Southland Formers Critical Of Leaders

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1948, Page 4

Southland Formers Critical Of Leaders

INVERCARGILL, .Fri, (P.A.)— “Southland farmers are perturbed and dissatisfied at the failure of the Dominion president and executive to take the xiecessary action to prevent legislation detrimental to primary producers.”

This was the first part of a motion carried at a meeting of the Southland provincial executive of the Federated Farmers.

The motion stated that the latest neglect on the executive’s part was in connection with the Land Valuation Court Bill stabilising' farm property at 1942 values.

This meant that the farmers’ greatest asset was to be sold at a fixed price in spite of the continuing decrease in the value of money. Strong opposition was met by the chaii’man (Mr W. Baird) when h 9 moved on behalf of the Athol-Garston branch that wages for casual farm labour should be put on a maximum basis and that breaches of an award should be penalised. . The remit was lost.

Those opposing it said that a man in desperate need of labour would pay extra and take the consequences.