FARMERS’UNION

Greymouth Evening Star, 31 October 1931, Page 12

FARMERS’UNION

EXECUTIVE DECISIONS. [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, October 29. While agreeing that unemployment relief acted harshly in that it was withheld from those who had any means, members of the New Zealand Farmers’ Executive to-day found it hard to suggest any way in which this could be avoided. A remit from Otago discussed was “That in the opinion of this executive the penalty on thrift in the Unemployment Act is wrong, that a person unemployed should not have to become a pauper before being eligible for work under the Act; that this executive considers' that to encourage thrift is the only way to assist the Dominion in unemployment.” One member referred to the case of a man with a family of young children who had saved something less than £lOO, but could not get relief work. On the other hand a single man earned £4O and his keep at a freezing works, spent the money in a week or two find then came on the relief works. Mr W. J. Polson, M.P.. president of the union, said he knew of cases of men who had families and had no work for six or nine months, because they had been thrifty all th,eir lives, and put their money in the savings bank against old age and illness. They could get./no* relief until they be-pau-perised themselves. If the country was going to aid those who had some money, however small, it would very much enlarge the number of people who would come upon the unemployment fund. The whole plan would have to be altered. After discussion the remit was withdrawn, but other remits were carried on the subject of unemployment as follow: —

“That this executive feels that the onlv way to assist and help to relieve the’position caused through unemployment is to devote some scheme for land settlement under the group system; those who have had previous experience of agricultural work to be first assisted under the scheme. “That this executive considers that the unemployment levy is right in principle for finding the necessary work for unemployed, and that at least a portion of the necessary funds should be raised by a flat tax, and that the Government should not permit laxness in these contributions.” The executive .passed a resolution recommending that a reduction in higher salaries and wages is necessary to conform with an equitable distribution of the national income, 'fhis was substituted for a remit recommending 20 per cent reduction in all salaries and wages over £250. It also was resolved that the Government be asked to reduce further the rates of interest on all future and existing business, also to arrange with the State Advances and Public Trust to release farmers of an instalment on long-term mortgages while the depression lasts.

The following remit was also carried: “That representations be made to Parliament to restrict the operations of the flourmilling industry monopoly which is maintaining the high price of flour.’’ At the request of the South Canterbury Union it w r as decided to set up a sub-committee to investigate freights, wharfage and commission charges imposed when shipping produce between the two islands, with a view to a substantial reduction in these and other charges. QUESTIONS TO CANDIDATES WELLINGTON, October 29. The executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union to-day adopted the following findings of a special committee set up to prepare a questionnaire for Parliamentary candidates. A copy is to be sent to all candidates at the coming election: — That the following matters are of vital importance to the economic rehabilitation of the Dominion: — (1) An immediate adjustment of interest rates is essential. (2) The total de-rating of farmers lands from general rates levied for maintenance purposes is essential. (3) That the Government should suspend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act during the present economic crisis and so amend it as to provide for compulsory conciliation and optional arbitration. (4) That in order to combine a balanced Budget with a general reduction of taxation, which is essential to recovery of prosperity, further economies are necessary in public and local expenditure. (5) That in order to reduce costs of production and living a drastic downward revision of Customs tariffs is urgently needed, and should be made as soon as the budgetary position will permit.