STATE ADVANCES TO SETTLERS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 131, 2 March 1928, Page 10

STATE ADVANCES TO SETTLERS

Sir,—The Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod), speaking at Te Awamutu, said that during tho last seven years the State Advances Department had advanced fifteen millions on rural lands, and made a point of tho fact that, had it not been lor the guarantee provided by the general taxpayer, it would not have been possible to raise tho money. This would lead one to suppose that the farmers were being spoon fed at the expense of the general community, but if one looks into the matter, one will find that the State Advances Department has advanced in all, about thirty-six millions, during that period. This would show that while farmers have had fifteen millions, property owners in the towns have had over twenty millions iu advances, guaranteed by the general taxpayer. And in addition to this, some thirteen millions have been advanced to workers, bringing the sum advanced in urban areas to double tho amount advanced in rural areas.

Tiio Minister also made a point of the fact that th etaxpayers as a whole hud been asked to find the sum of over one hundred thousand pounds, so that farmers could have reduced fares ou lime and manures. We are very thankful for this help, but what is it in comparison to the enormous amount, running into millions, that the general taxpayer has to contribute by way if import tax, to support tho secondary industries?

One gets tired of always havin" it jammed down one’s throat how much more the Government is doing for the farmers than for the rest of the comniunitv In my opinion it is the other way about. We have seen the import duty on one commodity after another increased ; the tools that the farmer uses, such as slashers or fern hooks, have the duty increased, while a duty that might help the farmer, such as the one on raw cotton, is taken off, so that the manufacturers can import cotton instead of buying our wool.—T. am, etc., FARMER. Elthani, February 27.