POSITION RESIGNED

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1939, Page 9

POSITION RESIGNED

FARM PRODUCE COUNCIL DIFFERENCE OF POLICY GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE His resignation from the Auckland Primary Production Council has been forwarded to the Department of Agriculture by Mr. H. M. Rushworth, president of the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union. In his letter of resignation Mr. Rushworth explains that since it now seems improbable that the Government will consent to adopt a general policy which will permit any considerable increase in farm produce he has no alternative but to comply with his executive's instructions, arrived at during a meeting on November 15. "Every member," says Mr. Rushworth in his letter to the department, "expressed personal knowledge of the general decline in the volume of primary produce for export and, in spite of the utmost anxiety not only to arrest this decline, but substantially to increase production, no method could be discovered whereby this could be achieved within the framework of the order of reference to the Primary Production Councils.. Opinion on Causes. "The causes of the decline, which prevent the greatly-desired increased production, are to be found in Government policy, and there appears to be no possible chance of the problems' being solved by the Councils with their extremely limited powers and order of reference. "It is considered that the people of Great Britain— who are already rationed in essential foodstuffs— are being led to believe that increased supplies will be forthcoming in due course. Some . time must necessarily elapse before it becomes manifest that reliance on this Dominion for this extremely important line of defence is misplaced, and that efforts should have been made to obtain supplies elsewhere. "The executive is therefore unanimously of the opinion that passive acquiescence in the situation and a tacit continuation of their representation on the local Primary Production Councils cannot be justified on any grounds.

Keen Desire to Assist. "Every rhember expressed a passionate desire to assist ,the Empire iri the grave perlls which we are facing, and every possible step will be taken in that direction, but the people of this Dominion and of Great Britain must be clearly informed that the production of our farm commodities is a long and expenslve process, requiring considerable sklll and expert knowledge, and that there must be a substantial change in Government policy if the desired increases are to be produced." As a result, adds Mr. Rushworth, the executive carried the following resolution unanimously: "That the Farmers' Union representation on the Primary Production Councils in the Auckland province be withdrawn upon the expiry of one month from to-day (November 15), failing .an assufgnce havihg been obtained from the Governmeiit that it is prepared to give effect to the conditions set out by this executive as being essential to ensUre increased production, or even to maintain production at its present level."