"DIFFICULT TIMES"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 2, 3 July 1939, Page 8

"DIFFICULT TIMES"

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln Saturday's issue of-"The Post" there appears a report of an address given by Mr. W. W. Mulholland under the heading "Difficult Times." He states that "he was definitely of the opinion that they were facing the most serious position the farming industry had ever faced in New Zealand and in saying that he was fully aware of the difficult time through which they had passed five years ago." The New Zealand farmer today is definitely in a prosperous condition and he would not change his position with any other set of farmers in the world. It is true, as Mr. Mulholland states, "that it is difficult to convince a per-, son who was having a good time that there was anything wrong." This equally applies to the farmers of New Zealand, despite the propaganda put over. After reading this depressing address imagine my surprise to read in the next column but one under the heading "Back Without Envy," "Young Farmers' Party," a tour of New South Wales. And this is what it says: "Farmers in Australia are incredulous when told that nearly every farmer in New Zealand owns a motorcar, milking machine plant, radio set, and telephone, and has an electricallyequipped house and milking shed. . . . Our fellows have returned very satisfied with the conditions in their own country," said Mr. J. E. Davies, "and they have no wish to change places with the farmers of New South Wales." This should be sufficient to convince the intelligent reader—farmer or otherwise—as to the value of Mr. Mulholland's imagined depression.—l am, etc.. W. H. LEWIS. Another correspondent (T. Purdie) also draws attention to the statement made by the young New Zealand farmers on their return from Australia.