NECESSITY FOR RELIEF

Taranaki Daily News, 10 February 1934, Page 17 (Supplement)

NECESSITY FOR RELIEF

POSITION OF DAIRY FARMERS HIGH CHARGES INCONSISTENT. REMIT FROM STRATFORD BRANCH. HIGH CHARGES INCONSISTENT. When at the monthly meeting of tire North Taranaki executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union yesterday a remit was received from the Stratford branch pointing out the need for relief for dairy farmers considerable discussion was- roused. Tire remit was: “That the parlous position of dairy farmers demands immediate action being taken to obtain immediate relief from the heavy burden of interest, rates and overhead costs generally, and it is suggested that the interest on mortgages be based on an index price in accordance with the prices of produce.” The resolution received unanimous support. In regard to the scheme augmented by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., Mr. Blyde stated that its chances of becoming law depended on the economic position when it was brought before Parliament. The scheme was by no means dead. As regards the work of the adjustment commission under the Mortgagors’ Relief Act, Mr. M. Davis, a Stratford delegate, stated that if charges were based on the price of produce for each six months the commission would not need to go over the same ground so many times. There would be no need for inspection of- farms at each application for relief. The position was perilous in the extreme, and there was no- doubt that the next year would be one of the worst since the depression began. Mr. H. A. Hunt, secretary of the Stratford branch, considered the chairman should push the matter forward. Many of the union’s proposals were not pushed forward with sufficient zeal by the Dominion executive. ' He agreed that the index price of produce was the only sound method of fixing interest and other charges.

POSITION OF FARMERS’ UNION. “I cannot see that the Farmers’ Union can do much more,” said the chairman. “There are interests diametrically opposed to ours, although Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., put forward a very strong case. We cannot expect the farmers to carry on with the present prices and the present costs. It is impossible for them to catry on for very long. I should say that 60 or 70 per cent, of farmers cannot hope to keep going. Is the Government going to help the farmers? Ruin faces the farmers, the tradesmen, and with a place like New Plymouth, which depends so entirely upon dairy produce, the town. It is essential that more relief should be made.” ’ . Mr. Blyde said opinion on the Dominion body was by no means unanimous, but schemes from Taranaki had been given very serious consideration. The present resolution possessed a fairly firm foundation. “We should not ask the mortgagee,” he said. “It is a national affair, and must be treated nationally.” Members of the board-supported the resolution, saying that. some relief was esential. Mr. W. Busing maintained that land aggregation was taking place, while Mr. T. T. Murray claimed that in the present stress some form of relief was absolutely necessary. Mr. Blyde in reply to suggestions that the Dominion body did not use sufficient zeal in pushing along resolutions, stated that the Dominion executive was zealous and did hammer resolutions along. Some—and the present resolution came into that category—were somewhat formless, crying for relief but giving no indication of the manner in which the relief should be given. There was a fair chance of a scheme being thrown out, but a scheme was better than none at all.