FARMERS AND POLITICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22949, 29 January 1938, Page 17

FARMERS AND POLITICS

Sir, —In Mr. James Millen'B letter of January 24 he made the query, "What has the National Party done for the farmers in the past?" Well, the National and Reform parties progressively and in ratio to changing and improving commercial conditions did all that any Government could do on behalf of tho farming community compatible with justice to the rest of the community. In particular, they strove to keep down costs of production which, had they remained in power, would have meant a very considerable increase in profits to all us farmers, with which we could have improved our cattle and stock, implements, machinery, buildings, etc., whereas now all that money is diverted in other directions. Farming is. after all, with most people, a small business of butter-fat production employing one or two hands. It is thus necessary to keep the costs of management and purchasing costs as low as possible.

Sir, —Mr. James Millen is right in assuming that I am not a member of the Farmers' Union. If my letter conveys the impression that there are only 14 members in the Morrinsvjlle branch he must jump to conclusions easily. The fact that nine voted for and five against compulsion does not indicate that there are only 14 members, but that the majority are of the opinion that there should be more members and that other farmers should be compelled to join. Mr. Millen writes in his letter that if six members voted for a motion and six against it I will see that 150 have voted for the motion and 150 against the motion. Well, I am blind. No, Mr. Millen, it still remains that only six voted for the motion and six against it. Take for an example a branch with 300 members, including 12 officers. If only the 12 officers vote seven officers would be able to carry the motion, although they may only have the support of 20 other members and the five other officers may have the support of the balance of the members. If the Farmers' Union is able to put motions through in this way, it is not acting in the interest of the farming community as a whole, and maybe this is what has happened at Morrinsville. In reply to Mr. Millen's question, "What has the National Party done for the farmers?" Well, I'm not tho official spokesman for the National Party. The National Party has only been formed approximately two years and during that time it has done everything possible to maintain the freedom of tho farmers and others. They have offered constructive criticism of the Labour Party's policy and this is all that ca.u be expected while they are the Opposition Party. T. H. Richards.