FARM FINANCE

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 30 April 1934, Page 7

FARM FINANCE

MIR! C. A. WILKINSON’S SUGGESTIONS. SUPPORT GIVEN AT ELTHAM. The suggestion made by Mr O. A. Wilkinson, M.P., that the recently appointed Dairy Commission should inquire into farm finance was supported at a meeting of the Eltha-m> Progress Committee on Friday night, states the Eltham “Argus.” “The Government is simply dodging the main issue. Until the price of land is reduced to a figure- commensurate with the value of farm produce there will never be stability,” ,sa.id Mr O. N. Taplin, when speaking to the following motion moved by Mr W. Ricketts and seconded by Mr A. Packard :

“That a telegram l be forwarded to the Prime Minister requesting that the order of reference for. the Royal Commission on the dairy industry include a report on farm finance, with particular reference to land and stock mortgages; also that a letter he forwarded to Mr C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., congratulating him on taking this matter up with the Prime Minister.” Mr Ricketts said that it behoved the committee to back up Mr Wilkinson in his commendable efforts to •solve the problems of the dairy industry. Mr Wilkinson’s suggestion to the Prime Minister was 1 undoubtedly on right lines. Every public body in Taranaki should take the. matter up. Mr F. Gawith said he was opposed to Mr Wilkinson’s proposals. They could not accomplish; any good. The speaker considered, too, that) it was a political matter and therefore did not come within the purview of the committee.

Mr Ricketts disagreed with this statement, holding that it v r as a matter for the welfare of the district as a whole. Without the inclusion of the subject of farm finance the order of reference of the commission was useless.

Mr Packard held that in refusing to consider the question of farm, mortgages the Government was- only staving off the evil day. Mr Gawith : A rise in butt-erfat will •settle the whole question. Mr Taplin: When will it come? We have been waiting for years now. Mr Gawith: On, it will come all right. The chairman (Mr I. J.. Bfidger) pointed, out that the difficulty was to stabilise land values. The danger was that once prices rose land, would immediately rise in sympathy. Mr -Gawith contended that if Mr Wilkinson’s scheme was given effect to the farming community would be reduced to a state of serfdom. The proposals were economically unsound. If left alone things would right themselves.

Mr Rridger feared that Mr Wilkinson's proposals involved an act of repudiation. Mr Ricketts : Well, is there no repudiation to-day? Mr Gawith: What we want to-day is confidence.

Mr Ricketts: That will get you nowhere with the .problem we are up against. Messrs H. Mann and E. Walsh spoke in support of the resolution. Mr Taplin: The Government laughed at Mr Wilkinson when he urged hie interest reduction proposals, only to subsequently turn around and adopt them. They decried, too, his silver coinage scheme, and then afterwards adopted it as their child, and I venture to predict that the same thing will: happen with, our worthy member’s mortgage reduction proposals. The motion was then carried.

SCOPE OF COMMISSION

PRIME MINISTERS REPLY

Mr Wilkinson received a further telegram from the Prime Minister (the Rlt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) on "Friday relative to liis suggestions upon the scope of the dairy commission. Mr Forbes expressed the opinion that the order of reference was. sufficiently wide to cover the point raised by Mr Wilkinson. Mr Wilkinson has forwarded another telegram) conveying his l regret at this decision. Tfe added that ho felt certain that the aspect of the case, he had raised would not receive the attention it deserved under the order of reference as outlined, which in his opinion did not' in any way indicate that the matter would be inquired into and answers given by the Royal Commission.