Too Many Take the Easy Way, Then Grouse

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1949, Page 5

Too Many Take the Easy Way, Then Grouse

WELLINGTON, June 1'6. "We must realise that the people of the Dominion as a whole . are itot joiilg . enough work to provide. themselyes with the standard of living, to^ vyhiQti they have been used and to -which' they. consider they yre entitled," said. tlie chairman of the agriculture sectio'g- ot. Federated Farmers (Mr. G. Steyensoit) - iri an address to the annual conference ; of the section yesterday. r "If we wish to go back to a lower . standard of living beeause we are' not prepared to work hard enough, let'-us say so," said Mr. Stevenson. . •. New -Zealanfi had spent its earnings of the last few years in 3. very pro: fliglcte and unwise manner, said Mr. Stevenson. Loans had been paid off ih England when the money should hava been. used for providing plant .and material with which to increase the. national wealth. "Now -we are sitting back and hoping. for the best, V he said, Alr. Stevenson said that, if eompui* sory military training came in, unless * the people were prepared to work harder to make up the loss of effort entaiied bv young men going into training, the standard of living of the people in NeW were retired at 54 or 55 and the schooi* . feaving age had been raised. If on top1 of that the Dominion 's working force, were further depleted, how could they be expected Jo do all 'the work requifed if the standard of living were to be kept up? , "The pfeople of this country have no : right to expect the farmer to work harder and harder while others eontinue to do less work," said Mr. Stevenson. ' ' On the other harid if we , are willing to get down to the job there is no reason why we cannot increase production to the benefit of everybody in the country. . . 1 "I am quite sure the farmers, will do. their part, and I would like to ask What will be the attitude of the rest of. th'e . community?" he concluded.