THE FARMERS' UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19032, 1 June 1925, Page 7

THE FARMERS' UNION.

»Sir, —I presume that tlio report and utterances of the president of the Auckland Farmers' Union are open to courteous criticism. He seems to be unaware where the farm begins or where it ends. I have heard it said that the farm ended at the ship's slings, but the Dairy Produce Control Board may extend even this limit. Are not the farm im-plement-makers, the harness-makers, the seedsman and the transport workers mid their subordinates all assisting in "primary production." Could the farmer produce his farm produce without them? Do they not bear their share of taxation? Are their .goods and services.not subject to competition? Why does ho not offset tlio possession of wkmderful climatic and natural resources against the disadvantage of selling in an open market. The farmer is now reaping the crop of false values which he was so eager to plant a few years back. Like others the farmers did their bit " to debase the value of the £1 sterling by creating instruments of credit for imaginary values, and now they grumble at. the ;interest'bill they have to meet. Why not write down the capital value and thus reduce the interest?. Now some farmers want an agricultural bank to enable them ,to have another " flutter," and I suppose further debase the value of the sovereign. After the Dairy Control Board has fixed up the marketing arrangements I think it would do well to turn attention to the primary producer and see that he is improving and developing his holding in order to keep up sufficient production to keep nimself alive. Increased production is the solution of the fanner's trouble not a new political party. E.N.D.