WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1921, Page 1

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

FARM KBS’ HARR LOT. REBRESKNTATIONS TO BREMIKR. (Special to "Guardian.”) WELLINGTON. (>< t. 12 The deputation representative of the farming community which waited upon the Prime Minister yestenluy with an urgent request tluii the Government would hestir itself Inward- relieving the hind lot of the men on the luml eerie inly made out a very strong ease tor ii.e consideration of Mr Masses' and his colleagues. >.ll W. 11. Hunt, the principal spokesman, did not mime matters at- all in placing the facts lietort the Minister. With low prices for tliei. produce, he said, the Jarmers were faced with largely increased costs. 11 ichor interest, excessive taxation, largely increased transit charges, dearer labour and commodities, with no prospect of an enri.v improvement, hud rendered the position of itiunv of the men on the hind simply intoleiahie. Mr Hunt recognised that the Govcrnment could not raise the prices for the farmers' products. These wore lixed by the world's markets and could not lie iulluenced hy any local effort, lint lie contended that the (!nvornm»nt couhl improve the position materially hy ciitifing down its administrative expenditure and so preparing the way for a substantial reduction in taxation.

Mr W. .1. Poison, the Dominion President of the Farmers' Fnion. and Mi (I. L. Marshall emphasised the points submitted hy Mr Hunt. Mr Poison did not think the (loverninent fully understood the gravity of the position, lie had just returned from a tout of tin 1 Sotitii Island where, he was assured, many of the farmers wore unable to pay the interest on their mortgages and some of them unable to pay their taxation. The producers by the sheer] force of cireumstauees had boon compelled to accept a lower standard of liviiijc. They had no alternative. But the other sections of the community acre maintaining the high standaids established during the prosperous years and thus keeping up tin- prices of commodities and the cost of services that Here aggravating the difficulttes ot the men on the land. Ml Poison strongly ndvoeated the abolition of compulsory prefeieui-e to unionists, wbieli, be said, ji'acrd a huge burden upon the mas' of t|.c people and created funds h i l'<‘ in iiiitriiiiiini of the agitator-.. wi i»,e doctiine was less work lot tbe urea" "-.l possible pay. Mr Maisitall lolloued m a similar strain. (ft IYEILXM KNT RKTIIKNVIIINC. In ivplv i lie Piiuie Minister stroll. :!> dcpieeated the .tendency towards pessimism which sci Hied to Ira 1 . >• lal.ioi s--si of I of ill.' fai'lilMlg eim.lUlUlity. llknow .- I! about lull'd lime-, lie "as a piodneer himself and he understood the diilieilll ics ui the producers. Ife had been thiiiimb tbe depiession of the 'i ia.1 111 *• s nnd people "in had had that experience should not I c losing courage oow. The Cnvei uinciit was not uniniipli ul of the m Oil- if the situation. The war had imposed an additional Ii:,I, l li' v of some L' 1 tltl.OOIt.ltl)tl upon New Zealand, including the liability tor

|ii'iisuni>. This was a hiirdcn wnlcli had 1.. he i ill li' 11. ' !'d which. I_H‘ «'" s >lll-I'. lli<’ <•< miil l y would t :!*•<■ ns i-iillingeullsly .’l'' it had bleed ’be i| s.'ll'.' Tin- Kovel miH'lit was prepared In slum tlu- way. Mmisters were ,e----<llll-iiiU lll-iiiU t Ik'i i own salaries Jim! :i l l t-;ii ln Inn! etl'eeted eer,mimics in ihe _ expendii lire :i nmuni i 11. Utu a in illii hi and ii Iml | ii year. Hi- held in his hand tin' report nf tlic Heoiiomy Hoard whii-li proposed additional savings ol' two millions a yonr and In' believed this f. rihi'r insiahm-nt of economy could he Heeled without inilieling any I-iiml-shi|). "Von have -I a led your case very | clearly." Mr Massey said in conclusion,] ■link'don’t go about talking ns if this was the end of all things. You will Hud work done during the next three months which I believe will he a picns1111L surprise to yon." And so the meinhers of the deputation wen- dismi>.e(l will] hopes uwivi'd. ITHI.IC F.X RFC TATI ON. 1, hn,| la-ell 1 unionted for tune previously that the Kcoilomy Hoard, conipo'i-d of heads of Depa 1 1 ments. bad indicated direct ions in which savinos running into two or three millions | ,7,1,1 he elicited, hut the (hiverniuent laid made no statement on the stthject and vestetdav’s deputation had no I. in ,'A ledge .if its inlenliolis. It may now Hike credit to it-"If tin bavin ■ oh,incil .1 definite announcement Ironi the I’lime Minister, v hid, may he _re--1 if. ,1 as a prdiul" to fa 1 -reaching o ,implies mid to some much m .-de I 11 duel ion in the grievous huiden ot taxation. This, til any rate, a the puhli- expectation to-day and lb.we is no reason to suppose Mr Masse, will not '•make pood." It is unlikely, h0w,,11, that tiiiv Ol the economies will become effective 'ill the end of i wear 01 the reduced taxation till a later date.