FARM HOUSING SUBSIDY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19100, 22 August 1936, Page 8

FARM HOUSING SUBSIDY

MOT WANTED IN GISEGRNE FABMEBS' UNION YTFAYS i.nWKW COSTS INSTEAD \ majority of those at a meeting of Uic I'ovckv .Hay provincial executive! of the Fanners' Union in Gisborne vestcrday afternoon do iiot wish to accept a Government, subsidy for the erection of dwellings u>? farm workers, but would prefer to be i" a position' to provide this expenditure themselves, if t.lie Government would help to relievo farmers of sumo ol their present; burdens.

This opinion \vfl« expressed in a motion carried bv live votes to three. It was moved-by Mr. W. T - Vciteh iU I lie form of an amendment to a molion thanking the Government for its oiler in this direction. The amendment was that instead of subsidising workers' dwellings on farms, the Government should place the farming industry in the same posit ion a.s other industries, so that, fanners could erect their own workers' dwellings. This could bo effected either by a compensated price or by a lowering of farmers' costs. It was seconded by Mr. p. Hobbs. The proposal of the Government to offer a subsidy on farm labourers' dwellings came through the head office of the Farmers' Union from the Labour Department, which asked for suggestions. "TAME SOCIALISTS" Mr. Witch said lie was not in fav our of the proposal, which was another small wedge being driven in to make the farmer a socialist. He referred to .the subsidy as a sop, and said thai if the farmers were given an opportunity they would bo able to do these things for themselves. "They are training us all to be nice, fame socialists in 10 years' time," Mr. Witch added. Mr. .T. C. Field said that in theory Mr. Witch's argument was all right. However, men who had given faithful service to farmers should be given ail possible comfort, and lie would give the scheme his hearty support. It was a splendid scheme, he considered. Mr. .T. F. Brosnahan was not willing lo aslc the Government to support such a proposal. A farmer who could not find a IVw hundred pounds to creel a collage for a good worker should not be fanning. It was very good of the Government to offer the subsidy, but no good farm hand should be lost for the sake of a cottage. Mr. Witch: I have a cottage, and cannot get anyone to live in it. Mr. Field: Has it a good bathroom? Mr. Voiteh: Yes. RETENTION OF GOOD MEN Air. Hobb3 said, that the farmers should be given a chance to pay a decent wage and erect farm cottages for themselves and not need to secure assistance from the Government. Mr. lii'o.-naiiau suggested asking the Government to remove all the burdens from which the farmer was suffering and then the farmers would pay from their own pockets what the Government was at, present offering. Mi. .1. G. Field said that many good men on farms had not the comfort they should have. While the farmer retired to his warm sitting-room, the labourer often, had to get into his bag bed. Mr. D. .1. Gumming: This is a very good, offer from the Government, and 1. move that we thank it for it. Mr. Field seconded this.. Mr. lirosnahan considered thai a man with X.2 10s a week in the country, with, free house, meat and wood was better off than one with £5 u week in town. Mr. Voiteh said that if lie had ti good man he would look after him. because he knew good men 'were hard to obtain. He had rung up a registry oi'tice in town, seeking a married couple, and had been told: " V.oii won't get one this week; there's a good picture on." He then moved his amendment, which was carried by Jive voles to three.