FARMERS PROTEST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 91, 22 November 1939, Page 2

FARMERS PROTEST

OPOTIKI MASS MEETING BETTER PAYMENTS WANTED There was a large attendance at .a meeting of farmers held in the Regent Hall on Friday to consider the Guaranteed Price and other Labour legisyation. The chair was occupied by Mr A. E. Martin, Bay of Plenty Sub-provincial President of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. The chief •speaker was Mr Lambert, Rangitaiki, while addresses were also given by Mr Raymond Reid, Mrs V. Wilson and Mr F. E. Carter, Farmers' Union organiser. A very strong feeling of opposition to the Government's policy was displayed, and the following resolutions were carricd by an

overwhelming majority : —

Moved by Mi A. J. W. Kemp and seconded by Mr L. Holman: "This meeting representing tiie iaiminy interests ci the Opotiki district warns tlie Government that by its policy of fixing farmers' returns at uneconomic levels approximating world prices for such products 'while at the same time allowing the already artificial high level of costs to mount must result not only in an entirely unbalanced internal economy m this country which will ultimately mean the complete submergence of our primary producers: but also renders completely impossible that ,'ftecAive effort towards increased production for -which the British Government is so urgently calling. We wish to represent most emphatically thai unless the New Zealand Government bases the return to the farmer on the costs of production including that reasonable margin for reserves which the demands of ordinary business prudence dictate, production must continue to fall, making impossible any recovery in our sterling funds and detrimentally affecting the welfare of the entire community." Moved by Mr Reg. Walker and seconded by Mr P. Savage: "This meeting of Opotiki citizens, disapproves in the most emphatic terms with the manner in which the New Zealand Government under the guise of the war emergency, has put into effect legislation restricting the liberties of the people in the most onerous manner and far beyond anything that is called for or can be tolerated in any British community. We particularly resent the Marketing Amendment Act 1939 with its appearance of permanance and the high-handed manner in which the Minister for Marketing has treated all enquiries as to the Government's intention in this connection. We demand a categorical assurance from the Government that the measures -which it has brought into force will not be given permanance after the Avar and pledge ourselves to resist in every possible way the Socialistic trend of Government action and to preserve those rights and privileges lield so dearly by all British people and which have been so hardly won."