GOVERNMENT POLICY STIFLES FARMING

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1946, Page 2

GOVERNMENT POLICY STIFLES FARMING

The place of agriculture in the vear.> ahead, anxl how the policy of the pres%ent Goveruiueut ■ was puttiiig a" brake to the iudustry, was .dealt Avitli by . the the iudustry, was dealt with by the cliairmau, Mr. H. .T. McLeavey, iu his opeuing address at the iuter-provineial couferenee of Federated . Faruiers pl New Zealand at Wanganui. -- *- " We recently lieard a predileetion by the Prime Minister that Agriculture offered little opportunity for the young people 'of the country and that Ave must look to secondary industries to provide aveuues of work for these young people; we have had tlve country quota removed, and although this was primarily a political move, it sliowed a scaut r'egard for rural interests; we haA'e seen the 40-hour week conferred on other sections of the couununity, bnt have heard of no corresponding reward or word of sympathy for the long hours worked by the farmers. ' ' It would appear that ' the farmers ai'e looked upon only as hewers of wood and drawers of water whose loyalty can n'ever be questioned and the relegation of whose interests to the back'ground will be accepted with equanimity. On every hand a callous disregard iu many otticial quarters for agriculture is apparent," Mr. McLeavey contended.

The enormous expenditure planneu for the development of the City of Wellington is a clear demonstratiou of the official mimi on the postwar development of the country. Do we hear of expially large sums to be spent on development of the land? Do we isee enthusiastic plans prepared for rural improvements so that the tliousands of returned men clamouring to get on the land might have a chance'? Far better to spend thousands of poumls pulling doxvn a perfectlv good college and good j homes in Wellington .for an acrodrome tliat will not add one penny to the econoxnic wealth of tha- country. ' ' Wlien Mr. Praser raade his classie remark. I venture to say lie had in mimi his full employment scheme, clearl.v in-l dicating his desire to ehain New Zea- 1 landers to meehanieal machines as a j means of keeping them busy, (piite regardless of whether the output of these I machines is economic or not." If agri- 1 culture is to lose its imporlance a ba-l day lies ahead for the country. "Surely eommonsense and plain eeonomics dictate that the primary industries of a country so admirablv suited to agriculture as New Zealand, should be exploited to the fullest extent bcfore emplrasis is laid*on industrial A'cntures. Flurely we can do more for the world, and eontribute something to universal peaee, by providing needy count noa with food and materials for elothing and !>y allowing them to eoncentrate on the industrial output which is natural to tlrem and is essential to their relxabilitation. "We farmers are trustees of the land and we have a e-lear dut.v to preserve the splendid markets -New Zealand has enjoyed overseas and to stiniulate the fme traditions our forofathers have handed to us, " iMr. ^feLeavey deelared. "Let our voiee be heard in no uncertain terms in the higher eouneils and let us

j stand uuited behind our new organisat tioxi so that our just cause will receive [ the attention it merits. Let us work | with energy and enthusiasm so that in j spite of ohicial slights and insults, avp may pilot our worthy craft tlirough the treacherous rapids of false econoixiy, and merge in good shape for the peaceful waters of sane adininistration; which 'we'know must lie ahead."