A FARMER’S. PROGRAMME

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1930, Page 7

A FARMER’S. PROGRAMME

(Exchange.) There is no reason why any body dl men who believe that their interests are neglected or that their rights arc imperilled should not organise and frame a political platform to suit their own special tastes and needs. But it is very doubtful if the attempt to deal with national politics from the standpoint of one section of the community S is likely to promote the general welfare. With this general criticism we may admit that there are points worthy of careful consideration in the resolut_ ions adopted by the representatives of tbe Taranaki and Wanganui branches of the Farmers’ Union at Hawera. The first proposal, dealing with “the incidence cf Customs taxation”—in other words, free imports for the farmer —is not likely to commend itself to the general body of electors, who believe in Protection and cannot -see that the farmer is in any way oppressed by the existing system. The second proposal, providing for the destruction of the Arbitration Court, without setting up any adequate substitute, certainly runs counter to public opinion in this country. The curtailment of administrative extravagence is, of course, a legitimate reform, especially itl the management of our railways; and the extension of more generous financial facilities to the farmer is also desirable No doubt, the rating of farm lands requires readjustment. But something would need to be done to raise any revenue lost by derating, and the proposed petrol tax would clearly not be accepted even by the farmers themselves. There is even less chance of getting rid of the land tax, regarded either as a source of revenue or a check on aggregation. These brief comments indicate the general character of the new platform, and they suggest that it is not likelyl to command unanimous support from the farmers, much less to secure the sympathy or the approval of all classes of electors throughout the Dominion.