EXODUS OF FARMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 27

EXODUS OF FARMERS.

SYDNEY, September 28,

There is an exodus of farmers from Newcastle to Chili. Over 20 families havo already left, and more are to follow.

One farmer, who has been in the State ; foii 20 years, and who has done fairly well, when interviewed, said he was going simply because lie was heartily tired of the way ['the farmers were treated. They had to j consideration from the Government, only taxes upon taxes, and so they were going to try what the agricultural conditions ■were like in America, where, they were informed, land concessions were granted liberally.

tSpeaking for himself, he was faced with a serious difficulty. He had" six sons, but he cou.'d not get them, on a, decent bit of land in. New South Wales on anything likw fair terms and conditions. This Government would not give them a chajice. September 29.

In the Assembly Ministers and others attacked the press for its .exaggerated accounts of the exodus to Chili. The Premier said that such statements would do harm and take a long time to undo. The Government was doing what was possible to make land available.

The press, in reply to the Government attacks re the exodus to Chili, says that it was justified in showing what was going on and giving the Government an opportunity of remedying the matter. Mr Carruthers, who is most indignant with the press, is reminded that eight months ago, in the course of a speech, he said that tb.exa were thousands of men with the necessary capital to* go on the land who had not got "Buckley's show" of getting there, and that h.e. further declared that it had broken the hearts of men who desired to get on the land, but who had given up as hopeless whatever chance they deemed they had.