FARMERS' PROBLEMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16374, 23 June 1927, Page 7

FARMERS' PROBLEMS

INTERESTING PHASES PARLIAMENTARIANS' VIEWS (Special to the Herald.) CHRISTCTIURCH, this day. Some interesting phases of the problems of the small farmer were shown by Mr. G. W. Forbes, M.P., and Mr. D. Jones.. M.P., at a meeting of South Island members of Parliament. Mr. Forties said the farming industry was suffering most at present, and the small farmers were having a very hard time to-day. The overhead costs had risen so much in 15 to 20 years that the men were now not getting any return for their labors. It would be well for the Government to make an investigation into the economic position. The men were walking out. of the farms after live or six years, and when their cases were considered it was seen that they had undertaken, impossible tasks. Kates, and the cost of implements, had gone up, and he thought the Government should investigate the position thoroughly and see what could be done. He thought a good deal could be done by co-operation, so that small farmers could reduce overhead expenses on implements for limited use. It Wjas sad that the small farms, of which New. Zealand had been so proud, were now reduced to slavery propositions. FARMERS AND FARMERS Dealing with the position of the farmers, Mr. Jones said a large number of men who were leaving their farms to-day had purchased their farms 10 and 12 years ago at prices below those of to-day. The main factor was the high cost of everything the farmer was buying, and the low price for what he was selling. One of the things that was going to help was the improvement in the methods of farming. A large number of men had gone on to farms with practically no experience. The difference between some farmers and ethers was that a first-class farmer could make double the return off his land that the poor farmer could make. One difficulty for years was that people were continuously sellingj farms instead of farming them. A j depression meant that men had to ■ stay on their farms, and it "was going to be all for the good of the land of New Zealand if men stayed on the larms and found out how to treat the soil to get the best out of it.