FARMERS FEAR FOR FUTURE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 13

FARMERS FEAR FOR FUTURE

Increasing Taxation And Costs MASS MEETING HELD IN GISBORNE - i By Telegraph—Press Association, GISBORNE, June 30. Fully 300 farmers attended a mass meeting, convened by the Poverty Bay A. and P. Association, in conjunction with the Fanners’ Union and the Sheepowners’ Federation in Gisborne today. The following resolutions were adopted unanimously:— “Farmers at this mass meeting view with alarm the approaching loss of their equity, in many cases built up over a number of years. We are deeply apprehensive about increasing taxation and rising costs generally. We express alarm at the drift of fanners’ sous to .employment in public works, which now may be more attractive than work, We request the Government to recognize the fact that standard reward of some sections of the community is in excess of that 1 which our production can provide. Believing that the general standard of living is dependent on .the welfare of primary producers, we ask the Government to explore every avenue through which the continuing rise in farming costs can be immediately checked and ultimately reduced. We- request that the Poverty Bay farmer should be allowed opportunity of giving evidence before the Royal Commission, with a view to bringing before the notice of the commission means whereby those reductions in costs can 'be brought about.” “We strongly urge the amalgamation of all producer’ organizations, and we consider the first step should be the amalgamation of the Farmers’ Union and the Sheepowners’ Union, and therefore we ask local executives to take immediate steps to place this request for amalgamation before the respective head offices.”