CANDID FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 53, 26 November 1930, Page 10

CANDID FARMERS

Losses on Railways SHARING THE BLAME Country “Petrol-Mad” *W e farmers are to blame to a large extent for the position of the railways,’ was the candid admission of Mr. D. B. Higgins, a Matamata farmer, who was a member of the deputation which waited upon the Government yesterday, at which four Cabinet Ministers were present. There was a general feeling, said Mr. Higgins, that it was possible for the farmer to have, made the railways pay, but they had taken the traffic from the railways. Mr. Sterling had met them to discuss the matter, and they were going to ask all farmers in their district to put their freight on the rails. If they showed a little consideration and supported the railways, they would soon put some of the American lorries off the roads, and would enable the railways to work at fuller capacity. This move could be encouraged by the derating of lands, so that people using the roads should pay the full cost. The Government should cut out the unpayable lines and stand by the main lines, but there must be derating of lands whereby the motorists would have to pay. Farmers were prepared to pay 5/- a gallon'for the amount of petrol they used. This country had gone petrol mad, and those who used it should pay for it. The Hon. R. Masters pointed out that the Prime Minister, in preparing his Budget, was faced with a deficit of £3,000,000, due to the fall in Customs duties, income tax, and the loss on the railways of £1,230,000. There were pensions and other fixed charges amounting to about £400,Q00. The financial outlook was not particularly bright at the- moment; if anything it was worse. Probably the Customs revenue this year would decline more' than the £300,000 first anticipated. It was essential that they should balance the Budget, or they would land in the Very unhappy position in which Australia was to-day. The Government had made sincere attempts at economy, more than the public realised. The -Government had tried to keep taxation off the farmer, and to place it on the luxuries of the people. The Minister reminded Mr. Higgins that when the 3d. tax on petrol was proposed, it was opposed by the motorists and a large proportion of farmers, yet it was a definite attempt to start out on a system of derating the land. Mr. P. Hawkins: You made no promise that the rates would be reduced., The Minister replied that a reduction in rates was expected to follow. That was clearly the intention. Mr. Hawkins: It didn’t convince people.In conclusion, the deputation hoped it would be possible to make concessions on certain freights on the railways, for unless the Government kept them going with fertilisers, the farms would go back.