THROUGH FARMERS' EYES

Evening Star, Issue 20591, 17 September 1930, Page 2

THROUGH FARMERS ' EYES

DOMINION’S FINANCIAL POSITION REDUCTION OF COSTS URCED CRITICISM LEVELLED AT TARTY GOVERNMENT. “ The time has come when farmers must take off their coats and hit hard in this matter,’’ stated Mr J. D. Revie, when, as president of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, he introduced the subject of dominion finance at yesterday’s meeting of the council. Mr Revio added that it had been said that the income from the primary products was gradually diminishing. Prospects were certainly hot bright. Parliament had been sitting for a considerable time, but no resolute attempt had been made to bring about a solution of tbo difficulties winch confronted New Zealand and its people. Australia had practically had the bailiff in. She had had a financial adviser to assist her, telling the authorities what to dp. The present was a golden opportunity for the people of the dominion to wake up to their responsibility, realise tlie position, and try to put their house in order. This would be easier done today than in a year’s time. He had a feeling that in two or three years this country might not be far from the present position of Australia. Certainly if the primary products did not recover the farming community would bo in a bad way. Statements had been made by bankers and moneyed people that New Zealand was financially sound. He believed it was financially sound, but the farmers and others who required a good deal of money at the present time to tide them over a difficult time were not able to get it. There was really only one hope at the present time in view of the cost of proauction, and that was to get increased prices foF the primary products. It seemed to him the possibilities in that direction were remote. The butter people were likely to get a bad spin, the meat people would bo worse off than last year, and farmers would not be much better than they were in the past. All the time they were faced with increased costs. It therefore behoved the farmers to tackle tlie position and take action. If the farmers were an organised and united body from the North Cape to-the Bluff they could bring about reduced costs. There was the Arbitration Court. If the court did not give some relief the farmers would be in a bad way. The cost of freezing meat was out of all reason. It meant that the freezing companies were in an unsatisfactory position, and so were the people who were supplying the companies. Tf the farmers only put their shoulder to the wheel and said “ Costs must be redimed,” they would get their way. They had been dilly-dallying with the matter too long. “ Can Now Zealand raise any more revenue from taxation? No, it cannot,” said the chairman, who added: “ Wo cannot increase our exports very much. There is only one tiling to save us, and that is reduced public expenditure. And how is that to be brought about? The section of the public to bring it about are the farmers of the country, acting unanimously through their organisation.”

“ GLIB-TONGUED BLOCKHEADS.” Mr J. Christie said he was not quite so pessimistic as the president, but he had come to the/conclusion that the most important contributing factor to the current depression was dishonesty in high places. The country was submitted to log-pulling at every turn, and the unfortunate taxpayer was for ever stumbling over brass hats and officials, and all the time the farmer was being loaded with additional burdens and being deceived by glib-tongued blockheads who had nothing to lose. He cited. Arapuni as a typical instance of Government neglect of good advice. There were a great many errors and blunders and misdeeds that went unnoticed in the country in the good times, but as soon as the bad years came along those things came to the surface. There were a lot of avenues of farming that were profitable yet, but he was inclined to agree with the president that costs of production had to be greatly reduced. But apart from costs there was a greater need for more honesty of purpose and integrity in high places. Mr E. H. Murney said it was time that New Zealand gave a lead to the world and threw out party Ho was convinced that it was one of the chief causes of the current position in Australia and Now Zealand. No matter what Government was in power, it was helpless to effect the necessary public economies. It was high time party government was swept away. The farmer would continue slogging away to little effect until that was effected. EFFORT TO REDUCE COSTS. The Chairman; We might suggest to the Dominion Executive that the time is opportune—in fact, past—-when .a determined effort should be made to reduce costs in this country. Mr Preston said that it was a question that could be settled, as far as the farmers were concerned, by.the farmers themselves. If the uinoii could devise means whereby they could bring down the cost of production by a standardisation of demands the result would be beneficial. Mr Christie said that the co-opera-tive system of public works was a perfect scandal. If a map went to a job and earned too much his price per yard was reduced. Every man who went to those works went “ slow,” and so got his price per yard increased. Ho could manage to live, but he was doing only a third of the work that he ought to do. In this way an honest man was made a thief. A man had told him ho could make £1 in four hours if the authorities would allow him. The Chairman, touching on railway matters, said the Government admitted that on the railways under construction at present there would bo an annual loss of £700,000 a year. Was.expenditure of that sort to bo allowed to be carried onP ” HEALTHY LITTLE MUTINY.” Mr D. M’Grogor Hold said that Governments and parties would not do anything until they were forced to make a move. The farming industry had been getting gradually more precarious year by year. In his opinion it had pot paid adequate returns since before the war. Figures taken out six years ago in Dunedin had proved that sheep farmers were not earning 5 per cent, on their capital outlay. Few fanners kept books, and for that reason too many men on the land did not realise fully the gravity of the current position, in the town people considered a business was no business at all unless it was earning anything between ID and 20 per cent. _ What did they think of farming which could not make n return of 5 per cent.? There could bo no doubt about the present system of Government being wrong. The more ho saw of parties and and politics tho more disgusted he became. Such things ns tho South Island Main Trunk Railway should _ not be allowed to run away with public money. That project was a public scandal, and there were others like it. The country

would have to let up at some time. There would undoubtedly be a “ showdown ” sooner or later, and for himself, at the risk of being styled an alarmist, ho would say that he could see a healthy little mutiny coming in this country. When that time came they would begin to think again about the scrapping of the defence system by the United Party at the dictation of the Labour Party. They might need some defence force to restore order. Passing resolutions and sending them to the Dominion Executive could not bo expected to do any good. They had to get down to the fundamentals of their position and search for practical and effective measures for overcoming their difficulties. VILLAGE SETTLEMENT. The Chairman said he was satisfied the majority of the people did not realise the position into which the country -was drifting. The farmer was the only individual who could save the position. Were they going to sit back until the money-lender in England said he would not lend i>ew Zealand any more money? A Member: It would be a good thing for New Zealand. (Laughter.) Mr Christie considered that the Government should be urged to bring tbo village homestead system of land settlement into operation. There were hundreds of the unemployed who would take up land under that settlement, and the thousands of acres of that class of land all over New Zealand would carry an enormous population. Mr Reid said the union must have the co-operation of other bodies in any resolution it passed, then they would get somewhere, but otherwise they would not. _ Tlie Chairman _ agreed that it would be well to get into touch with other bodies in order to secure their support in any resolution passed by the union. CAMPAIGN OUTLINED. The following motion, proposed by tbo chairman and seconded by Mr Preston. was carried unanimously:—” This executive strongly supports the dominion president in the attitude taken up by _ him recently in _ pointing out the serious financial position of this country and in pointing out the way in which wo are heading with the increasing Government expenditure and increasing local body indebtedness. In the opinion of this executive . the time has come when every section of the community should face facts and institute drastic economies.” It was decided to communicate with other bodies in Dunedin and elsewhere, and the chairman, Mr Reid, Mr Preston, and the secretary were appointed a sub-committee to carry the matter further. Branches will also be asked to take up the question.