A CALL FOR UNITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 December 1930, Page 12

A CALL FOR UNITY.

(To the Editor.) , sir,—lt is pleasing to note that now the price which farmers will receive for their wool and dairy produce for the present season can be fairly accurately estimated/The farmers all over the Dominion are waking up to the fact that unless they can get financial assistance at a reasonable rate of 1 interest and the costs of production lowered, they must abandon their farms. The danger which is threatening the Dominion to-day does not appear to be fully realised by many farmers and the business people at large. Farmers to-day, are using the whole of the revenue they are deriving from thenland to meet current expenses, whereas In other years -there has always been a surplus accumulating at this period of the year to make provision'for the winter months, when, the farms are yielding no return. The low price of wool, and dairy produce has created a position that unless relief is given to a large percentage of the farmers Jhis coming winter there must inevitably be a heavy drop in production next season, as in addition to many farms being abandoned, those being farmed will be producing less owing to farmers being unable to purchase the fertilisers necessary for Stating of f.men was called in Stratford and all the surround ing districts, and strong representation made to the Government to compel them to protect and assist the farmers to maintain their farms and keep production at a maximum. The question today is not so much, are the finances of the country such as,to warrant assistance being given to farmers, as, can the country afford not to grant assistance to farmers? Whereas the proposed im crease in railway tariff amounting to £53 000 on lime and £122,000 on raw and’manufactured fertilisers, as recommended by the. Rail way Commission, is not being imposed, the Minister of Radways per -Press Association) has staled the farmers are being given coi cessions amounting to £175,000 whereas in reality it', is no concession at all, as the position remains exactly the same ns it has been for some years. In conclusion, if the Government can find one and a half millions of money, a

large proportion of which will be absorbed in expenses to assist the unemployed and pay them a good living wage, the farmers have every right to demand similar concessions and assistance, especially when the money spent on unemployment is returning little or nothing to the State and any concessions granted to the farmers are mostly returned to the State in the form of Revenue.— I art, etc., H. A. HUNT. Stratford, December 1, 1930.