A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 263, 9 December 1930, Page 6

A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Faced with stern realities, the farmei's of this country have every reason in a crisis like this to look to their Jeaders for a definito plan of action for the future — a widen-e-adjustmenb of mefchods and conditions to meet the likelihood of a eontinuation of low prices for ali priinary produce. It is not to be expected that this " country will quiekly escape from its present crisis into an era of prosperity, and for this reason there is ui'gent need for attempting something that will cope with the situation to-day and for an indefinite period ahead. It is, therefore, to the leaders of the farmers themselves that the country must look to produce proposals that will assist in meeting present and future requirements. One of the suggestions pu.t forward is a moratoriuin, which lias the distinet advantage of giving immediate assistnnce and relief, but is not welcomed by financial authorities for the reason, as they say, that its whole conception is basically wrong and that it would produce worse evils than those it is designed to cure. That viewpoint, nevertheless, is open to serious argument, for it cannot be held that the war-time moratorium, brought about by sheer necessity, was not of immenge benefit to the country as ,a whole and, what is more to the point, sheer necessity may again dictate that some such measure of this natiire will prove necessary to cope with the immediate period ahead. One encouraging development in the past few days is the decision to hold a conference in Wellington representative of commercial and farming interests to consider the present economic conditions Qf the country and, no doubt, cS'er some concrete recommendations to the Government. The conference is to t-ake place this week, and will be attended by representatives of chambers of commerce, Employers' Federation, Kew Zealand Farmers' Union and the Sheepowners* Federation. This will be a fairly representative gatliering and should be but the forerunner of a larger assemblage of all those sections of industry and commerce who are so vitally affected by the present conditions. Tke priijiciple of "getting together" to discuss the problems of the day is full of merit and should have been recognised before now. Up to the present there has been a distinet laek of initiative on the part of the farmers themselves, and it is obvious that a policy of drift cannot be permitted to continue indefinitelv. What action is required to meet the present position? The suggestion is being put forward that Parliament should be assembled early in the New Year with Ihe object of legislating to meet the situation. An early session can, we believe, be confidently looked forward to, but the farmers cannot hope for much in respect to legislation unless the general taxpaver is to be ealled upon to give relief to those engaged upon the land. This week's conference at Wellington will therefore be watehed with considerable interest, for out of the discussions that take jilace there may emanate some definite plan of action that will assist in coping with present -day difficultiis and aiin at a readjustment of conditions for the future. In the markets of the world there is an ever-increasing indication of keener competition for all primary produce. New Zealand has long cherished a world-wide reputation for its high-grade products. Can that reputation be maintained 011 a first-class basis and can our markets be extended? These are reallv the points of outstanding importance. Present prices do not oft'er much encouragement. Artificial conditions are already being dissipated. What line of 'action is required for the future? The rountrv will owe a debt of gratitude to this conference if it can supply thc answer.