CAUSE FOR ALARM

Franklin Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 49, 9 May 1945, Page 3

CAUSE FOR ALARM

DECLINE OF FARMERS’ FREEDOM STATE ASSUMING GONTBUL WAYS TO M ESI ST IT DISCUSSED PRODUCERS MUST ORGANISE The gradual decline nf Ihe farmers' freedom over Ihe lasi six or eight years, was traced by Mr G. 11. .1. Wily, of Puni, when addressing (lie Bombay branch of Ihe Dairy Producers’ Ass-j----oialion last Saturday night. Mr Wily said Hint Ihe guaranteed price, while il had given Hie dairy farmer a measure of security (which, as it turned out had proved so far unnecessary). also enabled the Governmenl to commandeer Ihe dairy produce. and, which wrts far more serious. to lake oul of producers’ hands ihe right Jo negotiate will) llieir overseas markcls. The war had provided a further excuse to commandeer practically all primary produce. Stabilisation forged another link in Ihe chain. The farmer had been uelibcra lely slabiliscd some years “behind scratch,” and a considerable anionnl of his money had been wiliihold and placed in pools for his bow(il Filer on. This was sound policy provided this money, which would amount to many millions at the end of tin' four-year period, could be safeguarded for him. Promises were not to be relied on, legislation could lie repealed overnight, and the only

way. in Ihe opinion of tlie speaker, to safeguard this money was to “make ourselves so strong that no Governrnenl. this or any oilier, dare lay a

linger on ii." “An atlempl, was I lion made.” Mr Wily proceeded, “by juggling with lump sums, in divert money. that would normally have come In Ihe producer, into other, channels. Our leaders had. he considered, been outwitted here, hut no blame was attachable to them. They could not foresee what was in the mind of the Government when they signed Ihe famous stabilisation letter.

Abolition of the Country Quota? "As a further step in the process of subjugating the farmer, the abolition of ihe country quota was now proposed. Nobody could say exactly how this would work out. hut it was obviously an attempt to render the farmers' vote no longer to be feared."

The speaker also dealt with future

aspects of stabilisation, the Dominion’s overseas markets in relation to ihe Government policy of expanding secondary industries, and Hie procedure that was being adopted in organising federated farmers in the provinces. The speaker emphasised the urgent

need of getting the Federation in working order as soon as possible. Those engaged in primary industry represented nearly a third of the working population of the Dominion, and they should have a far greater in-

uenee on the trend of events than icy had exercised so far. On Ire ontrary I hey had, during Hie past six

or eight years, been steadily losing ground al an alarming rate. “There is a large body of outside opinion thinking along the same general lines as the farmers, and we must

be organised and in a stale to play our part along with them, as they are in a position to organise, and have already openly started to do so. Prompt action by everone concerned should enable us to largely retrieve the position. If we delay il might lie a question of how much, if anylliing we can save from the wreck." Mr Witv concluded.

A vote of thanks was accorded the aeaker.