Problems of the Farmer

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 69, 14 December 1933, Page 11

Problems of the Farmer

Si r ,—Under the above heading “Hillman” endeavours to show why the Government should come to his rescue in a still more effective manner than it has done to date. While freely admittingthe farmer’s plight, I would point out that the Government has no money to pay the farmer’s debts and freehold of his land for him, nor is it desirable that it should When men working in an industry get into deep water financially, are unable to meet the interest, pay for the upkeep ot their plant, i>ay for labour or the transport of their products, as a business man, I cannot see why they .should 'not meet their creditors in a straightforward way like city men and the unemployed have to do. . . , .. , While it is a well-known tact that farming lias never paid, the farmer will not admit that fact to himself, but goes crying to the Government year in and year out for assistance. “Hillman cannot refute the statement that the price of land, which is non-productive capital, is the fly in the ointment, nor can he refute the statement that were the price ot land reduced to an equal ratio with the price of his produce and his arrears ot mortgage interest written off, that ins land would pay to farm and no assistance would be needed from the other taxpayers. , , ... Land which returns only a bare living while paying no rates, rent or taxes, obviously has no rental value, and has no unimproved vulue, rind is unable to pay such outgoings. But what is the matter is that this land has been loaded with fixed charges in the shape of mortgages which are not worth the paper they are written on. But that is not n matter tor governmental interference, but a matter between the buyer and the seller, the lender and the borrower.—l am, etc., ALSO A BARMER. , Wellington, December 7.