FARMERS' PLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23356, 26 May 1939, Page 16

FARMERS' PLIGHT

SOCIALISTIC POLICY ECONOMIC INSTABILITY WAIRARAPA MAN'S CRITICISM^ [jlV TELKGIIAI'H —I'UKSS ASSOCIATION] MABTBRTON, Thursday Tlio difficult position in which farmers ivcro placed to-day was emphasised by Mr. Lloyd Hammond, president of the intcr-provincial conferenco of the Farmers' Union, which opened in Masterton to-day. Mr. Hammond said that New Zealand was facing another crisis brought about by the growing economic instability of tho country in consequence of the application of tho socialistic policy of the Government. As primary producers, they demanded that steps be taken to remedy the errors and omissions of the Government's policy, said Mr. Hammond. They knew that a Royal Commission was about to bo set up to investigate the farmer's position generally. It was trusted that tho Government, in its endeavour to remove tho many injustices suffered by primary producers, would not provide remedies at the expense of tho rest of tho community. Tho guaranteed prico scheme for dairy produce had failed absolutely, added .Mr. Hammond, and other sections of primary producers who had been offered a guaranteed price should trend warily. The guaranteed price scheme stood to-day exposed as an excuse for tho commandeer of all produce in an effort to realise tho socialisation of production, distribution and exchange. It was a short step to socialisation of the land. Ho advocated free exchange and the abolition of the import control regulations Mr. Hammond said that almost IUU per cent of tho sheep-farmers were behind tho Meat Board to-day, and they should make it plain that it was their desire that the control of produce ami its marketing should remain in their hands through the Meat Board, The conferenco decided to-day that tho question of accepting the guaranteed price for meat and wool be deferred until after the finding of the Royal Commission recently set up, ana that tho Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, be asked to fix an early reporting date for the commission. A remit was carried advocating a universal levy on all meat killed for providing a stabilisation and compensation scheme. The conference referred to the Dominion executive a remit urging that tho exchange rate bo allowed to reach its natural level.