FINANCIAL HELP

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3598, 26 August 1939, Page 5

FINANCIAL HELP

YOUNG FARMERS' POSITION DIFFICULTY STRESSED There has not been a time when it was harder for farmers to get financial assistance than at the present, said Mr J. D. Gregan, South Canterbury, at the .annual conference in Wellington of the New Zealand Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs. Mr Gregan said that such sources of financial assistance as the State Advances Corporation, stock and station firms, and other institutions, which had assisted farmers in the past were now closing down on them. There a great need to give young farmers facilities to begin on their own land—some could do so on land already in possession of their parents—and to build on and improve such holdings. Young farmers were being taught modern farming methods, but what was the use if they could not get the finance necessary for the application of such methods? A Canterbury remit to this effect was discussed: "That the attention of the New Zealand council of the federation be drawn to the absolute necessity for assistance to young farmers in order that they may start farming on their own account; that a sub-committee be set up, and that the Government be approached." IMr J. H. Bremner, Pahiatua, moved as an amendment: "That the Wellington council considers that farming is not being made sufficiently attractive to young farmers, and wishes to draw the attention of the federation to this state of affairs; neither is provision being made for married farm workers, and this federation requests the Dominion executive to set up a committee to investigate this." Waste of Men Mr Bremner asked what was going to be done.with young farmers who had been trained to the point where they were capable of taking charge of their own farms. The problem of land settlement today was most difficult. While wastage was going on in flocks and herds it was also proceeding among farmers. A lot of farmers who should be retiring were not doing so because of certain difficulties. The result was a hold-up between old farmers going out and young ones taking over. The only alternative to the young farmers desiring to marry and branch out on their own was to go into the cities, where they could get houses and accommodation, and become salesmen, public works employees, lorry drivers and so on. It was generally recognised that production was falling. Farm labour, for which there was only sin : gle men's accommodation, was advertised for, and on the other hand married workers were advertising for employment. There were men available, but they could not be accommodated. Mr J. N. Smith said that the development and opening-up of lands in the north had been stopped because there were not settlers coming forward to take up the land. The amendment was lost and the motion carried.