The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1919. PARLOUSNESS OF PRODUCTION.

Taihape Daily Times, 1 July 1919, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times. AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE

TUESDAY, JULY 1, 1919. PARLOUSNESS OF PRODUCTION.

With which is incorporated “The Taihape Post and Waimarino News.” ’

-Such meetings as that of the Sheep-owners’ and Farmers’ Fed-1 eration, held last week, has more than ordinary interest for all sectionsl and classes of people in these trying!‘ and uncertain times, The three pre-} dominant questions discussed were:‘ The. large stocks of meat in freezing‘ works and its relationship with ship-y ping; purchase and fixing of prices by the Government; and consideration of shcarcrs and shed-hands for increased remuneration. It is notable that bodies of men representing any specific industry invariably devote their attention to matters of immediate moment to themscl'\'r_es, they deal only with questions of exigency and emergency. They do not concern themselves over! much with absti-‘actions, or with evolving and developing means whereby national peace, prosperity, and contentment may be established‘. ‘All labour discussions are devoid of any such considerations; they are militant. in tone.to' an extvrenlo,, but are the ,-discussions of such bodies as th’e_Sheepowners’ and Farmers’ Federation setting the example they should and Could set‘? It is undeniably needful that matters of exigcncy should command prompt and careful attention, bllt this Federation could go much fui-‘flier than coutenting itself with settling -disputes and over-

coming their particular diiiiculties as thcyfarise. Their‘ deliberations are too often tinctured with a militant, or resentful tone, which, we believe,’ should, in the best interests of the State, be discouraged. La.bour’s troubles are not without a fanciful ‘aspect, and they become aggravated into reality by opposition that may neither‘ be wise nor necessary. What should concern lalj'our and men engaged in all pursuits and professions is the problem how best to pay our debts. while keeping the flag of the Scuthern Cross flying over a contented, prosperous people. It is the problem of all problems with the people of New Zealand at this moment, and it will re quire all the political and industrial. genius and patience that can be gathered in Parliament and the Cabinet Chamber to ‘safely negotiate the pclitica.l,. social, and industrial rocks. that lie thick and high ahead. Only labour gatherings discuss the coming burdens of taxation. but it is regrettably notable. that neither labour leaders nor labour unions trouble about discussing their views about the money needed by the State to pay ‘interest on loans raised, or from where the money should come from in loans for future requirements. Government has been culpably slow in commencing reconstruction work, which should have been pressed on so as to have left the country’s lonly richles producing rim"dustry free from possibility of falling on calamitous times. Sheepowners’ and Farmers’ Federations know, and labour leaders know, that money is a pressing essential in the life of the State during the coming few years, but neither will admit their knowledge ‘as to just, where that money is to come from, or how it is to be obtained. Labour jokes about money for reconstructive work, but that is largely owing to the fact. '[llat.‘]l'o‘ other section has dealt seriously with the question. Labour’s failure to guage the financial difiieulties confronting this country seems to be the outcome of its leaders’ reprehensible indifference to where the money for State purposes comes from so long as they can snatch the means of weilding political power. Whatever other sins may be laid at the ‘doors of farmers and shccpowners, it ‘certainly is not that of profiteering, for they are rather in the ranks of the iexploited than the exploiters. Their products have been commandeered at |a figure that does not commence to compare with the high price paid by the Imperial Government for American produce; their industry is threatened _ with trusts and combines on every side, as well as from‘ the top and bottom. We mean that it is menaced at every point, -and for this reason alone it should have the help and active sympathy of every other section of the community. _ There is, unfortunately, a. huge preponderance of thought favouring the "idea that farmer and primary producer are quite safe, and -that they are a target all may ‘take a shot at, but, is it not a. fact that the country,‘ which, by politicalpreponderrance(to-

wards anarchy.‘ thrdwg its only‘means" of riches and food production into chaos, must come t.ov-destruction, ruin, and death. ‘Haekneyed though the say«ing may be, it is nevertheless true that society is in the melting pot, and such militancy as indulged in by Mr W. H. Field, at a meeting of producers recently, must. operate towards a recasting that will prove disastrous to civiliation, rather than helpful in evolving :1 better st.ate.. Those fnen among producers who will flaunt their deter» mination to grab the biggest hanidful will do much 3 hasten |labour‘s counter determination to narrow the neck of the jar. Increased taxation is inevitable; the cost of living is at revolution-making ‘point, and the simple fact that money cannot be got from a stone now forces itself upon producers. To ipcreae indirect taxation is the same thing as increasing the cost of living; to tax incomes of financial institutions is an invitation to them to pass the burden back on to the producer_. who is the only money-getter. ,Pl-ofits of inordinate volume are ruthlessly, carelessly taken from the indusi try that is the source of riches to such }an extent that one is justified in believing that the geese who lay the goldenegg will be strangled. No party or polit.i(§al shibbbleth can now be depended upon by farmers to carry them through the troublous time ahead, but the seeds of revolution that anarchy is sowing are daily ‘growing into a menace which is not being met with sane, sensible suasion to the contrary it -certainly should be ifi the body politic is to avoid disaster and production is to be salved from the clraotic condition it. is icommerncing to drift into, made more apparent by the iinpreccd-eiitecl taxation burdens ahead. It will fall upon farmers to finance the country, and, as the taxation screw is tightened, it will dawn upon them that. middle-men who handle their produce, in addition to those who handle their money. are Bleeding them to death. It is through the primary producer that the State lives, moves and has its being, «and what must happen to the State if by any foolhardy proceedings ‘this source of the State’s existence is enfec-bled so that it cannot perform its :-‘natural iiunctionsip Why will not labexirfaiid producer end their (:1-azy', fancied difE'el'ences and unite in sa.vin'g t-he"'St'ate? For they are the only people who can save it and prevent it getting ed’ the high road to still further progress -u.ll<l. prosperity.