MUTUAL PROBLEMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26479, 5 June 1947, Page 8

MUTUAL PROBLEMS

TOWN AND COUNTRY GUEST SPEAKERS AT CONFERENCE “At this time we have an opportunity for a mutual discussion of the problems of the city and of the country,” said Mr S. Sim, president of the Federated Farmers, when the annual conference was continued yesterday. “ Our problems are inter-related, and we must recognise that fact,” he said. Representatives of various city organisations were introduced by Mr Sim.

“Without the farmers at the back of us, the city could get nowhere," said Mr C. J. Wood, president of the Chamber of Commerce. “ The old idea that the city could prosper no matter how the farmers were faring has gone. The Chamber of Commerce has always endeavoured to interest itself in the problems of the farming community.” It was, he considered, an excellent thing tnat farmers, who were definitely individualists, had been successful in the formation of a federation which could give them a common voice. From no section of the community had a more sympathetic response to the problems of returned servicemen been received than from the farmers, said Mr M. S. Myers, president of the R.S.A. Rehabilitation on the land was not proceeding as fast as it should, but that was no fault of the farmers.

Mr Myers pointed out that the standard of life which we had enjoyed had depended on Britain’s ability to help us to maintain that standard. Britain to-day was suffering grave disabilities incurred on behalf of the Commonwealth. He felt that the R.S.A. could suitably urge the co-ordination of ideas designed to help Britain to the maximum. In that way we would be insuring ourselves for the future. Mr E. M. North, president of the A. and P. Society, thanked the members of the Federated Farmers for the loyal support which they had given to the society. A talk on the food shortages in Britain was given by the final guest to the confereftce, Mr J. A. Scouler, representing the Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association. Mr Scouler advised the conference not to believe reports that the food position was “not so bad ” in Britain. The position was serious, he said, and monotony of diet was another factor. He felt that the reason British people had accepted rationing so well lay in the fairness of the administration of the rationing.