“BETTER TIMES FOR FARMERS”

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 71, 17 December 1935, Page 10

“BETTER TIMES FOR FARMERS”

Minister’s Policy ELIMINATING HAZARDS AND UNCERTAINTY Guaranteed Prices “I am confident that farmers can look forward to better times both for themselves ami their employees,” said the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. W. L. Martin, yesterday, in reply to a question about the outlook for the agricultural industries. “The Labour Government will apply itself to raising the standard of farm life, to eliminate as far as possible its hazards and uncertainty, and to make it what it should be—the most attractive life of all.” The Minister expressed the hope that the coming holidays would, for the men on the land, be made brighter by the definite prospect of better times ahead in the New Year, and the certainty that a genuine effort would be made by the Labour Government to see that the farmer would receive an adequate reward for his labour. Guaranteed prices for farm products, which had been one of the strongest points made by Labour candidates :it the elections, was, he said, not a vague generality, but a real attempt to ensure that help would be given when needed and in proportion to the need. The method of putting this policy into force would be One of the first matters to be tackled by Cabinet when Ministers reassembled in Wellington early in January. Mr. Martin said that he had received from all parts of the Dominion offers of hearty co-operation in connection with the work of the Department of Agriculture. “I shall not fail to take advantage of these offers, many of which come from men who have a highly-specialised knowledge of the different aspects of the work in which they are interested,” he said. Like other Ministers, Mr. Martin emphasised his policy of securing the closest feeling of fellowship with the departmental officers upon whom would fall the task of carrying out the Government's programme. He had, he said, the fullest assurance that everyone connected with the Department of Agriculture would unite in assisting the Government to implement its programme.