FARMER’S WARNING.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1922, Page 5

FARMER’S WARNING.

STRAIGHT TALK TO CAPITAL. Wellington, August 30. After carefully reviewing many phases of the economic position in New Zealand, Mr. Hamilton (Wallace) presented to the House some arguments favoring further pooling by the producers. The farmer, he said, has absolutely no say in the price at which he should sell. He was obliged to take the best offer, -blit when it came to the farmer making purchases he had to pay the price fixed by the sellers. Wliile competition was keen, there was a chance of securing a good price., but competition had been succeeded by a combination of buyers, and therefore the producer should follow suit.

Mr. Holland: Labor is in the same position. Mr. Hamilton: Yes; one class, by organising, forces the other sections into combination.

He went on to suggest that not only should farmers endeavor to improve their marketing methods, but they must cut down the working costs. The banks, by their high interest rates, and the shipping companies, with their high freights, were playing into the hands of the Bolsheviks. These institutions had not played the game. “The hand-writ-ing is on the wall,” declared Mr. Hamilton, “and unless capital endeavors to reduce the amount it extracts for its own profit their day is coming, and they will have to toe the mark, and if there is any overturning of the present system it will be partly their own fault. A Labor member: You are a “Bolshy” all right.

Mr. Hamilton: No! But unless capital plays the game it takes away our security against Bolshevism.