N. WAIROA FARMERS OBJECT TO MUZZLE

Northern Advocate, 10 December 1937, Page 4

N. WAIROA FARMERS OBJECT TO MUZZLE

[Special To “Northern Advocate ”] DARGAVILLE. This Day. At the quarterly meeting of the Northern Wairoa Sub-Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union it was decided to forward a remit to the provincial executive expressing regret at the Government’s change of attitude regarding freedom of speech, and renewing the request for the Farmers’ Union to be permitted a regular session over the air. It was also decided to request that steps be taken as soon as possible to arrange for a broadcast debate, In order that the views of the union may be put before the listeners. It had been pointed out previously that the Government had offered some time ago to give the farming community an opportunity to express its views on present economic questions by means of a broadcasting debate.

Set Price Remit

The meeting passed a remit for submission to the Auckland executive that the attention of the Government be drawn to the fact that the methods of arriving at the guaranteed price had not yet been disclosed, and asking if the reward to the dairying industry had been measured by the same standards as in other industries.

Fencing Post Questions.

It was decided to send a letter to the Minister of Lands, the Hon. F. Langstone, asking whether Bay of Islands settlers were being enabled to buy fencing posts at the same price as in outside districts, less transport charges. A statement was made that fence posts taken from State forests in the Bay of Islands district were being shipped to Gisborne, where they were being sold at a high price to farmers. The union also agreed that the Minister should be asked whether, as the Government had practcially a monopoly of the supply of fencing posts, these could be sold to farmers at cost prices.