AFRAID OF FUTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23358, 29 May 1939, Page 12

AFRAID OF FUTURE

OUTLOOK FOR FAIIMEES NORTH OTAGO OPINION TIME FOR AN AWAKENING [BV TKUXH.U'U —OWN CORHKSI-ONDK.Vr] Cll UlSTC'll t'UCH, Sunday "Farmers everywhere are afraid of the future," said the president of the North Oiago branch of tlx- New Zealand Farmers' Union, Mr. W. Malcolm, in a review of the farmer's outlook and the position of the industry at the branch's annual meeting. Mr. Malcolm appealed to farmers and young men to remain in the farming ranks, and suggested "to those who feel tbe.v are going to he lip against it" that the help and ait\ ice of older and more experienced farmers might be of value. "In bygone days farmers had their difficulties to meet, and in this perplexing period it may be worth while to compare their problems with ours," he said. "Those difficulties were overcome b.v sheer hard work and l).v the exercise of a thrift unknown to-day. (.'in our present-day problems bo solved by similar methods? Are wo prepared to lower our standard of living to that existing 50 years ago. and if wo are will the results be beneficial to the general prosperity of other sections of the community? No one will reply in the affirmative. So far as hard work is concerned, the 40-hour week is before the eyes of all rural workers.

"The cost of living soars higher than ever. Values of city properties, both residential and business, increase, while on the other hand all farm and stock values depreciate rapidly," Mr. Malcolm continued. "To-day it is a recognised fact that a modern city home has a greater market value than one of our 100-acre farms, which are the real source of any nation's wealth. Secondary industries are being built up on uneconomic foundations. High country runs which were efficient units of production are in grave danger of being abandoned.

"We can claim with pride that if the a/'id test of ability to meet competition in the markets of the world be applied, producers of primary products are members of the only efficient industry of any importance in New Zealand.' Thanhs to our pioneers, our people enjoy a high standard of living. "I am convinced that tho general public holds the future welfare of our industry in its hands, and that sooner or later there will come a full realisation that if New Zealand is to prosper the basic industry must be allowed to develop 011 its own' lines unhampered by ever-rising costs."