr Blake said he would explain to the financial sector and the Government the seriousness of farm debt this year and help formulate a plan to keep farmers in business. The group would take other action, if necessary, to prevent mortgagee sales, he said.

“Mortgagee sales are simply not acceptable to the community I live in,” he said. “Everybody loses

in a forced sale.” A spokesperson for Federated Farmers said the federation was happy to work with any group for the benefit of the rural community and would welcome new ideas. The federation had helped prevent many mortgagee sales by getting the various parties together and encouraging debt restructuring.