FARMERS AND SELF-HELP

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 8, 10 January 1934, Page 6

FARMERS AND SELF-HELP

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —You will have noticed the deplorw able condition of the London butter mar« ket for New Zealaud produce, also th« appeal of certain Canterbury farmers ftn* Government aid in meeting losses on theii 1 crops by bad weather. The farmer in his troubles generally turns to the Govern* ment for help—and not in vain. 'Other business men carry their own losses and arc far less clamant about them. Bub inasmuch as the exchange rate .was deliberately raised to help the farming com* munity—and just now it is giving th* wool grower such handsome returns oyee and above market values—my suggestion is that the Government should make tha wool farmer contribute to the necessi-> tics of dairy 'farmers and the Canterbury] farmers Buffering losses through bad weather. This might be done by the levy, oE a small sales tax on wool, say, Kd pep lb, and the proceeds go to help the needy; farmers. In that way the well-to-do farmer could and should help those ofi His, class ■who. need: help instead of'dipping into the now contracting public purse. The Government's "brain trust" could work out the details and the levy could, be made retrospective.—l am, «te., ' SELF-HELP. (To the.Editor.) Sir, —While we all must sympathise with the unfortunate farmers in Canterbury, whose crops have been ruined by hailstorms, is it not time to register an emphatic protest against this continual appeal to our paternal Government for help? Why should the Governmentotherwise the taxpayers—be csHed on to pay losses incurred by wheat growers any more than it should/pay me for losses of money invested, or for loss by fire of.pr stock-in-trade? 'And" is not the wheat grower who fails to insure his crops against loss just as much to blame as I would be if I failed to insure my stock-in-trade? When Roorl crops and good Reasons come along. I don't notice most farmers rushing tlie Government with voluntary contributions.—T am, etc., FRO Vl'. " Lower Hut I, January 8.