NO HIDDEN MOTIVE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26775, 19 May 1948, Page 6

NO HIDDEN MOTIVE

QUESTIONNAIRE TO YOUNG FARMERS

INTENTION MISUNDERSTOOD P.A. WELLINGTON, May 18. Concern at the attitude of some branches of Federated Farmers to a land settlement questionnaire sent out to members of Young Farmers’ Clubs was expressed at a meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs in Wellington. The president of the federation, Mr J. Barclay, released a statement for the committee, saying:— “It is obvious from correspondence and reports of meetings that the intention of the questionnaire has been misunderstood in some quarters. The Young Farmers’ Clubs’ Federation is a non-political body concerned mainly with agricultural education and with the welfare of youth on the land. The Department of Agriculture gives the movement considerable assistance through its fields division officers, but does not attempt in any way to control its policy. “The federation has been seriously concerned for a long time over land settlement, and in an endeavour to find the needs of its members the questionnaire has been issued. The answers would enable statistics to be compiled giving the proportion of members who are farming on their own account, who have prospects of taking over their parents’ farms, or who have no opportunity of acquiring land without some financial assistance. “ Statements at some Federated Farmers’ meetings suggest that the matter is being handled with undue secrecy, whereas the questionnaire merely states that personal replies to the questions will be treated with the strictest confidence. It has also been inferred that the matter has been inspired by the Government for the purpose of implementing nationalisation of the land, but the Minister was not even aware of the existence of the questionnaire until the matter appeared in the press. The questionnaire was sent out solely to obtain a true picture of the land settlement needs of members of the federation and was inspired and formulated entirely by members of the federation.” In view of the publicity given to statements made at meetings of branches of Federated Farmers, the matter had been referred to the Dominion Council of Federated Farmers, which had passed a motion stating:—“That this council repudiate any statement made in its- name without its authority, and it has given no authority for any comment on this questionnaire, and has made no statement.” Mr Barclay added that it was unfortunate that there had been misguided comment on the questionnaire, which was designed merely to gain information to strengthen the hand of Young Farmers’ Clubs in asking for consideration of loans and other facilities for young men who wished to take up land after the needs of exservicemen had been met. "