Plight of the Farmer

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7032, 16 December 1932, Page 7

Plight of the Farmer

PUTTING THE POSITION TO THE GOVERNMENT. The present position of the farming community was discussed briefly at a meeting of the Dairy farmers' Union executive in Palmerston North yesterday, following an intimation that a large meeting of primary producers was to be held in Wellington on January 17. Mr. W. H. Gimblett pointed out that members of the Produce Board had put tho position clearly to tiro Prime Minister and had left without any hope being given them, fie did not thuix that a meeting of the kind suggested would achieve much, farmers should tako the matter iu their own hands. Mr. H. fcjoif'ert: i tako it that alt farmers realise the desperate plight of tho industry. Unless something is done tm absolute rot wii'l set in. Mr. Gimblett expressed the opinion that there was no hope of unanimity at such a meeting, wnore many conflicting opinions would be advanced. “Every possible avenue will have to bo searched, to givo relief, not only to the farmers, but to tho whole oL tho rest of the community," stated Mr. beifort. “The farmers are tho foundation of the industry, but they are uot the only ones, ft may mean a higher rate of exchango and a reduced late of interest, ft will be the aim, i tako it, by those in authority, to have tho farmers' Union consolidated ou various points." Mr. J. Boyce: 'Ac farmers' Union will probably have some sort of proposition to put before tho meeting. The chairman (Mr. N. Campbell): They have. Mr. Seifert: It has never been altered as far as I know. Mr. W. G. Short said ho could not sco any essential difference between the policy being advanced by the farmers and that put forward by the Chambers of Commerce. Tho chairman said the position of tho primary producers was critical. “Let us tackle tho problem of exchango with both hands and clean it up," stated Mr. Seifert. Mr. Short: That will not reduce fanners’ capital one iota. Mr. Seifert: While we continue to follow tho road of deflation we must cut down capital. Mr. Boyce: And then you destroy your security. It is about time wo tackled tho matter with common sense. To me it is as easy as falling off a log. There never was any need for a slump. Therg is merely a shortage of money in circulation. There is a glut of everything else. It is the advice of tho flnanciers that has got us into our difficulties. While there is plenty of food and clothing in tho world there is no necessity for any to go short, it is a question of managed currency. * “I do not believe in repudiation, but I am an Old Country man and there when a man cannot meet his obligations, ho files in bankruptcy," said Mr. A. N. Morcom. “It is the honest thing to do.” It was decided that the union should bo represented at tho meeting by Messrs. N. Campbell, J. Boyce, W. H. Gimblett, B. Short, L. Poupard, A. Morcom and E. O. Bond..