SHOCK TO FARMERS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21034, 9 February 1940, Page 7

SHOCK TO FARMERS

HIDE AND SKIN POOL ORGANISATION SUPERFLUOUS OPPOSITION PREDICTED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday “The recent statement by the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. W. Nash, that the Government intends to take complete control of the purchase of all hides is in the nature ot a shock to dairy farmers,” said Mr G. J. McLeavey, provincial president of the Manawatu Farmers’ Union, in a statement today. “Dairy farmers will have to pay more proportionately than other producers for the costly machinery which is to be set up to keep their returns down. “Hide is a most valuable part of the cull cow and bobby calf, and these returns all help to keep the dairy farmer going. If any of the big interests have put forward requests for increases, these have been analysed and the increases granted, but the dairy farmers’ requests have been turned down. Yet the dairy farmer Is asked to subsidise both secondary industry and its consumers. If the Government thinks it necessary to subsidise these people, it should do it from the Consolidated Fund and not at the expense of the farmer. Pretests Predicted “It has been said, and I believe it to be true, that there is no need for costly organisation here. The Government had an opportunity to satisfy the farmer that it was not in the mind of the Government to socialise his products completely. The full consequences cf this move have not yet been realised by the rank and file of dairy farmers, but when they are there will be a storm of protests. “Recently farmers in my district had the necessity to fight for the principle of security of land tenure. Farmers were greatly relieved and happy when they won out on that occasion, but now they are practically faced with something equally important, security of return from the products of their land. They will fight just as hard for this when they realise the principle involved. I am sure they will oppose this measure with the same force and unity as they displayed in the previous conflict.”

PROTEST INDICATED

STEP TOWARD SOCIALISATION (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Thursday The “people’s movement” which was launched in Wellington last November discussed at a meeting of the central committee today the proposed compulsory sale of hides and skins. In a subsequent statement it was pointed out that while the movement was not interested in sectional grievances it was much concerned with the economic repercussions which affected the national economy of the country. It appeared the Government intended to replace the present marketing methods by setting up a Government department to operate a complicated pool system. As the cost of such control must ultimately be borne by the taxpayer the committee recommended that the executive should make the following protest:— “That this unnecessary extension of Government trading activities in face of the promise made by a Minister of the Crown that if the BritishGovernment did not require any product there would be a free market, indicates the Government intends to pursue its policy of complete socialisation.”