FARMERS' WARNING

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20956, 8 November 1939, Page 6

FARMERS' WARNING

LIMIT TO PRODUCTION LETTER TO MR M. J. SAVAGE FAILURE OF DEPUTATION BRITAIN SHOULD BE TOLD (Special to Times)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday Believing it would be “guilty of a grave dereliction of duty if it failed to inform the Government that in the circumstances the people of the United Kingdom should not rely on obtaining substantially increased supplies from the Dominion,” the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, through its president, Mr W. W. Mulholland, has addressed a memorandum to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage:— “For the past three days the Dominion executive of the Farmers’ Union has conferred in Wellington with provincial presidents of the union from all over New Zealand, and representatives of other bodies and organisations concerned with primary production in the Dominion,” Mr Mulholland writes. “The conference waited as a deputation on your colleague, the Minister of Finance, who had associated with him the Ministers of Agriculture, Labour, Lands and Forestry. While appreciating their courtesy we are deeply concerned at the failure of the deputation to achieve results. Decline in Production “After consideration and reconsideration of the situation the conference has instructed me to address you on the subject. For the past two years the volume of our production has steadily fallen off. We understand that the United Kingdom Government has already restricted the allowance of such important commodities as bacon and butter to 4oz per person per week, and has called for a substantial increase it) the production of those products. “If all the circumstances were most favourable a certain time must elapse before increased production couid materialise, but the circumstances are not favourable. The conditions which caused the decline in production during recent years are not only still existing but they have been accentuated, and we believe that they will be further accentuated in the near future. These adverse circumstances are administrative, not physical Failure To Impress “If certain conditions were established it would be possible to rapidly and progressively increase the output of primary produce, and we have so informed your Ministers. But wo deeply regret to inform you that we appear to have failed to impress upon them the urgency and the seriousness of the situation. “We therefore consider that we would be guilty of a grave dereliction of duty if we failed to inform you that the people of the United Kingdom should not rely upon obtaining any substantially increased supplies from this Dominion. “Realising that the production of essential foodstuffs is an important line of defence vitally necessary for the successful prosecution of the war, we are profoundly disturbed by the situation, and we beg to assure you that all our 30,000 members are desperately anxious to play their part in the defence of the Empire to which we are so proud to belong, and we are still endeavouring to overcome the obstacles which are preventing the fulfilment of our earnest desires in this respect.” HUNTLY PROTEST EXECUTIVE URGED TO ACT (Special to Ttmos) HUNTLY, Tuesday A large meeting of farmers of the Huntly West district held in the Rotongaro Hall on Monday night, expressed indignation at the Government’s action towards the representatives of the Farmers’ Union. The following resolution was passed:— “That this meeting of farmers urgently desires to help England by increased production but greatly resents the Government’s action towards the leaders of the Farmers’ Union. Therefore, we urge that the executive take action now.” Several new members were on - rolled at the meeting.