LAND PROBLEM

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19898, 28 March 1939, Page 15

LAND PROBLEM

DETERIORATION MENACE H.B. FARMERS CONCERNED STATE ACTION URGED Concern at the manner in which second and third-class laird in New Zealand was deteriorating, and the failure of the Government to take any tangible steps to check the drift was expressed at the annual meeting of the Hastings branch of the Farmers’ Union. A serious decline in production was forecast unless some national action was taken with the minimum delay. Mr. R. E. Talbot spoke of the unsatisfactory position concerning representations to the Government by the union on this question. He said the union and the Sheepowners’ Federation had approached the Government toward the end of last year and in February the Dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union had sought another meeting with the Prime Minister, the Rf„ Hon. M. J. Savage, but it seemed from press reports that he had been too busy inspecting factories in Wellington.

“At that time it was known there were tens of thousands of acres of land going out of production,” added Mr. Talbot. “The Minister of Agriculture is sympathetic and would give every assistance he could, but unfortunately he is not the Government. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Lands have to be contacted. So far the union has been advised only that departmental officers arc looking into the position.”