FARMERS' PLIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 101, 26 October 1932, Page 10

FARMERS' PLIGHT

"OUTLOOK SERIOUS"

FACING BANKRUPTCY

"The primary producers are largely up against bankruptcy at this moment, " declared Mr. W. J. Poison, M.P., Dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, at to-day's meeting of. the executive, when recommending the setting up of a permanent committee to deal with questions of national importance. . It had been said that many sheepfarmers were merely custodians for the mortgagees, and the position was not improving, Mr. Poison went on. There were indications of a fall in the dairy produce market. They knew that the rise in the price of wool was trifling, and might not be sustained. The price of fat lambs had dropped tremendously, -and ewe and wether mutton was down. The outlook for the coming season was most serious, and the position was becoming such that the farmers could not be blamed for demanding that further consideration should be given to them. Other sections of the community were also in difficulties, and such questions as banking and currency, and the relief of unemployment, were of enormous importance. The union should have some definite plan of action. I am satisfied there are constructive plans for dealing with unemployment which could be put into operation in this country," said Mr. Poison, adding that he would move at-a later stage that a permanent committee be set up.