CHANCE FOR HEARING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 111, 13 May 1939, Page 15

CHANCE FOR HEARING

FARMERS' VOICE

A ROYAL COMMISSION

WELCOMED BY MR. HAMILTON

(By Telegraph—Press Association.?

INVERCARGILL, May 12,

"I may take the opportunity to give some evidence before this Royal Commission myself, because there are some features of the farmers' case, which, I think, have never been properly stated," said the Leader of the Oppotion (Mr. Hamilton) today, commenting on the decision of the Prime Minister to appoint a Royal Commission to investigate the position of sheep farmers.

"The head of the New Zealand Farmers' Union (Mr. W. W. Mulholland) is at present going round New Zealand talking about farmers'1' difficulties," said Mr. Hamilton, "and the Prime Minister has taken him to task, saying that the complaints are more political than economic. "I don't think that is so, because I know something of the difficulties Of the farmers. I know of no other country in the world where it is so.difficult to maintain the average. standard of living of the primary producers as in New Zealand. No other country is so dependent on • the price obtained for primary products, because of the very high percentage of such products among our exports." Prices could be raised artificially for wheat farmers, because the whole or practically all of the production of wheat could be used within the country, but for primary products which were so largely exported for sale in open competition on the world market, it was very difficult to defend the farmers' standard of living against shocks caused by reductions in prices overseas.

The president of the Farmers' Union had said that costs must be kept do,wn so that export prices were on a-reason-able basis with internal costs. It was, however, difficult to keep costs to farmers on a basis comparative with their income.

"I do not know any other remedy than for farmers to make their voice heard on this qu.es.tion. If they made their weight felt they could still attain their objective," Mr. Hamilton said.

Farmers were independent, and it was difficult to get them to speak with one voice, but, if they were to secure a remedy to their present position they must be prepared to stand together.

, "I notice that the Prime Minister is going to set up a Royal Commission to study farmers' problems," he continued. '

"This is an important decision from the Prime Minister's point of view, and farmers want to take full notice of it and present their case without a flaw. Here is an opportunity for establishing a basis which should be authoritative for all time, and it is up to those presenting the case to justify their claim."