Greymouth Evening Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1943. FARMERS AND GOVT.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 November 1943, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1943. FARMERS AND GOVT.

THE cleavage between the Government and those engaged in the Dominion s greatest primary industry, namely farming, appears to be increasing, and this is most regrettable. The new Minister of Agriculture (Mr. Roberts) should make it his first duty to bring about a more sympathetic understanding between the parties. Farmers are believed to be apt to grumble ■with or without provocation, and this tendency weakens their case when their grievance is justified. If what they declare, to-day, is true, then, as a class, they are not receiving justice, nor encouragement that inspires effort.

So serious is the situation becoming concerning adequate food supplies for the Dominion, that the executive of the Farmers’ Union has thought it advisable, to direct public attention to the developing crisis. Food shortage will never be so ficule as to cause New Zealanders to starve, or thereabouts, in their own country, but the export trade, on which national prosperity chiefly depends, will not be maintained if primary production dwindles, or does not keep pace with the Dominion’s financial needs. It is difficult to avoid stressing the obvious in comment on this subject, but facts are sometimes so familiar as to lose their true significance. There is little reason to suppose that farmers continue farming with the main objective of feeding their fellowmen, if this aim partly accounts for their enthusiasm. The work is undertaken chiefly for financial reward and because of a preference for the particular task. In this, farmers do not differ from most other workers.

Looking around, farmers, to-day, note how the large industrial unions appear to govern the Government, advantage being taken of their strength and the need for their services. If demands are not met, work stoppages are threatened, and, hitherto, this “big stick,” attitude has borne fruit. The present Government owes Ministerial office mainly to townsmen, but it would be short-sighted for it to undervalue the farming classes, or to reserve “strong attitudes” against those on the land. Generally, the prices paid for farm produce since Labour came into power, have risen, some considerably, and in mortgage interest and other matters, the Government has endeavoured to help farmers. Against this is the fact that Labour policy has raised considerably the cost of farming, and it is widely claimed that this extra cost is beyond any extra returns obtained from sales of produce and stock.

Be this as it may, it is certain that farmers are discouraged and discontented, with the consequence that primary production in various directions is not developing as required, and the apathy is increasing. Townspeople know already from some limited experience of pricefixing, rationing, and shortage of some foods, what would be the consequence of farmers going slow, or on strike. "Whilst there is yet time, urban workers should urge the Government to remedy farmers’ wrongs. This may be by increased retail prices, or lower costs, but bad should not be permitted to become worse. The feeling of “frustration” from which many farmers are said to be suffering is no monopoly of rural, districts. The nation has to pay the cost of its foolishness in giving Labour another term of office, and one effect may well be further increases in the price of food to meet the cost of Labour legislation and administration where the land is concerned. Few thoughtful New Zealanders can be happy, to-day, about the national outlook, with the days of reckoning to come.