PROPOSALS OF LABOUR

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1932, Page 8

PROPOSALS OF LABOUR

FARMERS’ UNION ATTITUDE. That Labour’s currency schemes designed to remedy New Zealand’s troubles did not contain the value attached .to them by their sponsors was a contention submitted to a meeting at Midhirst last night by Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P. Labour’s remedies, ho said, were increased expenditure, increased wages and shorter hours. On those theories, if people stopped work and were paid £lO a week there would be no troubles. On the other hand, Mr. H. Holland had urged more production by the farmer, who was working 3225 hours a year now as compared with the 2000 hours of the industrial worker. Hot-headed declarations had been made that Labour was the ally of the farmer, but they could not be taken seriously, Mr. Polson said, as the farmer had nothing to gain and much to lose by joining Labour. The farmer was individualistic from the nature of his calling, and the socialisation of the means of production could not possibly improve his lot. One had only to study contemporary history to find proof of that. Labour control in Denmark had thrown over 80 per cent, in taxes • during the last year or two on the shoulders of the farmer, with the result that hundreds were going to England and offering their services as sharemilkers and thousands had been irretrievably ruined. In Queensland, the most fertile State in Australia, production had been halted under 13 years of Labour control until the increase per head of population was 9.67 per cent, as against 86.95 per cent, for the rest of Australia. Before Labour had taken control production in Queensland had been £l6 Is 7d per head above the average of the other States, and when Labour had left office the figure had been £l3 18s below the average. “The fact is,” Mr. Polson added, “that on one hand stands Constitutionalism — the plan on which civilisation was erected —and on the other stands Communism—the plan which has sunk the Russian farmer to the depths of degradation and despair.” ■There was no half way house and Socialism had been shown to have failed completely. Socialistic leaders in Britain had admitted the fact. People would have to join one camp or the other, and he would be failing in his responsibility as the head of the Farmers’ Union if he omitted to draw attention to such facts. BOXING AND WRESTLING. TOURNAMENT AT STRATFORD. Practically all arrangements have been completed for the boxing and wrestling tournament to be held in the Stratford ■ Town Hall to-morrow. There are to be two wrestling bouts, Fryday v. Bailey (Okaiawa), and Goble v. an opponent from Okaiawa. Details of the boxing bouts appeared in the News earlier in the week. GENERAL ITEMS. “Butter is firm at from 105 s. to 107 s., with Danish 108 s., and cheese is steady, white bringing 575. to 58s. and coloured 555.,” states a cable received from London by Mr. W. H. Peick, North Taranaki representative of the Marketing Association. The Lowgarth Co-operative Dairy Company was informed yesterday by the chairman that a payment of per lb. fat over the whole season would be made on August 20. This will bring the payment so far up to lljd., but it is probable more will be available when the balance of the cheese is sold. It is understood that the Mayor, Mr. P. Thomson, intends taking action with a view to resuscitating the Stratford Chamber of Commerce which, through the apathy of business people, ceased to function 12 months ago. Stressing the point that the Government subsidy had been withdrawn and that unless funds were forthcoming from other sources the whole organisation of the South Taranaki Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs might break down, the secretary of the movement (Mr. E. K. Cameron) wrote soliciting some support from shareholders of the Lowgarth Dairy Company. The matter was discussed by suppliers yesterday. All agreed that the organisation was doing a splendid work among the children of the district, but there was a feeling that the matter of a donation was rather the affair of the local branch of the Farmers’ Union. A motion to donate £2 2s. was followed by an amendment favouring £5 55., but both motion and amendment were defeated by small majorities. It was agreed to leave the matter to individual suppliers. A subscription list was prepared and circulated with the result that a substantial sum was voluntarily raised in the room. The Lowgarth Dairy Company commenced its first day of cheese-making for the new season yesterday. Speafflng to shareholders at the annual meeting, the new manager (Mr. J. A. Adams) mentioned that already he had noticed that practically no fat was finding its way into the whey, indicating that the separators were working efficiently. “I believe the fate of the British Empire depends largely upon the result of the Ottawa Conference, and history will record the names of our negotiators either with veneration or execration, according to the results achieved,” said Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., during his address last night to the Midhirst branch of the Farmers’ Union. “This is the greatest moment for the Empire since the American Revolution,” he added. In response to allegations that he had “stolen” certain statements he used in an article submitted to the Farmers’ Union conference, Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., stated at Midhirst last night that he had been quoting from the Rt. Hon. R. McKenna’s remarks, and that owing to inverted commas having been misplaced it had appeared that he had used Mr. McKenna’s contentions as his own. An explanation, he said, had been furnished to the city Press, but the misconception had apparently not been entirely dispelled. In illustrating the benefits of exchange at Midhirst last night, Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., said that while a dairy farmer in New South Wales had been receiving Is. sd. per lb. butterfat, the New Zealand dairy farmer had been receiving only 9d. The Australian farmer had received the better price because of the Paterson plan plus 25 per cent, exchange. Today, he said, Australia had a balance of £40,000,000 of exports over imports. “There is not a dairy company chairman of directors in New Zealand who is not deploring the decrease in production following the decreased use of fertilisers consequent upon the low price levels, 1 said Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., at Midhirst i last night. He mentioned that there 1 were 2,235,000 fewer sheep in New Zea- j 1 land to-day than two years ago. *