GREATER PRODUCTION

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21167, 17 July 1940, Page 8

GREATER PRODUCTION

FINANCING OF FARMERS NON-PRODUCERS CAN HELP PROPOSALS IN THE WAIKATO “I have had a number of inquiries from farmers asking me whether the proposal, which I brought before the meeting of dairyfarmers held in Hamilton early this month, when I advocated the issue of loans free of interest to farmers who are unable to finance the necessary improvements required to increase their production this season,” said Mr H. Valder in an interview. “The position in regard to this proposal is that I have been in communication by letter and telephone with the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Finance, but so far I have not received any definite reply either for or against the proposal. “The proposition I have put to the Government is that it should provide the capital free of interest for those farmers who are willing, and who need financial support, to increase their production this season. “There does not appear to be any reason why the Government should not pass on some of the loan money which it has received, and will continue to receive without loading it with interest charges, if, as the Minister of Finance said in his radio talk, ‘there is nothing the Government will not do to increase production.’ Alternative Suggestion “Alternatively I have suggested that the Government does not consider it expedient to adopt the proposal, then it should allow the advisory councils which are being set up to appeal to non-producers to do their share by contributing free of interest loans. I understand that a regulation under the Emergency Powers legislation would be required to allow this to be done. I j feel that the response to such an appeal would be immediate and I would bring in an amount that would enable the scheme to be tried out. “At any rate, in the event of the Government not being willing to adopt the proposal, I have the authority of several of . the directors of the Waikato Land Settlement Society to say that this Society would undertake to collect up to £IO,OOO to be used on the conditions outlined, and subject to the regulation stipulating that such money loaned to farmers should take priority over existing mortgages. No Need for Division “There is no reason why in answering the appeal from Great Britain we should divide the community into two classes, the producers and the non-producers. The later are just as eager to help increase production as the former, and can do so by contributing the capital free of interest. “The appeal made by the British Minister of Supply (Mr R. S. Hudson) was not to any one section of the community, but to all of us. In his broadcast last week Mr Hudson said—- “ 4 This war is an economic war and might be won by the side having the last week’s supply of food.* “Ninety per cent of our national income is derived from the land. One hundred per cent, of the population is vitally interested in the problem lof increasing production, and we should strain every nerve to supply not only the extra cheese and pig meat requested, but also every additional ounce possible of 4 that last week’s supply of food.* **