FARMERS' TROUBLES.

Otaki Mail, Volume 26, 2 April 1919, Page 4

FARMERS' TROUBLES.

Speaking at the dairy factories’ conference at Hawora. Mr Powdrell mentioned that the Government's action in limiting the amount of rent that could lie charged for houses meant that a man could nor now build a decent house to let at a price that would pay interest on his;outlay, income tax and depreciation. The result was that there were now scores of families in every town unable to get a house to live in. and the result of this legislation was that instead of doing .the working man a good turn they were. making it impossible for people 1o got houses to live in. The question- of manufacturing milk powder, sugar of milk and condensed milk was discussed, and it was decided to send delegates abroad to obtain all possible information. Eight companies.-, representing an output of cheese totalling IO.gTO tons per annum, signified tneir intention of contributing to the cost of the delegation, while manyother delegates said their companies would also contribute, but had not empowered their representatives to commit. tlum that day. It was agreed that the maximum contribution should be fixed at 2s per ton of cheese manufactured. the opinion being expressed that '£looo would be required for each delegate. Hr Powdrell remarked that, a lot of factories appeared to be afraid of paying a levy of Is per ton on cheese to get information on the spot regarding the dry milk, sugar of milk industries, etc. They would rather pay 1 per cent royalty, or £1 2s a ton for years, than look around to see if there was not another way open to. them. It reminded him of the idea of a lot of old people that you . must not go into the water until you can swim. So long as they had men of that description in their factories so long would they have stagnation. Hr Williams (Meremere) regretted the parochialism that was apparently restraining a lot of factories from joining in with the Is levy to send delegates away. They were like the fisherman who was anxious to land a big fish, but begrudged the worm that he had to put on the hook to do it with.