HARASSED FARMERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18622, 5 February 1935, Page 6

HARASSED FARMERS

TRIERS EJECTED

KAWKE'S BAY ALLEGATION

••Some of the farmers treat the Gov eminent as 'being either a 'bad stepmother or a charitalble aid institution," remarked Mr W. Puddle at the monthly meeting of the Hawke's Bay branch of the Farmers' Union, during a discussion on the question of farmers being unfairly harassed by financial institutions when una'ble to meet their obligations. Mr VV. J. Livingstone said that it was stated that triers would not be put off their farms. Unfortunately, however, such was the case. In some cases fanners and their families who had toiled hard for years improving their farms and had found themselves in difficulty, owing to the low prices for butter, had been forced off their holdings. Threatening letters from lawyers were most irritating to farmers who were up against things through no fault of their own. Mr Livingstone said that if a farmer walked off his farm he became one of the unemployed. He contended that things must come down to a level at which a man could live. Mortgagees had got to realise this, and when they did it would be 'better for the man who was struggling. If a man was pushed too hard he could go to the Adjustment Court, but. many had found that H, was not very helpful. This was a matter that the union should take tip. Where a man was mortgaged heavily and owing interest, what was the position? Was he to walk off? They as fanners should Say no.

Mr Puddle suggested that, a commit tec should be appointed to find out the deserving cases. It w.as no good appointing an expert, as he, would most probably put out the hardesttriers.

Ii was agreed that the matter should be taken up by the New Zealand Farmers' Union in the interests of deserving farmers. < '