RURAL FINANCES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 91, 14 October 1935, Page 14

RURAL FINANCES

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln Thursday's issue you devote a whole column to the views of farmers in connection with remits on finance and ,the Rural Mortgagors Final Adjustment Act. Many farmers claim that we need monetary reform —whereas what is actually needed is farming reform. The Hawke's Bay remit, that a small board of three farmers be selected to help the Commission, is really a fine idea—from a farmer's aspect.. What is ailing farmers and where will their appeals and demands on society land us?

Today we find butter making 123s and cheese 63s per cwt, a 361b lamb is worth 245, potatoes are at the enormous price of £20 per ton, onions, wheat, oats, chaff, and hay are fetching profitable prices. Regardless of that, the farmers ask in the remit "That money required shall be obtained (retained?) from the mortgagee," and "that money be subscribed by the Unemployment Fund." May I ask if the unemployment funds are for farmers or the unfortunate unemployed? When will the taxpayers protest against this endless pampering of farmers?

I venture the opinion that many farmers are trading on the lenience of the Commissioner of Lands. Mr. L. Hammond (a farmer) admits that under present legislation the tendency is for farmers to hang back in the breeching—rather a serious indictment. Following private discussions between the Farmers' Union and the Government are we to expect a further burden of lopsided concessions to farmers? The continued grant of concessions to farmers is reaching a very dangerous limit. Only last week we had a deputation to Parliament of men who had attempted to assist farmers through the Rural Credits (the farmers' apathy had betrayed them). Other examples of the disheartening behaviour of farmers are the difficulties of farmers, freezing works, co-operative societies, etc. Instead of further concessions there should be searching inquiries.— I am, etc.; , OBSERVER.