THE 4A SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21401, 27 January 1933, Page 12

THE 4A SCHEME

.Sir, —In an endeavour to assist the farming community, Cabinet has increased tho exchange rate and: there is a scheme afoot to stabilise tl:e local'prices of butter. Even with such small increases the farmers, will still bo selling below-produc-tion costs so. nov that the Minister of Employment states that there is to be an overhaul in the system of unemployment relief, so that more beneficial work will be done by the workers, perhaps he will again institute the 4A scheme, which was really of great relief to farmers until it was practically el ruinated, owing to ,the outcry by a few townspeople of Otorohanga and New Plymouth, who did not realise the struggles of the farmers, or surely they would not have been so unreasonable" as to object to the help given. In March or Ap.ril most of the dairy farmers will have to dismiss their farm hands, whom they would otherwise gladly retain if assisted by the Unemployment Board. These men would be assured of reasonably good homes, with attendant home comforts an>l plenty of the best of food (farm products), but they will be driven into the. 'camps simply because Cabinet took notice of a few selfish townspeople. We willingly ,pay our taxes and levies, so why. begrudge us the mite of relief ? In many instances farmers' wives have to assist in the cowsheds, whereas if the subsidy could be obtained, for a man, one would be employed.. One wonders why the building industry should be subsidised in preference, to the farming industry, which i:5 such a parlous plight, and on winch so many directly or indirectly depend. Struggler.