“THE FARMER.”

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1932, Page 12

“THE FARMER.”

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —In your report of the Farmers Union' meeting at New Plymouth held to consider. Mr. Wilkinson’s scheme of relief to farmers,' Mr. W. D. Amut, Commissioner of Crown Lands, made ojie or two statements that seem •to reflect on the farming Community. .Firstly, he is reported as having said that farmers were not tackling their . problems as they should; but he did . not explain how they have failed to do so. Can. this statement be upheld? Last, year dairy production reached new records, fat lambs, ewes, beef and wool being produced in quantities not previously equalled, all because of the farmers’ efforts to meet the position. t This season, as far as it has gone, shows a still further increase of 20 per cent, in dairy production, and I understand that lambs, etc., are in larger numbers .than previously. But. still the wheels stick, for every one ton increase seems to result in further falls in values which leave the farmer still worse off. The seriousness of this is graver than appears on the surface, for the increase has in many cases been brought about by the farmer pledging his last remaining credit to obtain the necessary stock, etc., only to see his equity vanish. So it seems that oh the ground of effort the statement that the farmer is not tackling, his problems as he should fails. This leaves us with another ground on which the farmer may not have done as he should, and that is expenditure. I know, of numbers of m?n who wisely' or .not have not greatly reduced expenditure bn their farms. But when it comes to personal accounts 1 the portion is.' very different. These men were regularly used to paying a weekly visit to-the theatres with their wives arid families, but they do not attend once in six. months now. The life of a pair of farm boots is possibly twelve months. I have seen these men stretch theirs to two years, suffering considerable discomfort. Their wives, who probably used to have a new frock each season, have foregone this pleasure if at all possible, to help the position. Further, each winter father and mother used to look for a week or ten days away from the toil and exaction of farm life, but this, too, has gone in a large number. of cases, with the result to-day considerable numbers, especially housewives, are approaching dangerously near to nervous wrecks from over-work and strain. I could go on pointing out similar efforts to reduce costs, but to what end? Does this cap fit? I fancy not. Mr. Armit further stated some were paying their way at present prices and others not, which seems to suggest that some were not doing their best. Admitted that some farmers are solvent, what then? In every community there are always one or two outstanding farmers who, through good luck and management, secure returns above their neighbours’. But that is no criterion. It is the average, everyday man who must carry the burden, and it would be useless to expect him to equal the men at the top, who in a lot of cases owe their success to some gift such as being able to select bulls and cows of outstanding breeding abilities. Success is not necessarily due to superior management. I am afraid the trouble is not the average farmer, but the system under which he works and suffers, and unless Parliament in the coming session can find some relief I believe the end of a considerable body of men as farmers is in sight. Further, it is a pity that the Government cannot find room for the vision and capabilities of Mr. Wilkinson, who two years ago was one of the, few men who foresaw the present conditions, had a plan to meet them, and was scoffed at for his pains, especially by the Government members. —I am, etc., ONE OF THE FARMERS.