The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1934-12-28
Demand More Relief For
Destitute Families
at Home
By a Farmer Correspondent

By a Farmer Correspondent
REGINA, Sask.-For the first
time in history a delegation of i'm
poverished farmers forced the Pro-
vircial government to grant them
the floor on the Provincial Legis-
lative Chamber to state their de-
mands while parliament was in !
session.
Travelling hundreds of miles
from the arid desert Of south
western Saskatchewan and repre-
senting hundreds of dried-out far
mers, the delegation came to Re-
gina to tell the government that
they refused to exist on the starv-
alton rations being doled out to
them.
Met by members of the liberal
government, they were told to state
their case there and then. The
delegation refused, demanding the
floor of the legislature while it
was in session. Premier Gardiner
objected but the delegation insist
ed, stating they would not present
their case at any "round table
conference" behind the four walls
of the committee room. Ultimate
" it was agreed that parliament
would adjourn half ar hour earlier
and the delegation would be given
the floor of the legislative cham
Der to voice their demands.
In presenting their demands, the
spokesman of the delegation, re-
turned soldier, told the govern
ment that they did not come rep
resenting themselves, but had beer
elected by a number of conference;
reld in the drought area, nor die
they want their demands turned
into a political football by an!
group of political tricksters.
Sixth Drought Year
During the last year, went o.
the spokesman, they had gon
through the sixth year of drought
a drought which had left in it
wake burnt-up crops, bare pasture
and perishing horses and cattle
Top soils had been blown away an
plowed fields covered with weedi
Fertile areas had become q deser
Livestock was being driven off {
wantonly slaughtered. Natural d.
probation was rendering building
unfit for human habitation. Who
: families were living in houses N
fit for dog kennels. Many famili,
had left for wood and water" Sc
items of the province, there to sta
all over again, while those who I
maired faced poverty and wa
with a cold prairie winter comiI
on. -
The drought affected a popul
ton Of $4,000, or approximate
81 900 families, of whom some 81
931 families were in urgent ne
: of food, clothing, fuel and feed f
livestock. And yet the governme
I pleaded economy and did not t
: to establish a better standard
living for those in dire need.
The dried-out farmers oppos
: any scheme to move them OF
+ wild land in the north, for, 81
+ the spokesman, those who had
2. ready gone north had received
n tie if any assistance from eitl
a the government or the munich
n councils, and help they must ha
Compelled to Reduce Herds
ave farmers" he went
'have been compelled to redl
our herds, which took years of I
to build up. The rural municip
tiles are bankrupt and viii fl
only a limited number Of stock
s. a ration basis. One farmer W
% no dependents is allowed two m
10 cows; with four dependents f,
20 mix cows; with six dependents
milk cows, and over six Dope
snts six milk cows and so chi
ems.
y "Out of the $4,000 head of ca
VI moved from the dried-out ar
&c since June 1 this year, some z,
s. went to the Gamers for a p,
ID, that did not represent sustenal
W. Government officials have told
there is a shortage of fodder
our herds, yet there are farm
in northern Saskatchewan on
rigated land in southern Alb,
who have enough good feed ay
able to take care of our milk c
he and other domestic stock"
d" The money contributed by
m provincial government to the
M inequalities, said the spokesman
entirely inadequate to provid
decent standard Of living, and
q same applied to relief administl
oSe by the provincial government
ly- local improvement districts.
ats then presented the following
led mands:
md Demands
M LA 100 per cent increas
ain cash relief over and above pre-
scales, based on present pr
Any increase in prices to be
cred by a proportionate liner
in grocery allowance.
"a eaoh ,I1os-,,. e.. -