HOMELAND FARMER

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1923, Page 5

HOMELAND FARMER

HEAVY LOSSES ALLEGED. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, September 20. At a meeting of the National Farmers’ Union, the President said that arable farming had reached a most critical stage. The results disclosed a heavy loss on cultivation and farmers were faced with a loss beyond their ability to repair in 1924. He moved that they should deputationise the Government, and failing Government action, should reserve their liberty to advise a reduction of production. A deputation was appointed to wait on the Premier. The President declared that agriculture in Britain had reached the most critical stage in its history. The past year showed heavy losses. They were faced with the. prospect of losses in the coming year which they could not continue to sustain. The imminence of the Imperial Economic Conference rendered necessary an immediate definite statement of the Government’s policy. The union would advise the members, wherever possible, to resort to pasture or ranch farming. Members of the Farmers’ Union informed the “Morning Post’’ that if the Union’s threat is carried out, two million acres of arable land will revert to grass, throwing 75,000 labourers out of work.