AID FOR THE FARMERS

Northern Advocate, 9 April 1931, Page 4

AID FOR THE FARMERS

SUPPLY OF FERTILISERS. SCHEME CRITICISED. (Special to “Northern Advocate.’’) HAMILTON, This Day. Commenting upon the Government’s proposal to aid farmers in the purchase of fertilisers, Mr Dynes Fulton said that farmers generally would be disappointed at the Government’s decision. While the provision for increasing credit being made available to rural credit associations, or direct to farmers with a satisfactory guarantor, might be of help to a number of dairy companies with finance available, the Government was not taking any risk in assisting farmers who could rtot get credit. Rather was it throwing the responsibility of extending credit on these companies or agents approved by the Government as guarantors. “The Prime Minister’s statement reads quite well, and it might appear to farmers that they have only to apply to their dairy company for credit,’* ihe said. “I would emphasise, however, that this scheme does not help the farmer who cannot get credit, and the backwash of refusing it is thrown on dairy companies or credit associations.”

Mr Fulton added that the farming community and the country would have benefited to a much greater extent had the Government reduced the price of rock phosphate, say, by 5/ a ton.

If the Government was sincere in its efforts to keep farmers on their .farms, it must be prepared to take some risk, and to help the man who was struggling and required help. He could only say that the dairy farmers were very disappointed with Prime Minister's effort.