ASSISTING FARMERS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20841, 27 June 1939, Page 9

ASSISTING FARMERS

SCHEME 4B EXPLAINED WAGES SUBSIDY TO 75 PER CENT. (Special to Times) TE AWAMUTU, Monday The Te Awamutu branch of the Farmers’ Union was gn en an explanation of the 4b Scheme at the monthly meeting by Messrs J. D. Heslop and Cavanagh, of the Social Security Department, who were present by invitation. Mr Heslop said that the Minister had come to the conclusion that the best thing he could do was to help the man on the land to increase production, and the 4b Scheme had been introduced for that purpose. The men would work under a contract basis and the Government was prepared to grant a subsidy up to 75 per cent, of wages. The amount of the subsidy would depend entirely upon the merits of each case, for some dependence would have to be placed on the farmer's ability to pay.

Accommodation, material and tools would have to be supplied by the farmer who would pay the whole cost of the job in the first place, but would be recompensed to the extent of whatever subsidy was decided upon. Possibly farmers who were “up against it” would find this a disadvantage, but he had reason to believe that the banks and stock firms would meet the position. He could not give any assurance as to that, but believed it would prove so. The farmer would determine the price of the job and a Departmental officer would certify. He would like to see every farmer who intended to carry out development work take advantage of the scheme.

Mr Cavanagh explained that application forms could be obtained at post offices, and each job would be considered on its merits. The farmer had to arrange accommodation. He assured the members that the Department was anxious to make the scheme a success, and there was no political flavour about it.