The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1919. MR MYERS AND THE FARMERS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 454, 4 March 1919, Page 2

The Times. PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1919. MR MYERS AND THE FARMERS

Whii.F, the war w<is st'll raging the people of New Zealand were not greatly disposed to cavil at the system of " Government by Regulation," not as much perhaps because they were prepared to admit that a great many of those regulations were necessary or even advisable, but because they were ready to put up with a great deal rather than make any domestic disturbance at a time when it was indispensable to show an united front. But now that the war is won, and the damnable schemes of Germany for e\ er blasted, the necessity for tamely submitting to any injury or restriction the whim of the Cabinet or of any individual Minister may seek to impose upon the people, or any section of them, has disappeared and we shall be greatly surprised if the recent exploits of the Minister of Customs are not generally resented by the farming community in the plainest terms and the most forcible manner. No one understands better than Mr Myers that a steady supply of artificial manure is vitally necessary to the well-being not only of the farmers but of the whole people of New Zealand. It is palpable to the meanest intellect that it is only by the surplus products of our agricultural and pastoral lands we are able to pay the interest on our indebtedness. As a debtor country the one thing l hat keeps us solvent is the excess of our exports over our imports. And the only way that a sufficient excess can be secured is by keeping up production by the application of manure. Yet, within the last two or three weeks we find Mr Myers stating, in reply to a complaint that Australian manures could uot secure shipping space, that he could not allot space to them as he wished to build up a reserve of 50,00<i tons ot ccal. Tlilmi we have the embargo up on the exportation of hides, put on, without disguise, in order that tanners might buy at their own prices. It is not pretended for a moment that the general public will receive any benefit for the price of leather and of shoes will still be ruled, as ever, by the price at which the English manufacturer can put his wares into our market. Consequently, whatever is filched in tills manner from the farmer will not help the consumer, but wiH go to enrich a limited number of tantiprs and boot-manufacturers.

Next wc have the embargo upon potatoes, upon which subject a good deal has already appeared in our columns. We aie not sure as to the extent to which the consumer has benefitted by the reduction in price consequent upon the stoppage of export, and we are doubtful whether he has gained as much as the dealer has, but upon the question of the amount ot injury to the producer we have no uncertainty. The immediate fall in prices due to the embargo has not only wiped out his profit, but has, in many cases, made his season's work result in a loss. Contrast the treatment farmers arc getting with the payment ot £9OOO from the public purse to half a dozen fruit dealers to console them for the loss of profits they expected to make from the Makura apples, had they been landed before the local fruit got into the market. Would it not have been as fair to compensate the local fruit-growers because the Makura apples were so delayed that they came into competition with theirs? We have noticed that the attempts to injure the farmers usually syncronise with Mr Massey's absence from the colony. We hope and believe that they are due to Ignorance rather than illwill. but we are strongly of the opinion that it is high time to curb the activities of a Minister who actions show that he is as alien in sympathy as he is in blood to the farmers of New Zealand.