STABILITY OF FARMERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19879, 24 February 1928, Page 12

STABILITY OF FARMERS.

MOST IN GOOD POSITION. TEN PER CENT. NEED HELP. [BX TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT."] 'TE AWAMUTU, Thursday. Elaborating his statement at Kawhia on Monday that 90 per cent, of the. New land farmers were in a solid and. sound financial position and that the remaining 10 per cent, were in trouble, the Minister of Lands, Hon. A. D. McLeod, in his address this evening, said a well-known English banker had come to the Dominion recently to review the position regarding the banks. "Replying to his question," the Minister said, "I told him that in my opinion 90 per of the farmers in the country were in a strong and healthy financial position, provided they got reasonable stability in prices. (Hear/ hear.) I told him the other 10 per cent, were struggling, that they were in trouble, and while soma of their number were hopeless and beyond help, others might be assisted through, even though up against it in finance." Subsequently the banker called upon the Minister and said he had found Mr. McLeod's statements to bo accurate. Ninety per cent, of (the mpn on the land were in a good financial position. • " I do not want it to be taken that the 10 per cent, are all up against the wall—that they will all go bankrupt." Mr. McLeod added. "Perhaps with help, the majority will come out on top in the end. I hope they do." (Hear, hear.)