FARMERS PROTEST

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 260, 17 November 1939, Page 2

FARMERS PROTEST

OPOTIKI MASS MEETING BETTMt PAYMENTS WANTED PROTECT AGAINST LABOUR LEGISLATION There was a. large attendance at a. meeting of farmers held in the Regent Hall to-ilfay to consider the Guaranteed Price and other Labour legislation. The eliair was occupied by Mr. A. E. Martin, Bay of Plenty Sub-pro-vincial President of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. The chief speaker was Mr. Lambert, Rangitaiki, while addresses were also given by Air. Raymond Reid, Airs. V. Wilson and Air. F. E. Carter, Farmers’ Union organiser. A very strong feeling of opposition to the Government’s policy was displayed and the following resolutions were carried by an overwhelming ma-

jority Allpved by Mr. A. T. AV. Kemp and seconded) by Air. L. Holman : “This meeting representing the farming interests of the Opotiki* district warns the Government that by its policy of fixing farmers’ returns at uneconomic levels approximating world prices for suck products while at the same time nil,owing the already artificial high level of costs to mount must result not. only in an entirely unbalanced internal economy in this country which will ultimately mean the complete submergence of our primary producers: but also renders completely impossible that?.effective effort towards increased production for which the British Government is so urgently calling. We wish to represent most emphatically that unless the New Zealand Government bases the return to the farmer on th<' costs of production including that reasonable margin for reserves which the demands of ordinary business prudence . dictate, production must continue tu fall, making impossible any recovery in our sterling) funds and detrimentally affecting the welfare of the entire community.” Aloved hv Air. Reg. Walker and secondedj by Air. P. Savage: “This meeting of Opotiki citizens disapproves in the most emphatic terms with the manner in which the Now Zealand Government under the guise of the war emergency has put into effect legislation restricting the liberties of the people in the mast onerous manner and far beyond anything that, is called for. or can be tolerated in any British Community. AVe particularly resort the Alarketing. Amendment Act 1939 with its appearance of permananeo and tlio high-handed manner in which the Minister lor Alarketing has treated all enquiries as to the Government’s intention in this connection. AVe demand a categorical assurance from the Government that the measures which it has brought into force will not he given permananeo,after the war and pledge ourselves to resist in every possible way the Socialistic trend of Government action and to preserve those rights and privileges' held so dearly by all British people and which have been so hardily wpm.”

A full report of the meeting will appear in. Alonday’s issue of the News.