FARMER'S TROUBLES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 3, 4 July 1939, Page 7

FARMER'S TROUBLES

BURDEN OF CHARGES

MR. HARBUTT'S REMEDY

"PASSIVE RESISTANCE"

(By Telegraph—Press Association.), , HAMILTON, This Day. : "The numerous and in some cases excessive demands of taxation taken from the primary producer, from this value of his raw product from th» time.it leaves the farm until its retura in the shape of manufactured' goods, and the small amount left to distribut*t to him, coupled with high added costs, is the real cause of the farmer's troubles. . His necessity to protect himself from these unequal and adde<| charges- was the reason for,my suggesting that 'passive resistance,[ to taxation demands was the only remedy left for the farmer to employ." stated Mr. W. Harbutt, chairman of the Cambridge Dairy, Company, in an interview, upon his return from the National Dairy Federation Conference in Wellington. ■ Mr. Harbutt said,that it may hay» been inferred from Press.reports from Wellington regarding his statement on the subject of passive resistance that the guaranteed price, or the price that would be paid to the farmer fOr thie coming season, was the, main point off his remarks. He wished to correct that impression, and said that had he been reported more fully it would plainly be recognised that added costs and increased taxation were his greatest fears for the future; of the farmer. "That; coupled - with the guaranteed price and the primary producer's capacity to; pay the extra-burdens, is a qutstion of serious moment which is novT giving responsible people in the. Dominion the grayest anxiety," added Mr. : Harbutt. ' : *.., In making the statement; that . th*» farmer, to protect himself from the un» '. equal and added charges, should" adopt an attitude of passive resistance to taxation, Mr. Harbutt was guided, h« said, by experience ' and public opin-. ion. , At another conference he attended recently the, discussion on . remits bearing on what; he had stated were practically unanimously in' favour of direct action to remedy in some, way the primary producers' present position and their fears for the future. "Whatever suggestion I have made,* added Mr. Harbutt, "may be taken ia conjunction with the statement made by the Minister of Marketing to the ' Federation of. Labour last Easter and repeated to the Dairy Board Conference. , The Minister said on those bccasions: "In my political fight for Labour I have always asked for.more, and I have now to ask them not to ask for more." '■ ..