RELIEF WORK FOR FARMERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20886, 30 May 1931, Page 14

RELIEF WORK FOR FARMERS.

Sir, —It, is a great pity Hint the sympathy of "Practical Farmer," with the sad plight of those small who are almost destitute, and his indignation of the neglect of the Unemployment Board to deal with their case, prompted him to make these the excuse for a personal attack on myself and my ' political associates. This attack is based on a misinterpretation of a short extract, which was all that was published from a lengthy series of remarks made at Iho Provincial Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Had he been present, or informed himself 'of what occurred, he would havo known that, speaking to tho amended motion, moved by myself and carried unanimously by the conference, "That relief work be found through local committees for farmers who are in distress," I, in common with other speakers, laid stress on the urgent necessity for a scheme for helping necessitous farmers to remain on their own farms, by providing them with work improving their own farms, and thus adding to the resources of the Dominion. If, and only if this were done, it was quite fair for the farmer with land, but without income, to bo debarred from other schemes dealing with unemployment, I am sure, from the tone of his letter, that "Practical Farmer" will agree with me in all this, and will regret his inadvertent misrepresentation. tS. N. ZIMAX.