THE MAN ON THE LAND

Shannon News, 17 May 1927, Page 1

THE MAN ON THE LAND

SOME STRAIGHT TALKING.

PROBLEM OF MONEY AND LABOUR.

There was some straight talking, by farmers at the meeting held in the Town Hall last night, under the auspices of the New Zealand Settle-ment-and Development Deague.. Sir Andrew Russell, who presided, invited three-minute speeches from practical men and there was an excellent response.

Mr. J. E. Makgill, of Cambridge, said there could bo no denying the fact that times were hard for the farmer. If times were hard, why invite others to share them? The fact that larger earning powers, were possible to a labourer in the cities depleted the country of its labour. The same remark applied to capital. If those facts were to be overcome they must' be facedi “Wo, know we have a great country,” said Mr. Makgill, “and wo also know that the British character is seen at its best when ‘up against it.’ Therefore let us the facts. Last year the total acreage of occupied land went down by 25,000 and there were 234 fewer settlers on the land. This is a matter for the whole of the community; not merely for those working on the land. (Applause). The country is now overhead of its production. How is that, production to be increased? The first step is to make better use of capital and alsobetter use of the land. Almost every farmer has more land than he can work to the best, advantage.”

Mr. Makgill suggested that the Government should make a register of unoccupied lands in improved areas, so that they could be made open for settlement. The land should be valued by independent and honest valuers (laughter and “hear hear”), and boards should be appointed to confer with the Commissioner of Crown Lands to settle matters of subdivision and allocation. Herd Testing Following a speech by an Onewhero farmer who agreed that too much land was disastrous to'-the farmer, aninteresting reference to herd, testing was made by Mr. 0. M. Hume, -of Hamilton. He declared that the average butterfat production of each cow could be raised from 170 lb to 250 lb. apd in five years’ time it ought to be possible to' raise the figure to 5001 b; (Hear hear.) Every 101 b. increase means £1,000,000 for the country, said Mr. Hume. The Government should be urged to grant a subsidy for a system of group herd testing. The example of Denmark showed what could be done in this direction.

Mr. S. '*E. Wright, secretary of the Auckland Employees’ Association, said lads from the city should be induced to go on the land, but they must have a reasonable prospect of securing their own farms later on. Mr. J. H. Hayward (Whangarei) said gum lands such as those which had been euceessfully developed by tho Government at £ls an acre could not be worked profitably with butterfat at a shilling per lb. Dear money was the problem; farmers, who were paying 5 per cent for their money were making only three or four par ;:ent with it. Income Tax Revision.

Mr. E. A. Ransom, M.P., suggested that institutions and private individuals who lent money to farmers at : from 5 to T.| per cent should be relieved of income tax. Lending institutions which were now payng tho maximum rate of tax, namely, 4/6 in the £. would make as good a net return. "< " w^l!,r ! !

The loss of revenue to the Governimcnt would not be great if income itax was more fairly imposed. There were 33 fanners in Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa who in 1924-5 saved -an average of £3710 through exemption. Sir Andrew Russell declared in his opening speech, that increased production would lead to the use of areas iat present vacant and it would lower ; overhead cos/ts, but not reduce- the level of wages. The farmer was at present fighting an up-hill battle. : One of his greatest needs was cheaper money and this should be possible in all cases where the security was sound. (Applause.) If the prosperity of primary industries could be assured, secondary industries would have a sound basis. Mr; N. G. Gribble made an appeal for a spirit of greater optimism. “Pessimism is poisoning tho country,’’ ho declared;