PROBLEMS OF FARMERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21399, 25 January 1933, Page 10

PROBLEMS OF FARMERS

REQUEST FOR COMMISSION INTEREST REDUCTION URGED [BX TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT ] PAEROA, Tuesday A resolution urging the Government to appoint a commission to inquire into farmers' problems was passed at a meeting of farmers held to-day under the auspices of the recently-formed Farmers' Relief League. Mr. E. J. Smith, of Puriri, presided.

The chairman said the league had been formed to advocate a reduction of interest rates, the partial derating of farm lands, whereby all main highway maintenance costs and construction costs should be paid by the users of the roads per medium of petrol and motor taxation, and an increase of the exchange rates. Mr. D. Courtney stated that in his district farmers were paying rates equal to £1 a cow. The users of the roads by motor taxation were paying £3,116,000 toward road maintenance, while the county ratepayers were paying £6,069,000. Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P., who was present by invitation, said that interest rates were higher in New Zealand than in any other important country in the world. The Government fully realised the position and had made a 20 per cent reduction in interest rates. It would be unfair to penalise too heavily the person who had invested his life savings in farming securities. He considered the Government should make substantial contributions toward farmers' rates.