BURDEN ON FARMERS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1920, Page 3

BURDEN ON FARMERS

XRED FOR ORGANISATION. • PALMERSTON, May 16. Speaking to his motion to to hold a mass meeting ot farmers at 1 almerstoh North during National Dairy Show week—a. motion which was eventually. carried at the meeting of tie Mnnawatu Sub-i Provincial Farmers’ Union ,on Saturday- —Mr I<. A\ . Hub-bard-pointed out the absolute necessity of organising the union throughout tlio Dominion. They would not. be the power they should be in Hie country without one big organisation, and as a stepping-stone to this, sub-provin-cial schemes should be established n all parts of the country with a Domin-ion-wide organisation at the ‘'"ad. Mr J. Glovii, in supporting the motion, spoke at length on organisation in' the Old Country. At one time, he said, the farmers there were practically the slaves of everybody, and it was not until they felt the pinch that there any attempt to organise. Now, how-

ever, by means of farmers’ unions they were a / nower in the land, i and practically commanded their own prices for their products, and' had free markets for everything. Mr C. P. Lynch said that tlie fa”rocr.s to-dav wore in n more son oils po—sition than over before. Tlie land and income tax had increased, and Die Prime Minister had given indications of a further increase in post and telegraph charges ns, well as in railway fares and freights. This was going yo affect farmers detrimentally, while they would bo harder hit by tbe inevitable drop in market rates which would follow the glut in the frozen meat, stores to-day when tbe produce was placed on the Home markets. It was quite certain that ere long farmers would have to take less for their produce all round. That, with the rising taxation, would mean that tlie Governhent would have to tighten up the screw on the farmers, who must feel that this was not far off. Tlie only man who had to pay was the man who was working the land and endeavouring to make a living out of it. That would make him think harder than he had ever done before during the past two years. Other members said that there were more farmers out of the union than in it, and to make it the power it ought to' bo it should be a strong political political body. *