HELP FOR FARMERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 44, 14 May 1927, Page 15

HELP FOR FARMERS

FINANCE PROBLEMS LAND SETTLEMENT LEAGUE COMMITTEE SET UP “JI>ELIEF for the farmer” was the problem discussed at the meeting of the New Zealand Land Settlement and Development League, members expressing the opinion that the man on the land should be given security of finance and tenure.

Mr. M. G. McArthur moved that the Finance Committee should evolve some scheme to keep the people on the land. Mr. W. J. Broadfoot said that his idea of farmers’ finance was this: We have to-day existing in New Zealand a bank open to farmers in the form of the State Advances to Settlers. We should get the Government to see eye to eye with us and augment the funds in that department. Surely we can get the big companies to put their money into State Advances to Settlers’ Bonds. If they won’t advance to the settler direct then let them lend it to the Government and get the security they crave in lieu of giving it to harbour boards and power boards. The State Advances Department should be decentralised so the farmer can get what he wants for land and stock to let him carry on his business apart from private interest.

“GOVERNED BY OFFICIALDOM” Mr. Edwin Harding said that the first duty was to see that all the evidence is provided for the Board of Inquiry; to throw such a blinding light on the subject that the Government must see that something must be done. But the rock they were up against was “Administration.” The crucial point of the difficult position New Zealand is facing to-day is the fact that the country is largely governed by officialism.

“Let us point out the advisability of keeping men who are already on the farms. Loss of production is a big thing to this country,” said Mr. A. M. Bisley. Mr. F. Hellaby: The position is that the value of production has gone down and progressively costs have gone up and capital is squeezed. for the appointment of a commission*' to investigate things. Mr/ McArthur: It may be necessary to discount a mortgage to say 50 per cent, and allow the farmer to pay his obligations. Mr. Broadfoot: The idea is to link up with capable men and see if they will come in. Get every man available who understands soil problems. “We should find the leakage between producer and market cost of selling to the public,” said Mr. A. A. Ross.

Mr. Harding said that the Land Department should do the roading and open the lands for settlement in group systems, ana the Agricultural Department should be prepared to advise and instruct as to how to deal with those lands to best purpose. They should give the land free of interest for a number of years and not allow anyone to go on the land without having at least 10 per cent, to go on land with. The following Economic Committee was set up: Messrs. Hellaby, Hutchinson, Holdsworth, Perkins and M. G. McArthur (with power to add to number).