FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20783, 18 April 1939, Page 6

FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

INTEREST IN UNION i PROVINCIAL PRESIDENT** REPORT STATE DEPARTMENTS CRITICISED Reporting to the annual oonferenoe of the Waikato Sub-Province of the Farmers’ Union in Hamilton to-day. the president, Mr G. T. Crawley, dealt with the growing difficulty of the farmers and urged a greater interest in the affairs of the union as a means of receiving just treatment. The speaker also deprecated the unnecessary complications which were being introduced into the affairs of Government. “Since our last conference a general election has taken place, the Labour Party being again returned with a large majority, although it lost many rural seats.” said the speaker. “Under a party system of Government large sections of the community are virtually disfranchised, the party usually being controlled by outside interests. Caucus proceedings are held in camera as also arc meetings of the party. The interests of the electors are always secondary to those of the party. Unnecessarily Comp floated “Until farming opinion is united and farmers are represented by one strong union of which practically all are members we shall not receive the treatment to which we are entitled. It is very gratifying to record that a very vigorous increase in interest is being taken in the affairs of the union and farming opinion is becoming more united than ever before.” The affairs of Government were becoming very complicated, in many cases unnecessarily so, and many departments were hopelessly in arrears with their work, this inflicting inconvenience and hardship on many people, continued Mr Crawley. The railways were again unable to cope with the seasonal demand for fertilisers, which, according to newspaper reports, was less than usual. The people were promised that the taxation system would he overhauled hut so far nothing had been done except to increase very considerably the proportion of the income to be taken. The multiplicity of taxes drawn from the same source by so many methods, made an immense amount of unnecessary work for the taxation department, and also worry for the unfortunate victims. A Hard Season “The season just closing has been a very hard one, particularly for sheepfarmers,” said the speaker. “Following a severe outbreak of facial eczema the season began with depleted and debilitated flocks and herds, low prices were received for meat and wool and a lower price is being paid for dairy produce than was unanimously recommended by a committee appointed by the Government. The early part of the season was dry, midsummer very cold, and during the last three months we have suffered a severe drought. “Very unpopular measures are being taken to restrict imports, with the avowed intention of protecting sterling credit balances and encouraging secondary industries. These measures are likely to have many adverse repercussions, an example of which is the recent threat of French woolbuyers to boycott New Zealand wool, because French goods are virtually excluded from New Zealand. The season’s low production will undoubtedly make it more difficult for the Government. If the economic position of the primary industries were made sound and security of tenure given to those with a love of the soil. New Zealand would never look back.”