SOUTH AFRICAN FARMERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 November 1921, Page 8

SOUTH AFRICAN FARMERS.

UNDER WAVE OF DEPRESSION. CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT. Capetown, Oct. 14. Owing to the financial depression, and consequent fall in the values of agricultural produce, and also owing to the failure of the cereal crop, as a result of the drought conditions of last summer, many farmers are seriously involved financially, and may possibly be compelled to discontinue operations. The Government was recently strongly urged to render assistance, but was unable to accept the various remedial suggestions. It now proposes, with the approval of the banks, that the magistrates in affected -districts shall appoint vigilance committees’ which will endeavor to persuade pressing creditors to grant debtor farmers extension of time to discharge their liabilities. The committee will intervene only in cases 'where payment or judicial execution would inflict irremediable loss on the producers. The movement among farmers in favor of organisation and co-operation is gaining ground, and -the necessary concerted action with regard to the export trade is widely urged.

In this connection maize and citrus fruitgrowers have recently been very active, and tobacco-growers will probably take to heart the advice of the Minister for Fin/ince, who, replying to a deputa-' tion, urged co-operation among growers in catering for the export market by skilled handling of produce. The latest scheme for the protection of farmers’ interests was outlined by General Hertzog to the Orange Free State National Congress at Bloemfontein. He urged the farmers to run their own bank, declaring that the farmers should be independent of the foreign capital with which the majority of the bank| worked.