Southern protest march

Press, 18 August 1988, Page 6

Southern protest march

PA Gore The Government and lending institutions were attacked by all three guest speakers at yesterday’s protest march in Invercargill. Some 2500 people who gathered at Wachner Place after the march round the inner city stood patiently huddled under umbrellas, their enthusiasm not dampened by torrential rain.

The Mayor of Invercargill, Mrs Eve Poole, said:

"The weather is as heartless as the Government and bankers.” She told those gathered there would be no recovery with interest rates at the present level. “The city is right behind your (the farmers’) demands to bring interest rates down to a level that is honest, fair and sustainable.”

Yesterday’s march was organised by Federated Farmers (Southland) and was the result of weeks of

discontent among farmers in the province at high interest rates.

The City of Invercargill Pipe Band led protesters off on their 20-minute march round the inner city, returning to Wachner Place, where they were addressed by the Mayor; the national president of Federated Farmers, Mr Brian Chamberlin; and Mr Lou Harrison-Smith, representing the Southland Association of Small Businesses and the Chambers.