FARMERS’ UNION

Hokitika Guardian, 30 October 1930, Page 3

FARMERS’ UNION

OPPOSED TO CUSTOMS INCREASES.

(ByTelegraph—Press Association ) ,*/ WELLINGTON, Oct. 29 Tariff and fiscal matters Were discussed at the Executive meeting of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union to-day, when a resolution was passed expressing the strongest possible condemnation upon .the recent increases in customs taxation upon necessities, believing, that "such taxation can have no other result. tliali the placing of greater burdens upon industry and the creation of. further unemployment. The following remit_ from Southland was carried:—“That, owing to the economic situation and trade barriers raised' Iby Australia and America curtailing New Zealand trade and causing adverse trade balances against New Zealand, all shipping subsidies to these countries be made a matter of negotiations with the Governments concerned, and not be renewed until trade with these countries can be reestablished on the fairer than at present.’’ The executive refused to pass a remit supporting the motion of the Government in withstanding the preferential rate on Canadian motor-ears as a reprisal for the Canadian Govre nment’s. action in increasing the duty on dairy produce from New Zealand.

Captain Rush worth pointed out that butter might have gone in under four cents duty, but following the reprisal regarding Canadian motor-cars, tin duty was doubled, and now it could not go in. That was the consequence of the reprisal.

The Chairman said the retaliatioi did not get them anywhere.' He stil. hoped they would be able to do something by negotiations with Canada.

„QUESTION OF WAGES. WELLINGTON, >Oct. 29. V;i/A hint that the Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union may 1> 'asked to consider proposals of a political nature was given by Mr Poison M.P., at to-day’s meeting of the Executive. The meeting was discussing whethei it should advocate a reduction in tin civil servants’ wages. Then Mr Poison remarked that what was necessary was a reduction of all costs, in which the business man and the worker woAld have to participate. That could only be done bv special legislation, that was core!(illy thought out. He asked: Could the present Government a minority Government do anything of the kind 9 Mr Poison urged that there was no equality of opportunity for the primary producer in New Zealand. Just now the" falling in prices was affecting the whole world, and it was rio=peculiar to New Zealand. New Zealanders he said, Were trying to maintain a standard in the world to-day equal to, or better than the standard before the war. The result was tliai falling values were creating mires' everywhere. The farmers were nol out to attack any other section of the community, but to endeavour to fim ■a remedy. The financial expert of the Bank of England told them that, in his opin'on, the fall in prices was going to continue. Mr Poison added that he could not say what could he their position in 18 months, unless they could protect themselves and formulate, some scheme for a partial alleviation of their difficulties. Hie farmers could do nothin? at all unless they showed a united front. That was their only hope, if tl»e,v were not going to be driven into the position of the peasantry of Europe.

Mr A. Hamilton, Reform M.P., ('Wallace) said the farmers of New Zealand were looking to the Farmers’ Union for a lead, and to see that their interests were looked after, sc that they received due reward fo> their la,hours. The farmers, isometimes made a noise when there was nothin" particularly wrong. They must hr able to state a case which would he convincing to the community but there was now something seriously wrong, seriously and adversely affecting the farmers. A land boom in New Zealand was brought about bv the big increase in prices received by the farmers in* 1921. Had the Government said to the farmers that, they would receive a 25 per cent increase and applied the remainder to the war debts, the Dominion would have paid their war debts as they went along, and New Zealand would have been much better off. Wages were only i little higher than the cost of living to-day, which was not falling very much. Farming costs were 60 per cent higher to-day and farmers were sell‘ng at 15 per cent higher. The problem was to bring those figure closer together.

A member of the Executive thought they should abolish the Arbitration Court which would bring about an improvement.

Mr ■’"''••"di'm said that it might he discussed, but it was a question as to whether it was politic to do so. 'Plie farmers would have to make their voice felt as y a power in the land if they were 'going to do any good. They had a. majority of votes in New Zealand to-dav, and had some support in the cities, but they had to organise themselves and see tnat power was made effective. . At this stage the Chairman moved; —That any further discussion bo taken in committee.

This was agreed to and after a two hours discussion, a committee was appointed to draw up a plan for an immediate campaign.