ANXIOUS TO ASSIST

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20957, 9 November 1939, Page 8

ANXIOUS TO ASSIST

FARMERS AND THE WAR CHECK TO ENDEAVOURS TE AWAMUTU MASS MEETING “ALMOST IN STATE OF REVOLT” (Special to Times) TE AWAMUTU, Thursday There was a big attendance at the Empire Theatre, Te Awamutu, today at a mass meeting sponsored by the Te Awamutu branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, for the purpose of protesting against the alleged unfair treatment of the farming industry in the matter of the guaranteed price, and discussion of other matters affecting the farmers generally. Mr W. G. Neill, president of the branch, occupied the chair.

Addressing the gathering, Mr A. J. \inclair, secretary-ma'nager of the Te Awamutu Dairy Company, Limited, and a member of the Dairy Council, said it was not too much to say that the dairy farmers of New Zealand were almost in a state of revolt. They observed the statement by other industries that the only method by which grievances could be rectified today was by striking or by direct action, but such talk was futile and dangerous. “The dairy farmer has a duty at the present time which transcends any grievances he may have in connection with the guaranteed price,” said Mr Sinclair. “He must produce to the limit of his capacity and at all times must act on constitutional lines. He will hurt his own cause and forfeit the sympathy of the community if he does otherwise.” Principle of Price The principle of the guaranteed price was clearly set out in the Primary Products Marketing Act, said the speaker, who pointed out that it was reiterated by the Minister of Marketing in a pamphlet issued to all dairy farmers a month before the last general election. In this pamphlet the Minister had made the following statement:—“There is no argument about the principle of guaranteed prices. The principle has come to stay, for guaranteed prices include compensation for all costs, provision for reasonable wages, provision for interest on capital, and a remuneration to the farmer commensurate with the services he renders to the community, and sufficient to give him a reasonable standard of living.” “The dairy farmer claims the fulfilment of that guarantee,” added Mr Sinclair, “but he now finds that an entirely new principle is being introduced by the Government, and that overseas realisations are the determining factor in the price to be paid to the farmer, who was assured in the early stages of the scheme that the Government had a policy of economic insulation which would overcome this problem.

“The chaotic financial position of the country today makes it impossible for the Government to continue piling up deficits in the Dairy Industry Account, and that is the reason the Government is refusing the farmers’ demands. The farmer’s reply is that his costs must come down or his price must go up and he becomes exasperated when he sees men who are working only 40 hours a week getting increases in wages. This makes it more difficult than ever for the farmer to pay competitive rates of wages for skilled labour. Minister and Inflation “Last night Mr Nash broadcast a statement, expressing the Government’s concern lest higher prices to the dairy farmer might bring about inflation in this count//- The Minister’s argument is sound, but it would be more acceptable to the dairying industry if the Government could submit the slightest proof that it was in any way concerned about the inflation which had already occurred as a result of its extravagant policy during the past three years. The dairy farmer refuses to be singled out. He will shoulder his share of the responsibility, but he wants other sections of the community to come into line.” The following resolution, proposed by Mr Allen Bryant and seconded by Mr A. S. Wyllie, was adopted unanimously:— “That this representative meeting of Te Awamutu district farmers declares that it is the farmers’ earnest desire to assist with all the means in their power in the successful prosecution of the war, and asserts that it is only the lack of understanding of the needs of the primary producers, and the entire absence of sympathy of the present Government towards the farming community, which is preventing the farmers from doing their full shve-” Statement Rebutted Another resolution, proposed by Mr J. T. Young and seconded by Mi C. J. Flagg, emphatically refuted tfie statement of the Minister of Marketing, the Hon. Walter Nash, that an increased payment to the dairy farmers would give them an unfair proportion of the national income, and pointed out in rebuttal .that increased costs, which meant increased income to some other sections of the community, had already compelled lower advance payments to dairy farmers. A third resolution, moved by Mr C. S. Alexander and seconded by Mr J. L. Wallis, was as follows:—“That this meeting of farmers of the Te Awamutu district requests the Government to give an immediate undertaking to remove the present commandeer of our produce as soon as possible after the conclusion of the war.”