BRITAIN AND THE NEW ZEALAND FARMER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24450, 8 November 1940, Page 5

BRITAIN AND THE NEW ZEALAND FARMER

TO THE EDITOR Sir,~l have no wish to put Mr Begg completely " off" mutton, but the question of 1,000,000 carcasses of mutton stranded in New Zealand is of vital interest to every farmer. Is Mr Begg trying to gull the farmers? He says these 1,000,000 carcasses could have been shipped to arrive in Great Britain after January 1, 1940, consciously or unconsciously omitting to mention that this would have formed part of the 1940 quota. "Sheep Farmer" is perfectly right when he says that under the quota restriction 50 per cent, of the sheep farmers and 75 per cent, of our run-holders would be forced to abandon their properties. These restrictions still exist and when the war is over—unless, farmers are now alive to the position—our industry will once again be in jeopardy. In the Past we have relied on the Meat Board to look after our interests. Farmers are to-day anxious to know what steps the board is going to take in an endeavour to have these restrictions removed. John Price, 8.8. C commentator, tells us that " the only reforms that issued from the last war were made during the war." Mr Begg seems to be striving to gloss over the seriousness of the oosition and assumes a "hush-hush," "all will be well" attitude, but I assure him that no farmer wishes to be lulled into a false sense of security. It is almost incredible that, as a member of the Meat Board. Mr Begg should advocate helping the Argentine at the expense of the New Zealand farmer. Is the Argentine fighting for the British Empire? And what are our boys overseas to return to if nothing is done to remove the quota restrictions? According to Mr Begg's reasoning everybody—but the president of the Farmers' Union —has the right to criticise any. Government. Even more amusing is his refusal to accept Sir J. Boyd Orr's authority; this he dismisses as so much " Dernicious nonsense." Well. well. The following quotation seems apropos:—"We all fee] embarrassed for the man who is expounding with an authoritative air a subject he knows very little about.' I am. etc.. Primary Producer.