PROTESTS FROM FARMERS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20954, 6 November 1939, Page 6

PROTESTS FROM FARMERS

Timely advice has come recently from several leaders of the primary industries and of the business community urging those suffering from a sense of grievance because of the hardships imposed upon them not to deviate from strictly constitutional methods. No matter how well founded their complaints may be, there is a constitutional remedy without resort to undesirable action. There is now a movement for a combined conference of business and primary industrial interests throughout the Dominion to make unmistakably clear their conviction that the handling of the economic situation is not securing the national efficiency that is necessary, particularly in time of war. Mr A. J. Sinclair, when addressing a meeting at Whakatane, used sound arguments. He strongly deprecated the suggestions in some quarters concerning strikes and “ direct action.” “ The farmer of this country has a duty today,” he said, “ which transcends any grievance he may have in connection with the guaranteed price. Other sections of the community can go on strike as often as they please, claiming that this is the only method by which they can get their grievances rectified; but there is a deep and abiding spirit of loyalty to the Homeland among the primary producers of this country, which will mak-s them produce to the limit during the war. But the farmer cannot do the impossible.” That is an attitude that the whole farming community can adopt with safety and with credit to the country. There is no need to relinquish any constitutional action that will bring home to the Government the need for encouragement to the producing industries, but that objective is most likely to be achieved by reasoned and democratic methods. The producers have, in fact, an unanswerable case which must sooner or later receive recognition—and the sooner, the better it will be for New Zealand. It is perfectly obvious that the new basis upon which the Government has placed the farmer is not in the best interests of the country. The State has decreed that the primary producers must be content with a low fixed price which limits income but dots not take account of costs. Costs have been forced up by the Government’s general policy, and the result can be seen clearly all over the country. It will yet be proved that a prosperous and reasonably satisfied farming community .is New Zealand’s greatest asset. A meagre “wage” imposed by a State that does not realise the difficulties of the farming business will never produce what the country requires.