FARMERS’ POLICY.

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19762, 18 December 1935, Page 9

FARMERS’ POLICY.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I have just received a paper from the Manawatu district giving a report of an address delivered hy Colonel Closoy to the Wellington Provincial Executive ol' the Farmers’ Union, and as the matters are of sucii vital importance to primary producers I would ask you to publish a lew cxI raids — “Colonel Closey asserted that there was an mrgent need to closely watch the sequence of movements to pro-, vide tlie new finance promised hy the new Government, lie feared that if a minimum wage were established before guaranieed prices operated all costs would immediately commence to soar and disaster would result, tie was not speaking for or against guaranieed prices, but was pointing out the danger that would result if guaranteed prices lagged behind the fixation of a minimum wage." “There was no room for passengers, and those who hositaled would inevitably be swept aside or eliminated by 1 he swift-moving events following the establishment of a minimum wage and rising costs. The strength of every primary producer was needed, and needed urgently, and once that strength was gained the next urgent step would be to draw uo u Dion of

action. The policy of the future of the country was now being drafted, and there was therefore no time for delay. He suggested that as the next meeting of the Dominion executive would not be until February steps should be taken to approach the ■Minister of Finance, the Hon. Walter Nash, to demand that the sequence of monetary policy be altered. Ills idea was that the injection of new money should be through the medium of the fanner, and would say to Mr Nash: ‘Give us a guaranteed return and then we will start to'buy;‘trade will then increase apd we will have a correctly balanced trade.’ Continuing, Colonel Closey said: ‘lf,you change that sequence there will be serious danger. You should demand world purchasing power parity, which will give you 12 to 13 per cent, more for your produce.’ ” “We were not faced with an argument or a theory; we were faced with a 'definite position—-ihe likelihood of retail prices rising through the injection of new money while a decision was being arrived at as to what was to replace the exchange. Farmers therefore required to be up and doing. He asked that what lie had staled bo examined, and if found correct then quick action was urged. During these three months new money would bo issuing and swelling costs must' soon be reflected. The country was now in Ihe early slagcs of I lie Hoover plan. Once rising costs were started they would be bard to stop, and slowly hut steadily they would destroy the finest employment in New Zealand." —I am, etc., ON TIIE LAND. Hamilton, December 17.