LIVING BEYOND MEANS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1927, Page 4

LIVING BEYOND MEANS

MR POLSON CONDEMNS ADMINISTRATION. ELTHAM, Dec. 3. A meeting of townspeople and farmers in the Town Hall was addressed hv Mr IV. .T. Poison last night. About 200 were present. Mr Poison spoke for an hour and a half on problems affecting town and country under the following head: Extravagance in Government Expenditure; How the Taxpayers’ Money Goes; What is Wrong with New Zealand P r J he Arbitration Act and its Effects on Town and Country.

Air Poison emphasised the point that production was not increasing and the burden of taxation was becoming heavier. Farms wore being abandoned ami unemployment was rife, which were factors that should not he prominent in a young country. The Dominion was living beyond its means at the rate of £10,000,000 a year, and liorrowing £5,000,000 to keep up appearances. He quoted statistics showing the extravagance of administration in the Dominion, and Warned not only the Government, but tbe local bodies.'

Mr Poison spoke at length on the Commission oil Agricultural Banks, stating that although pledges were given by the Prime Minister in certain directions these had not been kept. All they got was “an emasculated long term,” which, however, bad enabled'the lending of a large sum to the producers. Em Already believed that it would he possible to provide short term credits for traders as well as farmers. More markets were needed, even if it were necessary to have preferential tariffs with other countries, preferably Britain, but bo thought the Dominion and Australia should make arrangements with America. He advocated an immigration policy on lines adopted in Brazil. Regarding the labour problem lie showed how far farmers’ operations wore restricted, and the effect of tlio Arbitration Court awards. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Poison on the motion of the president of the North Taranaki Executive of the Farmers’ Union.