FARMERS DISCOURAGED

Chronicle (Levin), 15 April 1947, Page 3

FARMERS DISCOURAGED

-Press Association

By Telegrapti-

GlSiiOiiA Oi, Apnl lo. Because of shortages of farm suppiies, particularly fertiliser, some kill eouutry farmers iu the Gisborne dis- 1 r triet state that they have decided to give up the unequal struggle and iu future will cease breeding stock and i will concentrate ou dry sheep. Their attitude is summed up in the words of oue farmer: "I aui going to take a bit of a holiday until conditions becorne more eneouraging for primary industries. Dry slieep will do me iu the meantime, and younger men who are probably less fed up cau have tho prolits from breeding young stock. "My place simply won't do youug stock well or carry breediug ewes tlirough the winter in good heart unless I can get fertilisers and this year I cau't get tliem," lie added. Some of these farmers are elderly and like • others worked short handed during the war'. "It is hard to keep up your enthus-

iasm and production in the face of strilces and stoppages on oue liand and bureaucratic controls and interference on the other/' said oue farmer. "The pla'in faet is that elderly people on farrus are getting too little encouragement and there are too many examples of dir'eet action by groups who get their li\Ting in sheitered and closed industries. "If older farmers elioose to restrict their efforts a little, who is going to point a linger- at them?" he asked.