FARMERS' PLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 11

FARMERS' PLIGHT

f of the crown CASE PUT TO MINISTER REPLY TOj REPRESENTATIONS j BETTER THAN RELIEF WORK [BV TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] RUSSELL, Friday In spite of the fact that Crown tenants, who include a large number of resinned soldiers, are receiving low prices for their produce and are having difficult} in meeting their commitments, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, Minister of lands, is firmly of the opinion that they are in a better position than unemployed 011 relief work. He has said fo to numerous deputations during tho present northern tour. These deputations invariably asked for reductions of the amount the Lands JJepartment deducts from cream pLtques to meet f its charges. At Dargaville it was stated that it yras unfair that tho department should take into consideration a man's pension which lie receives for disability ' m hen determining what he should pay, fcut Mr. Ransom said the department Could not differentiate between sections of tenants. In all cases ho has suggested that the men state their cases to the newly-established adjustment Commission, and he has expressed the opinion that the Crown should submit to investigation as other mortgagees Fill have to do. Each case would be treated 011 its merits in order to keep jcen on their holdings. Quick Action Needed One speaker said that quick action [p-as needed in view of the disastrous .ieffect of uncertainty 011 the mentality fcf men who were afraid that they would j>e put off their holdings. Mr. Ransom: 1 will see to it that no Settler who is of the right type and a tiier is put off the land while 1 am JJinister. It was stated at Ohaeawai that Crown tenants were prepared to shoulder as much of the burden as they could carry, but at present it was impossible to meet charges. It was proposed as a temporary measure of relief that the late of interest be reduced to 2} per cent, but Mr. Ransom said that was out of the question. In support of the contention that the department was getting too much of the /Cheque, a member of a deputation quoted instances showing how much men had left. Taking the first three months of this year, he said, one man had 60 per cent deducted. The department got £2B 10s and the settler £6 Bs. , Other instances were:—so per cent, £2O 34s and £ll ss; 50 per cent. £l6 7s and £4 7s; 66 2-3 per cent, £ls 16s and 18s 9d. It was stated that a man's balance small because of deductions made I by the dairy company for share capital, manures, petrol and oil essential for the working of the farm, but nothing for gioceries, drapery or luxuries of any Jcind. A Question of Expense Mr. H. M. Rushworth, M.P., said it Fas inconceivable that men should be asked to live on less than the minimum fixed for felief workers. Men would lose hope if asked to go on year after year. Strong action should be taken to put settlers on a better footing while the (depression lasts. Mr. Ransom: At whose expense? Mr. Rushworth: Well, if you ask me, . the nation's expense. 1 Mr. Ransom: That will mean heavier taxation. Mr. Rushworth: I think it can be Bone another Vay with less taxation, / J>ut that is another story. Mr. Ransom said he had found some cases where a man had not enough to live on and instead of taking a percentage of the cheque, the department . tcok the lot and gave the settler a living allowance. He did not like doing .that, as it robbed a man of his sense / pf independence. It was also represented to the Minister that if these men walked off their farms they would be entitled to relief work and they would be better working limited hours / for an assured weekly than working 13 or 14 hours a day on the farm and working their wives and families to keep going. The Government should see that they got at least the minimum on which it said the unemployed could exist. New Markets for Produce Mr. Ransom replied that they were inuch better off than relief workers. Ho had spoken to some of the unemployed Ifrho had been put on small farms and • knew how they felt about escaping from telief work. He was quite sure that none . pf these Crown settlers would care to fchange places with the men on relief. • At one place the Minister was retninded that the farmers had been |Jirged to increase production. They had Hone so, and it was now for the Govternment to see that their produce was Marketed. Mr. Ransom* said this wps a matter flhat was receiving very serious consideration. He could not say much on the /ipoint at the moment, but his opinion 'twas that the Dairy Board would have jto find new markets. He had been iniformed that there were countries that Fould enter into trade agreements to &ake our produce.