CROWN TENANTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20067, 26 March 1935, Page 4

CROWN TENANTS

MEETING OF FAIRLIE BRANCH WAGES FOR FARMER^ A well-attended meeting of the Fairlie branch of the Crown Tenants’ Association was held on Saturday night. A motion of sympathy was extended to Mr E. R. Goulter, one of the founders of the Association, in the death of his father, Mr Charles Goulter, of Hawkesbury, Marlborough. Explaining the Mortgage Bills at present before Parliament, the president, Mr D. Barnes, said that it was frequently stated that the country was round the corner and that the depression was merely a passing cloud. However, he thought that the mortgage legislation going through Parliament amply showed the inaccuracy of such statements. Mr A. F. Campbell: Is it proposed to bring all State mortgages under the scheme? The president: "Yes." Continuing his explanation of the Bills he referred to the proposed directorate for the Mortgage Corporation. “The Bill definitely states,” he said, “that the five Government members can do nothin? without the consent of the three bondholder members.” Mr S. p. Bray asked if there was any limit to individual shareholder capital. If there were not. he said, big financial institutions would be able to mop up the shares and assume control. The president: The shareholder capital is limited, but I understand that there is no limit to bondholder capital. Mr D. C. Kidd said that there should be a mortgagor representative on the directorate. The people investing money in the Corporation would very likely be townspeople not conversant with rural problems. In his opinion, said the president, the Adjustment Court should be guided by recommendations from the various farmers’ organisations in a district. It could not of course be expected to abide by such recommendations, but nevertheless fanners’ organisations would have a personal knowledge of applicants for relief. Trade Union Wages Suggested Mr S. P. Bray said trade union awards should be made the basis on which farmers should be remunerated. Farmers, their wives and families, he contended, should not be expected to exist on a mere pittance. Mr J. Trotter said that a man forced to live from hand to mouth would not work so well as a man assured of a reasonably good living. Mr A. F. Campbell asked Mr Bray how he proposed to give a farmer a good living if his farm was not producing it. Mr Bray: I maintain that a mail working as a skilled farmer is entitled to skilled wages. Living expenses should be the first claim on the farm. Mr Kidd pointed out that Mr Bray had not answered Mr Campbell’s question. Mr Bray: Most farms must produce enough to pay working expenses and living expenses. The Association should suggest a reasonable remuneration for farmers, something that could be taken as a basis. As farmers were skilled men, the arbitration award for skilled workers would be the best basis. A motion moved to that effect by Mr Bray was carried. Mr Campbell said that inflated goodwills had piled up charges on land. If interest was cut in half the mortgagor would be relieved and the mortgagee, should things improve, would still have his capital. Because he would pay out less in interest, the mortgagor would be in the same position as if he had had a revalution. “It seems that if we go in for compulsory devaluation,” he added, “the whole loss will be put on the mortgagee, and he must receive some consideration.” Mr Kidd said that some farmers had lost all their savings in their farms, and it would not be equality of sacrifice if their losses were not considered along with the mortgagee's losses. General Business The South Canterbury executive wrote stating that the balance-sheet at the end of the year would probably show a loss of £4O. To meet the deficit, it was suggested that members of the various branches should make voluntary contributions. It was decided to make a levy of 2 6 on local members. The president said that he .wanted to bring to the Mackenzie County Council’s notice the fact that by carting shingle from river beds it was spreading weeds. With regard to the proposal made by the local branch of the Farmers’ Union that Dr. I. W. Weston should be invited to address a meeting of farmers in Fairlie on economic matters, it was decided that the Association should co-operate. Mr Mannix read a letter from the Commissioner of Lands, which stated that if a lease was surrendered a valuation would be made for improvements, but it was probable that a mortgage would have to be taken out for the value. Payment would depend on the financial position of the in-going tenant. A motion of thanks was passed to the two members of the Farmers’ Union present, Messrs A. F. Campbell and J. Trotter.