Small Farmers Dissatisfied With Labour

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 264, 4 August 1937, Page 11

Small Farmers Dissatisfied With Labour

Sir, —In to-day’s issue of “The Dominion” there is a statement by the Hon. P. Fraser that he does not recognise the utterances of speakers at the Farmers’ Union conference as the opinion of the dairy-farmers of the Dominion. He also says that the guaranteed price is supported by the great majority of farmers. I would like to inform Mr. Fraser that there a,re more dairy-farmers than sheepfarmers in the union, many sheep T farmers belonging to the Sheepowners’ Federation instead. Also, that our delegates are elected to voice the opinion of the branches, which they do. The Minister who is going to put the bankers in dungarees and the many others noted for their fondness for deriding the men who carried the burden of government through the depression, are due for a terrible shock if they think we small dairyfarmers are going to support them at the next election, for which most of us are impatiently waiting. We are tired of our wives and kiddies having to do men’s work on our farms while tired individuals get good money on relief, and waterside workers get £2/10/- per week even if they don’t work. Regarding the first part of Mr. Fraser's tirade, I merely state that it is on a par with the behaviour of those who cheer when pleased and hoot when things are not to their liking. If more farmers would give their opinion through the columns of “The Dominion” it might help to awaken Mr. Fraser to the fact that the dairy-farmer is not pleased with the guaranteed price., or with his party’s broken pledges to reduce taxation and keep down costs. —I am, etc., SMALL FARMER. Pahiatua, August 2.