THE FARMER’S PLAN.

Southland Times, Issue 21850, 29 October 1932, Page 10

THE FARMER’S PLAN.

To the Editor. Sir,—“Elbow Grease” appears to be a correspondent worthy of my gold nib, as he is as agile arid hard to pin down as a certain domestic insect. I do not care a hoot if all the politicians were farmers, it does not alter the facts of their betrayal of the primary industries in the fixing of the exchange. , * . 1. “E.G.” has numbered this answer wrongly as it is irrelevant and should be the answer to No. 11. 2. A very inadequate comment on this and not a bit helpful. Farmers are doing their darndest, hampered by limited, finance, to increase the production of 8.F., and have long since forgotten that it was ever 2/6. When was it 2/6 per lb? 3. The farmer now pays for the repairs of country roads, and full rates for electricity when it is available. In return for this he has the pleasure of sitting on a post and watching E.G. whizz by, tearing up the roads maintained by the farmer. I would like "E.G.” to quote figures showing who are the greatest users of the roads and electricity as, his surmise may not be correct. He does not deny the possession of the American car but tries to use his predilection for piscatorial parlance to draw a red herring across the scent. • , ' 4. and 9.: Travel broadens the mind, “E.G.,” so hop in your car upon your next holiday and see if you cannot find a few places where buses and trams are not available. Also visit a few country houses and you will find that 50 per cent, of the farmers live in houses such as you would scorn to live in, sans electricity, sanitation, telephone and even adequate food. 5. and 7: The banks, being trading firms, hiring out money will shortly find themselves, like the farmers, unable to dispose of their wares. Money is even now accumulating so the necessity for your expedient is not there. If financial geniuses who run such large concerns find their assets and reserves frozen, how can the backbone of the country be expected to do what the brains did not do, i.e., save their profits in the good times to utilize them in the bad, instead of spending money on buildings, which you condemn in the farmer. 8. You understand correctly. <Jt necessity, this is the position. 10. I would like to accept your offer, but farms cannot be freed from their liabilities and running a farm requires ELBOW GREASE PLUS GREY MATTER.