PLAIN TALK FROM FARMERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 75, 16 October 1939, Page 8

PLAIN TALK FROM FARMERS

OPPOSITION A DUTY

SINISTER GOVERNMENT PLAN ALLEGED PRODUCTION BECOMING IMPOSSIBLE SEIZURE OF PROPERTIES The chief discussion at Thursday's meeting of the sub-provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union at Edgecumbe centred on the Government's plea to maintain production, and farmers' lears that socialisation of their industry was an objective of the Government, that it was using the Avar as a screen to rush its policy through, and that the measures now introduced would prove permanent, and would not be relaxed after the Avar. The chairman, Mr A. E. Martin, took this view "when ie said the Government appeared to bo using the war as a means of socialising everything in New Zealand. When the time came to relax the restrictions the present organisations would be out of existence. Other bodies had protested, such as Mr Algie's Freedom League. Mr C. R. "Wilson (Bangi laiki) spoke of the necessity of drawing a distinct ion between co-operation and socialisation. No Deccncy. Mr A. E. Lambert .sai I the Government appeared to be devoid of any sense of honour or decency, inasmuch as they were prostituting the present national system to suit their own ends. They had ben given an assurance of co-operation and undoubtedly fanners would have been prepared to carry this out and make considerably sacrifices to promote 1 the country's welfare, but the offer of co-operation was interpreted as willingness to acquiesce in their own destruction. Any opposition would be justified if it prevented the implementing- of the Government's plans. Cor they would prevent the country from doing its best in the Avar. He added that the farmer worked the hardest and Avas entitled to the higher return. Mr V. S. Mofl'att (Tauranga) sa'ul the present Government Avas a profligate one and regarded as sur a overseas. He Avondered Avhether it would be possible lor the fanners' union to get in touch Avith the British Government and endeavour to get payment to the farmers instead of haAing it intercepted by the Government. "Nashism" and Nazism. We must light Nashism as the men overseas Averc lighting Nazism, said Mr R. W. Strugnell (Omokor<~»a) The Avar had given the Government splendid cover to put into action their pet theories, when anj'one raising a voice could be branded as unpatriotic. The Government claimed to be helping the worker, but they thought of the worker as the pick and shovel man, the Government Avorker and the wharf labourer. The farmer was as much a worker, but the Government thought him a bloat ed capitalist. They must fight. Mr H. J. Angus (Tauranga) said that he could not see any progress being made within tlie present competitive system. Monetary reform seemed to liim the onl5 r solution. Conference Alarmed. Mr A. E. Lambert moved and Mr G. E. S. Gaine seconded a motion to the effect that the conference was alarmed and indignant at the sequence of cA'ents, and in particular the latest amendments to the Marketing Act and resented the restrictions imposed unnecessarily on the freedom of the people, and the fact that advantage had been taken of the world situation to implement a political policy for Avhieh, in normal circumstances, the people Avould not stand, and which Avas calculated to strangle any effective effort and end in national disaster. It requested the Auckland executive to press for the calling of a special Dominion conference to consider the matter. Mr Lambert added that the situation -was not without danger. Some of the heads of the union might see the inside of a prison for the intolerance and sensitiveness to criticism sf the Government convinced him that if thc3 r thought they could get away with it they would squash criticism just as Hitler did (hear, hear!) They had poAver under the

