MILITANT TYPE

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20956, 8 November 1939, Page 2

MILITANT TYPE

DISSATISFACTION MARKED FOUR MAIN CAUSES (By Telegraph. —Press Association) PALMERSTON N. f Tuesday 44 When travelling among and meeting farmers these days, it is disturbing to observe the intense dissatisfaction of the militant type that everywhere is evident at the economic injustice under which they labour, and under which they are being asked and urged to make every effort to increase production for war needs,” declared the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. Hamilton, addressing the National Party in Palmerston North to-night. “ One ;c bound to think that if the Governdoes not observe this and make speedy efforts to remove this feeling, the results expected will not be achieved.” Continuing, Mr Hamilton said that for the unrest there appeared to be four main causes—the inadequacy of the price for butter-fat; the permanent nature of the commandeer of farmers’ produce under the Marketing Act; the extreme and very real difficulty of obtaining a suitable supply of farm labour; the inadequate measures that were being taken to prevent rising costs. Ownership Principle 44 1 have always held, and I am

more than ever convinced, that whatever changes take place the farmers should never lose the ownership of their produce,” said Mr Hamilton. “ The emergency necessary for war sacrifice is a different matter. In defence against bullying dictatorship, the farmers, with other sections of the community, will forego sacred rights until the time comes for peace and the reintroduction of democratic freedom and justice, j “ However, the farmers are not only j incensed to-day at the treatment ■ meted out to them by the authori- ! ties, but also are keenly suspicious i that extreme powers are being taken [ and valuable rights and customs des- ' troyed that will make it difficult to get to normal when the war emergency is over. If the war effort regarding the production of farm pro- , ; duce is to reach the maximum, it | will be necessary for the Government , 1 to be more frank so that they may gain the goodwill and co-operation of \ the farmers.

“ I mentioned that the farmers are labouring under a sense of economic injustice,” Mr Hamilton added. “ This should be evident to anyone who gives a second’s thought to the subject. The farmers, who are almost the sole exporters from this country, have to accept their standard reward on the basis of the competitive markets of the world while buying requirements in a highly-protected, price-fixed market. Now they are subjected to further injustice.”