The Seaforth News, 1955-12-15, Page 3We all know that the farm
problem in Canada, especially
in regard to the mounting stock-
piling of surplus and possibly on
saleable products, is certainly an
acute one. But what must it be
south of the border where they
already have SIX BILLION
DOLLARS WORTH of such sur-
pluses on hand, with the possi-
bility of the total reaching the
staggering total of TEN BIL-
LION before there is any easing
off.
The following dispatch from
Washington gives an idea of how
some of the leaders over there
view the problem.
The three big farm organiza-
tions are in disagreement over
the development of a proper
program, the National Grange
still holding out for a commodi-
ty -by -commodity 'approach, the
Fanners' Union insisting that a
broad, over-all approach some-
\ what similar to the Brannan
Plan is the real answer, while
the American Farm Bureau
Federation feels that, with cer-
tain limited changes, the pre-
sent program can be made to
work, •
The disunity among the "big
three" is further emphasized by
the recent Grange attack onthe
present administration f a r m
program.
*
Senator Aiken, in talks to
farm groups, is stressing the
optimistic side of the farm pic-
ture as well as its darker as-
pects. Farm credit is still high
and the rate of farm fore-
closures which averaged 7,000
a year for the last 10 years, is
now down to 60 in 1954.
While farm problems may be
"alleviated or aggravated by
man-made laws," the senator
believes that in the main these
problems will not be met in the
halls of congress or in state
capitols, but "must be solved in
the laboratory and on the farms
and by greater unity of effort
among farm people"
PUZZLE - How did barber Al-
phonse Secinaro spend his time
over a recent weekend? Hint:
He didn't attend an Elk's con-
vention.
Some of this unity, he feels,
might be accomplished through
farm cooperatives.
He believes that the public
will support cooperative efforts
of farmers to share fairly in the
national income. But Senator
Aiken does not believe that the
public will long support "a
policy of guaranteeing high-
level farm income through fed-
eral largess, except chirilig
emergencies."
He points to the potato and
egg programs of a few years ago
as indication of that.
The peak of the govern-
ment's gigantic holdings of farm
surpluses probably will be
reached this winter and "then
should taper off," in the opin-
ion of Senator George D. Aiken
of Vermont, ranking Republi-
can farm leader.
This tapering off period may
be slow, but he feels that
"from the long range point of
view" the future of the coun-
try's two million commercial
farmers is a promising one.
d o 4+
In the meantime, the govern-
ment has nearly 6 billion dol-
lars worth of farm surpluses on
its hands. Department of Agri-
culture authorities estimate that
by the time the "peak" which
Senator Aiken forsees is reach-
ed American taxpayers will be
remote -control owners of some
10 billion dollars worth of these
surpluses.
N 4 H
The senator's belief that the
tide will begin to turn at that
point is based on the fact that
domestic demand for all farm
commodities is increasing and
exports now are running 20 per
cent over last year.
The Vermonter has been tak-
ing to the platform lately in an
efort to refute the gloom -and -
doom talk about any American
"farm orisis."
What he is saying from these ,
platforms represents what will,
in all probability ,constitute the
administration answer to
mounting political attack on the
farm issue.
As he puts it: "The so-called
farm crisis is political. The farm
problem is economic."
Neither the ,Senate farm lead-
er nor the administration, how-
ever, has put forth as yet any
definite program of farm legis-
lation. That changes and addi-
tions are needed to present laws
is not denied.
Senator Aiken sees "a dozen
major suggestions for improv-
ing farm programs that merit
serious study and considera-
tion."
Reports from the hinterland,
as travelling congressional com-
mittees tap grass-roots opinion,
indicate that farmers them-
selves are sharply divided on
just what steps should be taken
to bring the farm economy back
into even balance.
"The less the material now -
days the more they cost."
CROSSWORD
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