FARMERS WARNED.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19895, 26 May 1936, Page 9

FARMERS WARNED.

MR POLSON’S PREDICTIONS. EFFECT OF LEGISLATION. GUARANTEED Pl‘tl-CES ANALYSED. (Special to Times.) AUCKLAND, Tuesday. A warning that the results may not turn out nearly so well as hoped for the farmers in the legislation heins enacted by the Labour Government, and the suggestion that strong resist;— ance should be offered to any legisla—tion which, in his opinion. would re—duce the farmers of the Dominion to a state of peasantry, was made by Mr W. J. Poison, MP. for Stratt’ord, in opening the 36th annual conference of the New Zealand Farmers‘ Union (Auckland province) this morning. The delegates present numbered about 100. After being introduced by the presi—dent, Mr H. 0. Mellsop, Mr Poison opened the conference with an ad—dress whieh strongly criticised the Labour Government. Mr Polson's Poiloy. Mr Poison said he had taken his politics from the policy of the Farm—-e-rs' Union, and had consistently voted in accordance with the prin—ciples of what that policy stood for. The policy stood for the freehold, that which had made for the ownership of the farms by farmers, but it also stood for the freedom of farmers to man—age their own affairs, and also freedom from the burden of taxation, which the farmers had been made to carry, and which they considered unfair. The “farmers are borne down with taxation to help others, who do not help us," said Mr Poison. He couldn‘t approve of the Reserve Bank Bill. ‘Ke had not had a hand in opposing any monetary reform because he believed a measure of it must come in this and other countries. The Reserve Bank Bill, however, placed the credit of this country in the hands of an individual to do what he liked with should occasion arise, and the worst feature was the dis—crimination which might arise. Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Touching the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Mr Poison said it went. much further than what the Farmers‘ Union expected. He foresaw the formation of Dominion unions, which meant that the trades union secretaries, a group of which would be in \Veliington, would hold the Do—minion‘s industry in an iron grip. Employers could be penalised heavily, but a way of r‘scflpe was provided to the unions. The Act was going to be a direct interference, not only with setondar)‘ ‘hui. also with primary industries of the Dominion. “The effort of the Marketing Bill will he that tho farmr'rs \\ill have to stand the ilrst shock. it is intended to extend it. to other sections later on. ” You are going to lose a good deal with the fixed price. You will lose control of your business. The Government has sold us a husk. Make no mistake about that. “This yrar the factories would pay out. over is per lh liutlorl‘at, The 'l'nranaki fartorics will pay out more than is. the East ‘COItSI would ltf‘ a little better than is hut. some other factories are not certain. I think the New Zealand average will he smncthing over is. Now you have the basis of the guaranteed price at one shilling and a third, but ihrrc is a tag: you will have in ng‘ Lahour sonic of ii. The lowest direct increase from the farm for freight will he id per ll). 'i‘lirn what ahout. increased costs? "\\'o are told they will go up 1:) per rrnt: I think that will work out at. toast id per it) on your hutleri‘ai. making ‘lll. But. there is more to come. \\'hal about your curronry? ;\n economist worked it out that there will be inflation, and that currency will depreciate ‘Zd in your is. and you will have to suffer that. in addition to the L’d l inl'nlionrd lirinrc." ’l‘hn roni'rruin'o will sit loeinorrow. nim Hil ’l‘liursday and Friday, with day :1111l night bl‘hryll‘lls. .\li liliil tin-re are ‘JI rl‘uiils to lie rousidrrrd.