present Avar regulations to "put the , kybosh" on the farmers' union and silence criticism. Mr F. 15. Maunder (Ilangilaiki) said the British Government had asked for all produce. Apparently they Avere also dealing in the same : way Avith the Australian Government and the Australian GoA'crnment could not be called a socialist one. The British Government was treating all alike. More information Avas needed. For All Time. The chairman, Mr A. E. Martin, said the GoA'ernment Avas taking con trol of eA'crylhi ng, not only for the duration of the Avar, but for all time. As soon as the Government got control they "would do a v. ay with the present channels. The nego tiations with the British Government should be carried out through the marketing board. He appealed to the GoA'ernment to be honest with the farmers and tell theniAvliat the price Avas and Avhat the policy of the Government was. Mr R. Dunning (Rangitaiki) sa'ul the farmers at first hoped to produce more, but Avhen they read the acts they Avere dumfounded. The farmers Avanted to be able to produce more and he thought they Averc not so concerned about making money. They were at Avar and warded to produce but they needed Government support Worse. Than U-Boats. The policy of the Government would do more harm to England than the U-boats In* reducing the export of produce to England .said another delegate. There was nothing being done to maintain production. The Government Avas taking young men lor the armv and this must mean a fall in production said another. Mr It. W. Strugnell (Omokoroa) said they couldn't afford to produce at a loss. Gosis had risen and they were*lold to accept the old price and produce more. The chairman read a remit carr'ed in Auckland slating thai the satisfactory Avorking of the production council would depend on the principle that the price to be paid by the Government must coa'ci* the cost of production, involving the periodical adjustment of the price to meet A'ariations in cost. England's Policy. Mr Dunning said that in England they had a definite policy through which production Avas greatly on the increase. That Avas Avhat they Avanted in New Zealand. Mr Mofl'att said that immediately the Avar was over the farmers who had made desperate efforts to increase production might find they had a huge surplus Avhieh Avould lead to loav prices and a slump. The Government Avas. out to bankrupt the farmer and take his land. He thought it was a cunning and wicked venture of the GoA'ernment. The more Ncav Zealand increased her primary production to-day the more she would be bankrupt after the Avar. Another speaker disagreed. England must be supplied ancl farmers must do their job and not Avorry about the chance of a slump. The chairman said if England pressed them to produce more she must take care of any after-war surplus. ,Mr W. J. Law (Te Puke) said young men were going off the farms and ieaving Avoinen and children and thus driving them back into tlie sheds. It Avas the duty of young men to stay on the farms and see food production was maintained. Hon G. E. McMillan (Tauranga) said many points were obscure, and it Avas impossible to discuss the matter fully in default of the information. This Avas due to the fact fii-.u members of Parliament had not fore ed the information out of the Government. Under Coalition. He said that under the Coalition Government production had increased by leaps. There had been a time when England threatened to apply a 15 per cent quota on New Zealand produce. He said New Zealand's final argument, which carried her case, was that production had been buil! up by loans from England and if it had not been clearly understood that increased production would be purchased at Home, New Zealand would never have gone to the extent of raising the money. The Australian producers Avould g?t its money without any resideions, but Mr McMillan was prepared

to bet that the Bri.tish- t GoA'ernment ■a would take out the amount needed at Home to meet our - % "obligatijcvns. The farmers would al\yay.s did. T. What the Dominicyi executive wanted to know was " Avhether Ave t would Avidcn the basis of representation to the conference -held in Wellington. The conference should not miss that point. After the luncheon adjournment Mr E. Thompson (Opotiki) said the restrictions Avould cut down production. Farmers were of the opinion that if restrictions Averc continued they Avould not carry on in further production. When the Avar Avas over they Avould be in trouble because the stock and station firms would be out of business. Useless Executive. Mr H. C. McCready (Taneatua) said the continual harping on profiteers should be remembered. How could the farmer be a profiteer? A protest was necessary. They Avanted some one to go to Wellington and fight the matter and not take eA*crvthing that Avas handed OA*er. He said the representatives Avcre poor, harmless felloAvs Avho just "got it in the neck." Mrs J. A. Meharry (Te Puke) said she thought the farmers' union just hit its head against a stone Avail Avhen they AA'ent to Wellington. Another speaker expressed dissatisfaction Avith the central executive of the union. The Rev Wharelini Rangi (I!uatoki) said the Maori section of the Farmers' Union Avas behind the union in all its dealings, especially at present. He thought that the salvation of the farming industry in Ncav Zealand lay in their own hands. The Maori side of the union Avas behind eveiy suggestion made that day. Union's Work. Another speaker said the union did a good deal of useful Avork, such as their influence in the direction of the increase of the guaranteed price last year. Mr Lambert said at Hie oulbioak of war there ay as a tendency to deprecate criticism of the Government and a tendency to end <. riticism, but 'when things were done in Parliament such, as had been done recently criticism ay as a duty. The resolution was carried unanimously.