FARMERS—ACT!

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 287, 5 December 1945, Page 3

FARMERS—ACT!

Sir,—lt is reported in the press of 13/11/45 that “judging by the resolutions passed by the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the Federated Farmers that they are not in favour of direct action.” As one reads these reported resolutions there appears to be a definite sense of indecision expressed, bordering on temerity. Judging by the dictatorial manner in which the Socialist Government is applying ungency to such vital issues as the country quota's abolition, electoral boundaries alterations, adult instead of gross population to determine such boundaries, with the full intent of reducing farming representation in Parliament, the wily scheme of guaranteed prices to tie the farmer hard and fast to the State machine, the ostracising of the many millions of money benificently granted by Britain to level up farmers’ war price levels to reflect world prices, these moneys being taken from the rightful recipients, to bolster up the currency inflation created by this Socialist regime, all expressing the fundamental antagonism of the present Government to the farming community, the Russian peasant servitude seems to be their objective.

The farmers are fighting a losing cause if they do not counter what is being put across them with the same methods that these gentlemen are expert at. They have employed direct urgency tactics in forcing the above (and many other vital pieces of legislation through the House), to accelerate the Socialist State into being, and may I remark that the attitude of the above provincial executive is playing right into the hands of Mr. Peter Fraser (Prime Minister) and his colleagues, who are well aware that the direct methods which he and his industrial unionist bosses are expert at, are the onty means that the farming community can use to frustrate these injustices. In brief, it is a case of “gloves off.” Unity is strength (organised unionism). Farmers are now organised into one federation which counts for nothing in this case without full individual unity. Resolution No. 2 at this meeting proposed to raise tunas to expertly publicise (Dominion wide) the farmers’ cause. This cause is well understood generally and the time, etc, which these actions will take to work effectively, will only set Qie drift nearer to election day. If this executive relies on what consideration the general public may allow their cause, they may realise too late that the dice has been loaded too much against them by these astute political manipulators. In conclusion, sir, I would recommend every farmer to carefully read your excellent leading article of 29/11/45, which I am sure will convince them of the position they will be in unless they use the means they have at hand to combat, this menace of ultimate socialism which is ultimate totalitarianism.- I am. etc..

“OBSERVER” Palmerston North. Dec. 2, 1945.