FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 July 1939, Page 7

FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS

GOVERNMENT ACTION URGED

[PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] *

WELLINGTON, July 13

Many problems affecting the farming industry in New Zealand were summarised in six cardinal points by a combined deputation representing the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, which waited on Cabinet Ministers, in Wellington. They were: — The exchange rate.

Financial assistance for farmers. Taxation for hospital purposes. Guaranteed price in the 1939-40 season. -i

Transport charges. The shortage of farm labour

The Government was urged to act immediately on all the matters mentioned. Between 400 and 500 personscomprised the deputation, which was* one of the largest representative of the farming industry to have waitedon the Government as a body. It was, headed by. Mr W. W. Mulholland, pre--sident of the New Zealand Farmers’' Union, and Mrs R Wickham, of the Women’s Division of the Farm-’ ers’ Union. The-deputation was re-' ceived by the Minister for' Education; (Mr Fraser), the Minister for Agricul-. ture (Mr Lee Martin), the Attorney-*. General (Mr Mason).,, ; and tire Minister’ for Labour (Mr 1 Webb). . The shortage of labour was em-“ : phasised by seven farmers’ wives. The majority said that they had been.com-) pelled to work in the cowsheds, while) able-bodied men had drifted into other s more attractive occupations or were 1 on sustenance. i? EXCHANGE RATE. To bring farmers’ costs and prices into line, farmers believed that the; exchange rate should be allowed to find its true level, said Mr W. J.Thomas (Wairarapa), in presenting’ the following resolution which had. been carried at the Farmers’ Union, conference: “That in order to bring farmers’ costs and prices into line,, this conference urges the Government; either to bring costs down, or through the -Reserve Bank to raise the ex-, change rate of the £ New Zealand to the £ sterling to the point which will reflect the difference in price level between'the two countries, at. the same time reducing tariffs proportionately. This would necessitate a corresponding adjustment in the guaranteed prices of products for export.”

The problem of the farmer who was unable to meet his commitments was dealt with by Mr A. J. Davey (Temuka) drew attention to the following resolution, also carried at the conference: “That the Government be' asked to institute immediately,a temporary stay of proceedings against farmers in financial difficulties, pending the decision of the Government following the Royal Commission’s: report thereupon. “As a result of the work of the mortgage adjustment commissions appointed by t]ie Labour Government farmers felt they were able to face the future with confidence,” said Mr Davey; “but costs have'risen to such an extent that many are unable to carry on. Unless something is done immediately many would be forced off their land.”

GUARANTEED PRICE.

. “We feel that the last word. - has not yet been "said on the’price for the coming season,” said Mr R. J. Glasgow (Onewhero), . referring to the guaranteed price, less than the price recommended by. the committee set up by. thetGovernment could not be accepted by?tiie.Jndustry without causing hardship. He considered that no useful purpose was served in making comparisons between the position of the dairy farmer to-day and during the depression years. When the final returns for this season were compiled it would be shown that all was not as well as it should be in the dairy industry. Mr H. E. Blyde (Taranaki) drew attention to the hardship created by the land tax, which he contended was hampering production. Dealing with taxation for hospital purposes, he said the farmers found that the rates were increasingly alarmingly. A resolution which the New Zealand Farmers’ Union Conference asked the Government to give serious consideration to was: “This conference urges that the present inequitable system cf hospital rating, placing as it does an ever increasing and unbearable burden of rates on the farming community without regard to ability to payrshould be abolished, and the whole cost be met from the Social Security Fund.” MINISTERIAL REPLIES. Mr Fraser said he was very pleased to hear the expressions of goodwill and willingness to help in solving the problems outlined by the deputation. If they could be translated into achievements a great deal would have been aceomplised. The Government was fully aware of the difficulties which faced the farming community. They should bo capable of solution.

Refei ring to the question of hospital rating, Mr’Fraser said that this was net a rural or urban matter, but a national one. He assured the deputation that their requests would receive every consideration.

“I am prepared to send my placement officers to your conference to get a list of names of farmers requiring labour,” said the Minister for Labour. It was not a new problem. One of the first things he had done after taking office was to call conferences for the purpose of finding what farmlabour was required. -Unfortunately, many farmers liad not availed themselves of this labour. Mr Webb said he would co-operate with farmers 100 per cent, to try to evolve a plan to supply them with the class of labour they wanted. He was hopeful that increased economic security for farmers would result in more attractive conditions being provided for workers. Obviously, farmers had to recognise the need for better amenities for their labour.

Expressing appreciation of the sympathetic hearing given .the deputation Mr Hulholland emphasised that it had not come in a hostile frame of mind. Farmers were united in the desire to co-operate with the Government to improve their position. What was urgently required was immediate action.