CONDITIONS OF FARMERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1930, Page 12

CONDITIONS OF FARMERS.

(To the Editor ) Sir,—One hears complaints about the unemployment tax and the term "parasite” applied to the unemployed, but after all it is better to paly 30s‘ a’ year to alleviate this position than to be further taxed to pay 14s a day for relief work. Then again, at the present time, there are far greater parasites, who are helping to put farmers off their land and so increase the ranks of the unemployed. These are those,mortgagees who are' claiming high interest, which is simply extortion, from slaving farmers and families, who see nothing to spare for themselves. A man is better “on the dole” than paying 8 to 10 per cent, for money and seeing no Headway madel What is wanted is a Government that can take prompt action to save the struggling farmer, who is really the backbone of the country, or a Mussolini who is strong willed enough to fight for fair, play against these parasites, who are holding up the progress of the country. Now is the opportune time for the Farmers’ Union to show, what good it can do towards saving the situation and thereby gain the help and admiration of the' whole Dominion. An agricultural bank; on,the lines suggested by Mr. Polson,- would prove a boon, to farmers, who would be quite safe if, money could be found them at a reasonable rate of interest. By far the majority of farmers have a second mortgage, and if this could only always be arranged for a time sufficiently long and at a reasonable rate; every conscientious working farmer would find himself getting clear and seo something for his and liis family’s laboui's./ ■ ,-a .', ‘ , ■' ' :■ ■’ There are mortgagees and landlords who have already humanely reduced rent and interest to meet the financial stringency, and may their reasonable actions be handed down to posterity! Comparing prices of land at ptir now and before the-war, there is a difference of 2 per cent, interest on first and second mortgages as required- by the ordinary farmer. Thus land at £5O per acre to-day is costing-' the farmer 20s per acre per annum more, to say nothing of the increased cost of production as well. TJie Government should be approached to prevent any mortgagee' from confiscating land until every inquiry has been made by a competent board. Every honour and consideration . should . be shown to . those men ‘ who are loyal and reasonable enough to meet farmers ,wlio are struggling to make good. That is my,sincere wish.—l am, etc.,

A BELIEVER IN UNITY AND JUSTICE