REPLY TO PRIME MINISTER

Southland Times, Issue 23816, 13 May 1939, Page 8

REPLY TO PRIME MINISTER

SPEECH AT FEILDING DEFENDED STATEMENT BY FORMER PRESIDENT (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 12. “Mr Savage’s statement on the farmers’ meeting at Feilding calls for a reply, and on behalf of the Feilding branch which called the meeting I would like to make it,” said Mri Lloyd Hammond, former provincial president of the Wellington Central province, today. “It should be noted that the meeting was convened by the Feilding branch, its chairman, Mr J. Richardson, being in the chair. Another point is that Mr Mulholland was invited to be present at the meeting. He had nothing to do with convening it. It is interesting to note also that Mr Savage has now completely thrown over his insulation theory, and appears to realize that export prices do have a bearing on the economic condition of the country. So far as the number of farmers present is concerned, that is no concern, of the Dominion president, and if there is any question about it I, for one would be prepared to accept the estimate of the Mayor of Feilding, who was present at the meeting. The Farmers’ Union has always said the farm labourer was not getting as much in wages as he ought, and the industry should be put in a position to pay higher wages. “Of course Mr Mulholland’s speech was political,” said Mr Hammond. “It would have been of little use if it had not been, but no one can point to anything in it of a party political nature, and I defy Mr Savage to point to any party politics in it. Mr Savage says he does not want to force anything on the sheep farmer. Why then does he object to the holding of these meetings (which are open to all farmers) to determine the desire of the sheep industry? Is Mr Savage dissatisfied because the verdict has gone against him? The Government has only itself to thank for this, because the sheep farmers feel that there are two paramount considerations affecting the position. The first is we should not be asked to buy a pig in a poke, and the Prime Minister should make an offer so the farmer Would know what he was getting, but Mr Savage wants the farmer to sign a sale note before he is told the price. The second is that if the Government is so hard up that it can’t find £1,000,000 for the dairy industry how on earth can it find the £5,000,000 which would be necessary to give a decent guaranteed price for meat and wool?” concluded Mr Hammond.