FARMER AND RAILWAYS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 795, 16 October 1929, Page 6

FARMER AND RAILWAYS

EXCEPTION TAKEN TO CRITICISM Strong exception to comments in the recent Railways Statement regarding the alleged disloyalty of the farmer in his support of the railways is taken by the Auckland executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. At last evening’s meeting of the executive the question was brought up by Mr. Fiesst, who said that the wording of the report in regard to the man on the land constituted a tactless attack on the farmer. The Waikato Sub-Union had taken strong exception to it, and he urged that the same attitude be taken' up by the Auckland executive. Much of the loss made by the Railway Department in making concessions to the farmer was made up by the Department of Agriculture. The president, Mr. A. A. Ross, contended that Mr. Sterling’s remarks had been justified from the department’s point of view. Concessions were made to the farmer with a view to increasing production and, as a result, gain increased freight from consignments of farm produce; the farmer, however, was sending his produce into the marketing centres by road. It was finally decided to send a letter expressing the executive’s protest at the severity of the recent statements.