DRASTIC ECONOMIES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 10, 11 December 1930, Page 7

DRASTIC ECONOMIES

TO MEET THE TIMES. CALL OF INDUSTRIALISTS. DEPUTATION TO PREMIER. WELLINGTON. Dec. 11. A curtailment in State and local body expenditure was considered an essential factor in the economy necessary to meet conditions as they exist to-day by a conference of representatives of all phases of industry, both primary and secondary, which met in Wellington yesterday. The conference, which was convened by the Associated Chambers of Commerce, was representative of the following organisations: Associated Chambers of Commerco of New Zealand, Manufacturers’ Association, Employ ers’ Federation, New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Dairy Farmers’ Union, Sheepowners* Federation, Fruitgrowers’ Federation Poultry Breeders’ Association, Flaxgrowers’ Association, and Land Development League. The president of the associated chambers, Mr H. T. Merritt of Auckland, presided over about forty delegates. ’ According to the circular convening the conference, its primary purpose was to enable a discussion to be held on all questions of national importance, upon which the views of tho chambers of commerce would ordinarily be presented to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. G. W .Forbes, on his return from abroad. A further object was to arrive at an agreement in order that all bodies might be. able to act pointly in order that any deputation which might be organised to wait upon the Prime Minister might be a joint deputation of all the bodies concerned. The conference was not a long one. It assembled at 10 a.m., and shortly after one o’clock it completed discussion. A number of resolutions prepared prior to the conference were submitted and discussed, and the effect of those that were passed will be the subject of representation to the Prime Minister as soon as arrangements can be made for him to hear a deputation on his re.turn to the Dominion. The proceedings were not open to tho Press, but after the conference had concluded the following statement was issued from the office of the Associated Chambers of Commerce:— “The conference reached a unanimous decision that the present conditions of the country’s trade and industry require drastic economies to be effected in the costs of production and distribution of the Dominion’s products, and as an essential factor in the economy a curtailment of State and local body expenditure. “Unanimous decisions were arrived at on all matters submitted for the consideration of the conference, and these conclusions will form the subject of representations to be made to tho Prime Minister on his return from abroad.”

MASS MEETING OF FARMERS. RESOLUTIONS ATCHRISTCHURCH Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 10. One of the largest mass meetings of farmers ever held in Christchurch took place in the Civic Theatre to-day. The proceedings developed into a demonstration rather than a meeting, so enthusiastic was the applause when mention was made of the abolition of the Arbitration Court. The main object of the meeting was to discuss the fall in prices and the means for dealing with the situation created by the Dominion’s great decrease of income. Unanimously the meeting decided that the Arbitration Act be repealed; that everybody should assist the Government in economies; that an emergency committee be set up to take any possible measures to ameliorate the lot of farmers, and that there be a liaison with the Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers’ Association, and other bodies dealing with industry in order to put into effect the spirit of the meeting. The chairman, Mr L. R. C. Macfarlane, said it would be advisable to keep’ the meeting non-political, as in time of national' stress petty political differences should be forgotten. Farmers were not the only people suffering at the moment. There were not many investors not faced with diminished dividends. Thousands were out of work and on the brink of starvation, and the majority of the workers were on short time. . Any thinking man, lie continued, must sympathise with the Government, whose difficulties in dealing with a spoiled and petted democracy were enormous —rather than criticise, people should assist by weaning themselves from the departmental feedingbottle, and give up the legislative spoon. The country was fast approaching a time when through low prices,' high production costs, and the excessive taxation which would be levied paradoxically to main high costs, it would be found impossible to carry on, and production would automatically decrease. Wages must be based on the country’s income, said Mr Macfarlane. The workers must appreciate the commonsense fact that 9s a day for all the year was very much better than 14s a day on two days of the week.. The Arbitration Court must go, and all the workers under its wing; all employers in sheltered industries, trades and professions must realise that no one can buy their goods or labour unless charges are on a par with the country’s income. The country must compel the Government to stop borrowing With reduced costs and reduced wages there would be work for all the unemployed and many more immigrants. Failing some adjustment of costs, the alternative would be ruin for 60,000 farmers, but though the farmers be chastised with whips, the rest of the community would suffer with scorpions. COSTS OF FARMING. The next speaker was Mr Colin Mclntosh, president of the North Canterbury branch of the Farmers’ Union. He deprecated possible proposals that ihe farmers should try to establish a Farmers’ Party in politics He adverted the abolition of land tax in favour of income .tax, and also urged the partial derating of farm lands. He declared that the Government had been guilty of extravagance,, and must reduce the cost of the. Civil Service. The following resolutions were carrl<That this representative meeting of farmers emphatically urges that Parliament be called at an early date, and that a conference of all parties bo held immediately it does to discuss ways and means to reduce the cost of faim--IDfhat this meeting is emphatically of opinion that the Arbitration Act Sl That b ali re classes' of the community .help the Government in its economy campaign, and strongly urges ft to still further economise and refrain from increasing our enormous ' P That d this meeting authorises the

setting up of ail emergency committee consisting of the presidents of the A. and P. Association. Farmers’ Union, and Sheep Owners’ Union, and two members of each society, to go into the following matters —to investigate the prurient position and take steps to promulgate measures to ameliorate tlie present condition of farmers; a liaison with tlie Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers’ Association, and Industrial Association, etc.; any means to further the aims and spirit of the resolutions passed at this meeting. The meeting decided that telegrams bo sent to Hon. E. A. Ransom, acting Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, Leader of the Opposition and Mr H. E. Holland, Leader of the Labour Party, drawing their attention to tho remits.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE DESIRED. Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, Dec. 11. The South Island Dairy Association lias written to Hon. E. A. Ransom suggesting that the Government immediately convene a national economic conference representative of the primary and secondary industries, financial institutes, employers’ and employees to discuss the position of the primary industries and make such recommendations to tlie Government as is considered expedient by way of remedy.