PROBLEMS OF THE FARMER

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1930, Page 7

PROBLEMS OF THE FARMER

COST OF PRODUCTION

AIR DOWNIE STEWART’S SUGGESTIONS.

DUNEDIN, June -1

Problems affecting farmers in view of the current depression were interestingly discussed Jto-day by • the Hon. W. Downie Stewart in an address before the annual meeting of the Otago Farmers’ Union. He touched upon such questions as the proposed abolition of compulsory arbitration, tariffs, derating and local body taxation, and at the same time suggested that remedies for existing onditions, as outlined by Mr James Regg at the annual meeting of the

ttago Agricultural and Pastoral Society were not likely to prove as elective as was popularly supposed. Mr Stewart remarked that he was

fraid farmers viewed politicians foi the most part with susiucion, and were sceptical as to their ability to

•iolve pastoral problems. He would like to emphasise, however. that avery Parliament in the world, and every political party, were standing mzzlcd before the common problems confronting primary production. The \nglo-Saxon race believed in the theory of government by amateurs, They objected to 'being governed by experts, possibly because they belief. 5d that the community could not ■stand up to the respective enthusiasm of in various departnents. The amateur stood as a buff•r between the Government and the zaxpayer. Perhaps it was because of be amateur government that there vas so much bewilderment in respect o present problems. Farmers were /ell represented, however, in the govern meut of New Zealand, so that hey could expect to get their views iiscussed and their problems considered in as good a manner as was >ossibe anywhere else in ‘the world. The conference, said Mr Stewart, iad addressed itself to two very imlortant sulbjects in derating of farm antis and transference of more of he burden of road construction and maintenance from local bodies to the. lain Highways Board. Remits dealing with these subjects all aimed at ustifiable relief from taxation, and lie considered that it was the best ine of advance they could take at he present time, and for a while to •omo. There was no doubt as to the nirden of local body taxation, and vith the Government and local bodies reaping assiduously in the sam e held, he demands on the farmer’s resourc■s ' were very heavy. He felt that hey were very wise in concentrating >n the derating of farm lands. The speaker mentioned another cf the opinions expressed by Mr Begg, that in respect to the Arbitration ~ourt, which Mr Stewart described as lie second greatest handicap the farmer had There was no doubt that the rigid fixation of wages reacted dversely on the farmer, although he was not subject to awards. It wus also the cause of much of the unemiloyment in the cities. It had often puzzled him to think of farmers cryng out for labour, but compelled to •vateh their farms going back because they could not get it, while all the time there were hundreds of uncranloyed in the cities. It appeared ihat the labour unions and secretaries knew of the work available in the ountry, hut they could come to no arrangement with the farmers because ■if the hiatus between what the farmers cot!ld pay and what the workers asked. It find occurred to him that the abolition of compulsory arbitration would be found to be a le.sw elfective move than was popularly supposed. The Court had now survived thirtv-flve fears. It had resisted a challenge from fjhe employers and bad withstood the fierce attacks of the big Ughtiojg unions. Even if ‘hey could secure the abolition of the eatnpiijsory clauses .they would stilfl be up against the powerful unions. Re lmd noticed that in countries that had no arbitration system the unions generally managed to get what they wanted. They were so powerful that they could achieve arrangements that were quite as irritating as anything awarded by the Court. Ho was extremely doubtful whether either abolition or modification of the Court’s powers would be ■s beneficial as they appeared to suppose. Speaking on the question of tariffs, which he noticed was the subject of some remits on their order paper, Mr Stewart remarked that tariffs . could be made of great service tp- farmers, vs a bargaining factor • with other countries. If there had been no tariffs it would have been difficult, or eve 4 impossible, 'to negotiate the •reaties with Australia and Canada Ruit had been arranged of late years. The agreement that lmd been entered into with Australia had had the result oC increasing exports from this country to Australia hv leaps and bounds, and the same *hing could he icl of the treaty that had been effected with Canada, which country was taking hundreds of thousands of nounds worth of New Zealand produce. Tariffs properly and wisely used could Ibe of enormous assistance to primary producers. Tn regard to the exchange queston, Mr Rtcwart said that they perhaps knew that exchange was now Working ,in thnir favour. A few •/ears ago it had operated verv much agnins them. This, he contended, was a subject which might he diseased with profit by a conference of the Farmers’ Union and the Chamber of Commerce,