ALARM FELT

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20845, 1 July 1939, Page 9

ALARM FELT

EQUITIES THREATENED POVERTY BAY FARMERS APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT (By Telegraph.—Press Association) GISB'ORNE, Friday Fully 300 farmers attended a mass meeting convened by the 'Poverty •BayAgricultural and Pastoral Association in conjunction with the Farmers' Union and Sheepowners’ 'Federati on in Gisborne today. The following resolutions were carried unanimously:— “This mass meeting of farmers views with alarm the approaching loss of their equity, in many cases built up over a number of years. We are deeply apprehensive of increasing taxation and rising costs generally. We express alarm at the drift of farmers’ sons to employment in public works, now made more attractive than farm work. We request the Government to recognise the fact that the -standard reward of some sections of the community is in excess of that which our production can provide. Check To Rising Costs “Believing that the general standard of living is dependent on the welfare of the primary producers, we ask the Government to explore every avenue through which the continuing rise in farming costs can be immediately checked and ultimately reduced. We request that a Poverty Bay farmer should be allowed an opportunity of giving evidence before the Royal Commission with a view to bringing before the notice of the commission means whereby these reductions in costs can be brought about.

‘This meeting strongly urges the amalgamation of all producers’ organisations and we consider the first step should be the amalgamation of tho Farmers’ Union and the Sheepowners’ Union, and therefore ask local executives to take immediate steps to place this request for amalgamation before the respective head offices.”

FARM ACCOMMODATION EFFECT ON LABOUR SCHEME ENDEAVOUR TO SUPPLY TENTS (fev Telegraph.—press Association) WHANGAREI, Friday The attitude of farmers toward the subsidised farm labour scheme was defined at the monthly meeting of the Whangarei branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union today, when Mr J. Donnelley, liaison officer to the Minister of Labour, dealt with questions relating to the proposal and cleared up points of interest to members. The position of the farmers in relation to the Government’s scheme was outlined by Mr A. Briscoe Moore, president of the Whangarei sub-pro-vincial executive of the union, when he said the Government in its efforts to place men on the land was up against obstacles of the Government’s own creation. “During the past three years the Government’s policy has drained thousands of men from the land to the cities,” said Mr Moore. “The farmer has been forced to adjust the economy of his farm to either do without labour altogether or to manage with the minimum possible. The real remedy is to put the farmer in a position to pay competitive wages. Effort to Supply Tents “In many cases accommodation is -not available,” Mr Moore continued. “Tents or some such form of temporary accommodation will have to be supplied by the Government. The Government, while solicitous for the town worker, has not responded to the request for a scheme for housing the men in the country.” Mr Donnelley said the question of accommodation for farm workers was one of the principal difficulties, and an endeavour was being made to finalise arrangements for the Public Works Department for a supply of tents. The question would have to be investigated. Many married men would be willing to go on farms if accommodation were provided, but they objected to being separated from their wives and families.