The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1923. THE FARMER’S VIEW.

Southland Times, Issue 18969, 16 June 1923, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1923. THE FARMER’S VIEW.

Mr Arnott’s address to the annual provincial conference of the Farmers’ Union was interesting in many ways, and worthy of attention at the hands of our public men. The president of the Farmers’ Union made an unimpassioned survey of events, never striking very deeply, but on one or two subjects importance giving a calm and considerJPstatement of the farmer’s view. On the political situation he was not at all unfair. That there is a fair amount of dissatisfaction with the Reform Government among the ranks of its supporters is a question about which there is no room for doubt, and in a broad sense it .is a good sign that those who vote for Reform candidates do not abandon their right of criticism. This spirit of independence is excellent, but, as Mr Arnott confesses, the elector is faced with the fact that he has no alternative. The farmer may find grounds for dissatisfaction, but when it comes to a question of the Reform Government or the two parties opposing it, he finds that neither can inspire him with confidence. New Zealand has corne through such difficulties since the close of the war, and the farming community, in common with farmers in other lands, have felt keenly the effects of the world wide depression, coupled with heavy taxation. Mr Massey had to deal with demands for retrenchment and to effect economies, while he was carrying on taxation at a scale which, compared with the pre-war period, was absolutely ruinous. It is not surprising, therefore, that there gradually sprang up a body of criticism some of which turned into open hostility, but if we sit down calmly and compare achievements with the problems as they rose, if we compare political events in New Zealand with other lands, we find that the Prime Minister has weathered the storm post-war conditions created with remarkable success. In other countries governments have toppled because they forfeited the confidence of the people, and it is therefore not surprising to find that the Government has a smaller majority in the House than it had previously. Actually, of course, it is backed by a larger vote than it enjoyed after the first post-war election, but owing to the vagaries of the voting system which Mr Massey is content to leave untouched, he is weaker in the House. Had there been in the field another party capable of inspiring confidence in the country, it is probable that the Reform Government would have fallen headlong, but, as Mr Arnott says, the Liberal cannot appeal to the rural interests., and Labour’s platform incites the farmer’s opposition at once. It was pleasing to find Mr Amott emphasising the need for better methods of farming in Southland. The province is far from being developed, and farmers require to approach their special problems boldly. Financial considerations, of course, play a big part in hampering progress in the country, and it is obvious from the interest being taken in the Agricultural Bank proposals that the farmer is seeking to help himself if it is possible. Touching on the development of our resources, Mr Arnott mentioned the shipping difficulties, and in this matter Southlanders will require to be alert if they are not to be injured by what appears to be a movement to concentrate the handling of overseas cargo in the main ports. It will be remembered that this was mentioned when the Meat Pool was first mooted, and it has since risen in connection with the dairy board proposals. Anything which tends to shift oversea ships from Bluff must be vigorously opposed, because no matter how pleasant the blandishments, the concentration of overseas shipping in the four main ports is going to cost Southland farmers much money in the ultimate. This shipping question is of vital interest to the province, and a close co-operation between the Farmers’ Union, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Southland League, is necessary to afford our people protection.