Farmers and Currency

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 278, 19 August 1932, Page 13

Farmers and Currency

Sir,—Before your correspondent, "Taxpayer,” presumes to tax the farmer with improvidence he should look round ths city where he lives. “Taxpaver” is obviously ignorant of farm life and conditions. His reference to the hoarded wealth of control boards and farmers’ organisations is amusing in its innocence. Before he charges rural folk with extravagance he should balance it against that, of the urban population—both in municipal, commercial and private expenditure. Organised labour, although having doubled its wages since the inception of the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, has saved little or nothing through the years. The trades unionist who twenty years ago was content with a cottage that cost £3OO or £4OO must today have a bungalow at £lOOO or more. This bungalow need not have cost the £lOOO but for the high wages paid to the building and allied trades. Salaried and professional men have had their emoluments raised proportionately, and they, too, must live up to the new scale. During this period many rural occupations, in particular poultry-fanners, fruitgrowers and market gardeners, have had no better prices all through these fat years, and have been called on to pay more for all the services city folk have rendered them. It may be as well to remind “Taxpayer” that the average farmer’s savings bank is his. farm. And though he has deposited his profits in such security as fencing wire, lime, fertilisers, timber and farm buildings, labour for breaking in fresh land, etc., he is drawing no interest to-day on such improvements. But when improved prices come he will reap the reward which he has earned and deserved. And “Taxpayer” probably will feel more aggrieved than before.—l am, etc., FRUITGROWER, Nelson, August 15.