FARMERS' CONCERN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 100, 30 April 1945, Page 4

FARMERS' CONCERN

BANK PURCHASE PLAN

O.C. WANGANUI, April 28. The Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union, which "met last week, t received a remit from the Makirikiri branch expressing grave concern at the intention of the Government to take over the privatelyowned shares in the Bank of New Zealand and describing this intended acaon as a major move along the road to complete socialisation, a direct threat, not only to the farmer's control over his own produce, but also to his right to the freehold of his own land.

. Criticism of the inaction of the Farmers' Union in regard to this matter was voiced by Mr. Mpntgomerie, who moved the remit. "Are the platforms of the Farmers' Union something that we formulate for the sake of appearance only?" he asked. 'Something that we can turn our backs on the moment the Government of this country levels a dire threat at them, or are we going to fight, and fight with the greatest resolution? The fact that the Government has had the audacity to aim at such ' a major socialistic move clearly shows its contempt for the advocacy of.the forces of those who would oppose this measure," said Mr. Montgomerie. "The apathy and indifference of the born and bred New Zealander have permitted these legislators to hoodwink the electorate as to the causes of our economic ills, and this apathy arid indifference embolden them to think that they can-get away with this socialistic measure, as they have been permitted to get away with a considerable amount of socialistic legislation in the past. "Symptomatic of the means by which much of the Government's legislation has been inadequately opposed is the fear of the business community, fear of being black-listed by the New Zealand Labour Party. That, fear prevents business people from coming out into the open and opposing such a measure as this." The remit was passed and will be sent to the Dominion-executive of the union. A suggestion that the Farmers' Union should consider asking all farmers to refuse to fill in census forms when a census is taken later in the year was made in another remit from the Makirikiri branch. "It is stated that' the Government intends rearranging the present electoral boundaries on the basis of the census to be taken this year," the remit stated. "In view of this intended, and grossly unfair, use by thfe Government of the wholly artificial war concentration of population in our cities the direct result of man-power and other war causes, the Farmers' Union should give consideration to a refusal by all farmers to fill in the census forms. The president (Mr. T. Currie): That sounds like direct action. ■Mr. Montgomerie (for the Makirikiri branch): That is the only language this Government - understands. We may as well make a welter 0 x\l Jr c can s Pike their guns, so much the better.

The remit will go to the interproymcial conference at Palmerston North next month, at which Farmers* Unions from the whole of the Wellington Province will be represented.