The Guardian And Evening Star, with, which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1928. FARMERS IN CONCLAVE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1928, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with, which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1928. FARMERS IN CONCLAVE.

Tiif. West Coast farmers through their Union have been making themselves heard. These are the days for organisation, and it is only in keeping with the times for tho farmers to unite and voice their views. In the end, public opinion is a composite voice made up of many views, and unless the farmers were heard from, they would be liable to be omitted from the general scheme of progress. The meeting at Greymouth this week evidenced the fact that there are numerous matters on which they are vitally affected—outside of the ordinary farming routine. It is clear that farming is taking a more or less prominent place in the political arena. In the North Island tho - farmers’ organisations are more aggressive, and in some instances arc bent on definite political action. As tho producers of so much of the national wealth, farming is entitled to a great deal of consideration at the hands of the authorities, and it has been the disposition of governments to carry out progressive policies in that respect. Much has lieen done through the Agricultural Department in the way of advance instruction for farmers, and certainly the policy of the country in that respect has not been halting. Great help was given the liariners through, tho cheap money scheme and the land for settlement proposals. lu regard to tenure the policy lias been generous. It does not appear therefore that so far as assisting the man on the land is concerned, the legislation of the country has been lacking in practical sympathy. Economically the farmers’ organisations have had complaints about the tariff through which it was desired to aid secondary industries, hut it is manifest that the country must bo fair all round, and the welfare of the people as a whole requires the industries. The population must he maintained and cannot be kept in one groove only. At the Greymouth meeting this week the farmers l spoke of .the hospital and charitable aid system. It is rather fortunate in this community that in the aggregate the charitable aid calls are not over excessive. Half of the cost of both hospitals and relief, a flier allowing for general receipts including paying patients, l falls oil property, but here again the towns have to hear their share as well as the country, r the. farmers are not carrying all the burden. The contributors also have their representation, and say on the board of management, and are therefore in the position to have a voice in the internal economy of the institutions of the Broadly speaking so far as the hospital district of Westland is concelrned, there is not much occasion for complaint. In the main the management is left to town members, and those who follow the proceedings must realise the care and sympathy with which the duties are discharged. Equitably there may lie some ground for complaint that with regard to paying patients a preference is given to lodges and unions; but on the other hand', the facility for collecting tho reduced payment may be a material advantage in the case of nomadic members of associations. The one may counteract the other. As regards the system of levying eontribu tions from local bodies, the farmers are probably as well off under the present system in this district as tliey would be under the -hypenated proposal of population cum capital value. In regard to local rating and also valuations which are the foundation of the rating, it can hardly be said that heavy exactions are being made. In point of fact the- farming community is not served badly by any means in this district.