“PUT FARMERS FIRST!”

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17437, 8 April 1931, Page 2

“PUT FARMERS FIRST!”

LORD MELCHETT’S CALL ABANDONED LAND LONDON, February 2rt. A powerful plea for the ’.British fanner was made by Lord Melchett at the third annual dinner of the National Farmers’ Union, held hero this evening. Lord Melchett’s speech, which was cheered to the echo, may be summed up in liis main argument. “There is only one way to help agriculture in this country—that is: for the Government to put British fanners first, and to realise that there is no room in Great Britain for anything from foreign farmers.” Pewsey is in the centre ,of a large agricultural district, which until 20 years ago was one of the most prosperous cereal-producing centres in the country. It has seen the market for its wheat, oats and barley pass completely into the hands of the foreigner, until almost their .only means of livelihood to-day is dairy-farming. FOREIGN CHALLENGE. “Great Britain and the British people,” said Lord Melchett, “are being challenged to-day as they were never challenged before in all their history by foreign competition of every kind. Jt depends, however, on our .own efforts whether we come out triumphant or not, “The basic cause of much of the trouble that besets this land is, I am convinced*, the fact that Great Britain has abandoned her agriculture, has failed to protect it, and has not given il that help which it receives in every leading country in the world. “It is impossible to achieve real prosperity in m.odera times unless the country as a whole pulls together. But there is only one method and it must be adopted at once. “The Government must, come to the aid of agriculture with protection against the foreigner. There is only one way to help the British fanner, and that is to put him first. There is room for no one but our own farmers in this country, and we do not want any one else. “ I do not believe that the difference in price which we are told would prevail would make any difference in the general economic conditions in this country. Neither do I believe in the present criss-cross party system, which dates from 50 years back, of dealing with problems which have no connection with present conditions.” Mr. Blade, president of the National Fanners’ Union, who followed Lord Melchett, denounced in the strongest terms the dumping of German and Russian wheat. lie warned the