WILL CARRY ON

Rotorua Morning Post, 29 August 1931, Page 3

WILL CARRY ON

NGONGOTAHA BRANCH OF FARMERS' UNION. ENCOURAGING MEETING. A well attended meeting of the Ngongotaha Braneh of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, was held at Ngongotaha on Thursday .evening-. The president, Mr. J. E. Martin stated that the local branch had recently decided to disband- but it seemed to him that^the present was a time when closer unity - amongst the farming community was imperative. There were many matters vitally affecting the welfare of the Ngongotaha settlqrs which could properly be dealt with by the farmers themselves acting in concert. For instance, the unjust imposition of a rural levy in electric light charges was a matter which might well receive attention, and the valuation of the rateable land in the district might also be revised. He considered it essential that farmers should be able to express their views in a gathering of fellow farmers. Mr. S. H. Jolly, District Area Officer, suggested that the good attendance at that evening's meeting could be taken as a hopeful sign that the Ngongotaha branch would be able to carry on instead of persisting in its original intention to disband. Mr. Jolly stated that much of the present economic depression was due to a fallacious system of indiscriminate borrowing and to protection by means of tariff walls. He r.ecommended a reduction in both interest rates and the duties on goods imported from Great Britain. , ' De-Rating. With the fall in prices of primary produce, all rural lands he considered should be derated. Unde-r present conditions, it was much more equitable that producers should be relieved of as much rattng as possible. The extra rates might well be paid by the users of the roads. Mr. D. B. Higgins, president of the Matamata branch of the Union strongly urged the necessity for economy on the farm. He criticised the policy of indiscriminately advocating increased production because of the great rise in the cost of production and the lack of suitable markets. A re-adjustment of existing mort-' gage values was imperative, stated Mr. Higgins, while the cost of roads should be more a burden upon the motorist than upon the primary producer. He considered that deratI ing was bound to eventuate. | Dealing with the question of elec1 tric power, Mr. Higgins stated that | the Farmers' Union had taken up this i matter and- was advocating a national fiat rate charge, which would place the farmers on even terms with city dwellers. As an Epglishman he praised the indomitable spirit of-the New Zealander on the land. Many New Zealand farmers were fighting against tremendous odds. However, farmers must combine, for in combination they could assert themselves, and obtain their rights. Mr. H. M. Martin explained that the motion to wind up the local branch had been moved at a previous meeting, and was a result of the lack of enthusiasm among members. Upon the recommendation of Mr. ' J. E. Martin, a motion that the Union carry on in Ngongotaha was carried unanimously.