CRISIS DEVELOPING

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20951, 2 November 1939, Page 12

CRISIS DEVELOPING

VIEWS OF MR DOIDGE, M.P. FARMERS AND POLITICS “It is surely crass stupidity for the Minister of Labour to plan employment for 5000 men, clearing new farm land, when labour is not available for the farm lands we already possess,” said Mr F. W. Doidge, M.P., when addressing a National Party meeting at Tauranga. “Throughout this electorate,” continued Mr Doidge, “young farmers have left the land to take up arms in the Dominion’s military forces. And while that is happening ablebodied men are either idling on sustenance, or are to be employed clearing scrub land. In either case the men so maintained will receive higher financial reward than is given to the men who will fight to protect them.”

“I can quote innumerable cases where farmers are crying out for farm labour. At Otakiri there is a farmer who with the aid of a child milks 85 cows. He has advertised without success in Auckland, Hamilton and Rotorua. He has applied to the placement officers at Rotorua and Whakatane. He has telegraphed to the Hon. P. C. Webb, pleading for help, and offering a good home and a wage of £3 a week. The irony of this case is that a mile away the Lands Department is employing young farmers to cut scrub at a far bettlr return than this farmer is able to pay.”

“flimilarly at Paengaroa a farmer in urgent need of help, has not only applied locally, but has, without avail, sought men through the placement officer in Auckland, and through three Auckland registry offices.

“The crux of the trouble is that the farmer in search of labour cannot compete with the Government departments, in the matter of either

hours or wages.” “Co-incident with these troubles the farmer faces the spectre of rising costs. He knows that the Govern- 1 ment, by fixing prices and refusing j to fix costs, is loading the dice j against him; that if the process con- j tinues he will be submerged.” “A crisis is fast developing,” add- ; ed the speaker, “and the Govern- | ment seems blind to its approach, i Throughout the province farmers ! talk of open revolt. As a member I of Parliament it is my duty to plead ' with the farmer to seek redress by i constitutional methods. But the ! position is one of grave anxiety, and \ the Government is crazy if it does ! not realise that its present policy is infuriating the farmer beyond | endurance.” j