THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1926. RURAL DISCONTENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19509, 13 December 1926, Page 10

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1926. RURAL DISCONTENTS.

The whole range of the farmer's difficulties and the means whereby, in his own opinion, they could be removed were covered at a special gathering held in Wanganui during the week. It was; not a judicial tribunal where evidence was heard on both sides and a considered finding given. It was quite frankly an exposition of the rural viewpoint, made for the benefit of the townsman in the hope, that a better understanding between these complementary components of the national life might be obtained. The purpose was a good one; It is easy to see that town and country, each indispensable to the other, should not be at odds. So far as frank discussion can help to remove mis- i

understandings, it is worthy of welcome. The farmers who spoke at Wanganui cannot hope to have convinced all their hearers that they suffer all the hardships, the townsman enjoys all the easy times. Neither can they expect to have converted everyone to acceptance of the remedies they propose to meet the circumstances of which they complain. If they have not gone this far, they have given plenty of material to be weighed by all thoughtful people who are concerned about the welfare of the Dominion. That, after all, is the beginning they wished to make. In their exposition, they did certainly provide food for thought. From the starting point that the cost of everything they needed had risen in far higher ratio than the prices received for their produce s they proceeded to ameliorative suggestions. Their proposals, summed up, were extension of New Zealand's markets overseas, public economy, reduction of taxation, especially of customs duties, establishment of long term credits by means of the proposal of the Rural Credits Commission, or alternatively through an agricultural bank, security in regard to labour, and the abolition of the Arbitration Court.

The programme of demands is long, some of its items are drastic. Yet, broadly considered, much of what the farmers ask is identical V with what other sections of industry have, at different times, demanded as remedies for depression. Extension of overseas markets needs no great advocacy. Its advantages are self-eVident. So, too, the twin objectives of public economy ana the reduction of taxation appeal to, and have been supported by, many sections of the community besides the farmers. In asking for relief from customs -duties they will have a host of friends, especially if they abide by the proposal of the chairman of their Wanganui gathering—sanity with regard to tariffs. There is indeed ample room for adjustment of the schedules without going so far as the institution of free trade, advocated by some speakers. On reflection 1 most farmers would hesitate before endorsing this. The farming industry enjoys its share of protection under the tariff. Do they wish to see it removed ? Reduction of taxation, in general terms, is a worthy objective, but is there much practical use in advocating it in general terms 1 Is it the land tax they wish to have reduced? The burden of it is not great, to judge by recent returns. If they were to particularise, asking for its reduction, or even abolition, where the landowner was making bona-iide use of all his holding, they would not be making an unreasonable demand. Yet they would have to consider the advisability of tightening the tax on land held out of use, and of making incomes derived from agriculture assessable like the returns from any other form of business. The latter suggestion should not be repugnant. The prosperous man would be taxed according to his prosperity. The demand for curtailment of public expenditure, too, is reasonable, provided" the proper distinction is made between remunerative and nonremunerative outlay. The farmers asked for long term credits. This system of rural finance has been widely and deservedly approved, so their proposal needs no more comment than that it is still a question of ways and means, which cannot be settled by a public meeting. The only demand remaining is that for "security of labour" combined with a proposal to abolish the Arbitration Court. Security of labour sounds desirable, but there is little to show what it means or how it is to be achieved. As for the Arbitration Court, the amendment demanding its abolition came in so casually and occasioned so little reasoned debate that it may be dismissed by asking how much better off those who advocate it think they would be without the Court than with it. The mere abolition would solve none of the problems described at the gathering. As outlined at Wanganui the discontents and desires of the farmers include little that cannot with advantage be considered seriously by the whole community, rural or urban. Most of the difficulties described as afflicting the man already 011 the land were identical with those quoted when a .similar gathering at Auckland discussed land settlement. The inference is that if the position were made easier for the present fai*mer, the problem of land settlement would also be solved. That is to say, the two questions are identi-

cal. They are not separable, as some people, notably the Minister of Lands, have suggested. If this be true —and the spontaneous action of two different gatherings very similar in composition is strong presumptive evidenco that it is—there is 110 warranty for the policy of concentrating on the man now on the land, ignoring altogether the prospective future settler. The two must be considered together. The chairman at Wanganui included settlement of second and third class lands as an integral part of the problem the meeting must consider. The obvious deduction from this is that the inquiry into land settlement, advocated at the Auckland meeting, was advocated, by implication, all along the line at Wanganui. It is to be hoped this significant fact has not been overlooked, that those entrusted with the preliminary arrangement of the inquiry will be stimulated into pressing the project, that some definite attempt will be made to investigate the discontents of the farmer and the prospect of increasing both present production and future development.