THE CASE OF THE FARMER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22504, 23 February 1935, Page 11

THE CASE OF THE FARMER

TO THE EDITOB

Sib,— l have been waiting to see if some of our farmers would write and pais .their opinion on the Government’s proposals to help the farmer. It is about time the Government was coming to the farmer’s assistance. The time has arrived when the farmer requires all the assistance the Government can think of, and the only way to assist the farming community is to reduce interest rates, rent, and taxes, and especially those farmers •tfho have- been paying interest at 8 to 10 per cent, for 20 or 30 years should have some consideration.. Mr Coates says the farmer is getting downhearted. Is it any wonder?. It is not only the farmer who is getting downhearted; his wife and family are getting downhearted. Some people wii say the farmers have had good times. That is all right, but they forget many farmers saved money during the good times, paid heavy interest, reared their families and gave them a good education. But now the family is growing into men and women and they require a little pocket money, and their parents are not in a position to give them any. Some farmers never save £1 from one year to another. Is it any wonder the farmer and his wife and family are getting discontented? The farmer is the backbone of the country, and if the Government does' not come to hi g assistance as soon as possible, both the farmer and the country will be out. There are far too many boards and inspectors in the country. Take the Wheat Board! The farmer has no say about the wheat he grows; he has to take what price the board fixes; all wheat to go through a firm. Many far-

’lifers Tn my’ district go in tor mixed fanning. I milk 12 cows, and with the grading of cream the price we are getting is not paying, for th_e grazing of the cows. Thejji we have an inspector coming: around finding as many faults as possible so as to keep his position. We farmers have to pay his salary. 1 keep pigs, and by the time they are fed and sent to Burnside and all expenses and commission taken out there is very little left. We have an inspector for pigs, and his salary has to be paid out of pigs. Then we have the inspector of the poor back-door fowls. We are taxed for keeping fowls. I could go on mentioning boards and inspectors for a long time, but I am only mentioning a few to let our city cousins know how we farmers are taxed! A good many farmers have reared families. Are we to allow them to leave home and drift ,to the city, as we are unable to assist them? As 1 said above, the Government must come to our assistance before it is too late. Our boys are becoming experienced farmers, and must be kept on the farms. I hope some farmer abler with the pen will have his say.—l am, etc., Farmer fob 50 Years. Central Otago, February 20.