FARMERS WELL PLEASED

Evening Star, Issue 20779, 29 April 1931, Page 14

FARMERS WELL PLEASED

GOVERNMENTS POLICY FINDS FAVOUR UNION PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO COUNCIL “ The only thing we have not got in its entirety is i the amending of the Arbitration Act along tUe lines of optional arbitration and compulsory conciliation. \Vo hope to get this yet. Meantime we must bo content with the promise that all arbitration Acts will be reviewed at an early date.” This is one of the statements made by Mr J. D. Revie at yesterday’s meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mr Re vie (the president) was at the time addressing members on tho result of negotiations between farming bodies and the Government, and the note which ho struck all through was of a decidedly optimistic nature. Mr Revio stated that at the last meeting of the executive it was his pleasant duty to congratulate the Government on the endeavours they were making to put the finances of the country on a sound foundation. The secretary was instructed to write to the Prime Minister conveying their congratulations, and they had received a nice letter from him in reply, it was pleasing to note that the Govcrnrner: had, with the assistance of the Reform Party, continued tho good work and had put through legislation which would be a great assistance to the farming community at this critical juncture. ft was particularly gratifying to the farmers of this province that the Government was able to carry through its economy proposals as regards Civil servants’ salaries and retrenchment. The immediate effect of this would be to cut down Government expenditure. Tho decision to place the railways under a non-political board of directors was welcomed, as the Farmers’ Union had been asking for this for years, and he was convinced that the result would be an enormous not saving to tiie department. It was a moot question whether the Government was making a wise move or otherwise in forcing Civil servants to retire after 35 years’ service. Borne of the men going out were 47 to 50 years of age—at the peak of their efficiency—and it had to be remembered that their superannuation would be a charge on the Consolidated Ifunu.-. of the country. “ 1 will ask the secretary to make a report regarding the earthquake legislation, and will coniine myself to saying how satisfactory it is to learn only yesterday that the Bill was dropped and. will be brought up next session in an amended form.” went on ihe chairman. “ The Government had made available tho sum of £150,000 through the Rural Intermediate Credit Board to assist farmers in the purchase of fertilisers. As the legislation stands at present. the dairy tanners will be able to avail themselves of the assistance to a greater extent than any other type of iarmer, and, while we are heartily in accord with this, we feel that it will oe necessary to evolve ways and means whereby the agricultural and sheep iarmer can take the benefit of the Government’s assistance to the same extent as the dairy man. ‘‘ Other legislation which affects us is tho Finance Bill, introduced by the Government to protect farmers from undue hardship in the event of their mortgages falling due. They have now the right to appeal to a judge, who has the power, should he consider it advisable, to declare a moratorium in connection with any particular mortgage.

“The Bill has been modelled on a remit put forward by this executive at the meeting two months ago, and i think we may justly claim a certain amount of credit for haying brought the necessary weight to bear to have the Bill put on the Statute Book. In fact, if you vijill carry your maids back to the combined meeting held with other bodies in the University Club rooms you will find that we have got very nearly all wo asked for at that meeting. We have got generous provisions made under the Unemployment Act for the employment of the unemployed on farms, reduction in the standard rale of wages for relief works, depoliticalisation of the railway, check on wasteful expenditure, and a 10 per cent, cut in Civil servants’ salaries.”

Mr lleid thought they should stress the desirability of discontinuing the main trunk railway scheme. Mr Christie remarked that a number of small farmers would not have the money to enable them to appeal to a judge if they deemed it advisable to do so. The union was doing its very best to stand behind the farmer, said the President. It had always striven in this direction.

Mr Craig said he understood that an appeal could be made to the judge in chambers.

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the president for his address.