PROMISE BROKEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24038, 8 August 1941, Page 3

PROMISE BROKEN

PURCHASE OF MUTTON GOVERNMENT'S FAILURE ALLEGATION OF FARMERS (0.C.) DUNEDIN, Thursday "In future no chances will be taken with the Government in respect to its promises," said the president, Mr. I). H. Cock burn, at a meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the Farmers' Union, when a discussion took place on the chances of success of a legal action by sheep farmers against the Government for failing to purchase export mutton as promised. "Even though promises are given by Government members in open meeting, they will not be regarded as genuine in future unless we receive them in writing," the president added. Legal opinion was submitted to the effect that the sheep farmers had only a remote chance of receiving damages in proceedings against the Government for alleged breach of contract in respect to the purchase of wethers during the past season. It was stated that, while farmers had a moral case, it was doubtful if legal action would succeed, and it it did whether damages would be paid out by the Government. It was submitted that farmers had been asked to produce more and that the Government had promised to purchase all export meat, which, in the case of wethers in the south, had not been carried out. While farmers would not be bound to fail in a legal action, the oliances of success, the opinion added, were not such as to warrant proceedings being taken. At a later stage of the meeting the following resolution was carried: "That each district be asked to compile a list of the individual losses suffered by farmers through the failure of the Government to implement its promise to purchase all wethers fattened for export, and that, an endeavour be made to collect compensation from the Government."