FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16726, 8 January 1920, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. • Tho executive of Iho North Canterbury District of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union mot yesterday afternoon, Mr D. Jones, M.P., the President, being in tlio chair. Tho Minister of Agriculture telegraphed, stating that lie hoped to call a conference of wheat-growers to discuss the -whole matter of -wheat production at an early date. Tho chairman said that from information he had received ho thought that a conference with tfco Prime Minister would be arranged within the next fortnight. The meeting went into committee to discuss the question of the forthcoming conferenco, and the attitude tho wheatgrowers should tako up in regard to it. Jlr E. C. Jack, Dominion secretary, \<«roto stating that it had como to tho knowledge of the Union that tho freezing companies wcro going to cease cutting tho carenses of mutton for shipment. Jt seemed undesirable to cease the practice, in view of tho possibility of a glut, unless a definite guarantee was received from tho Imperial Government that sufficient ships would bo forthcoming to keep tho stores clear. The chairman said he personally agreed with tho last part of the letter, which seemed a very reasonable view to take. Ho moved a resolution supporting this view, which was carried. The chairman said ho had written to the freezing companies, asking what they proposed to do with regard to the price of fat for tho ensuing year. During the war the South Island companies had only paid about half tho pneo paid . bv the North Island factories, and the Union thought that something should j be done in the matter. Only one reply | liad been rccehred, from the Canterbury ; Frozen Meat Company, and this was of an unsatisfactory nature. In the South I=land producers were only receiving lib per cwt for fat (tho pre-war pnee), while in the North Island tho companies paid from 25s to 30b per cwt, and there was no justification, m his opinion, for such a differentiation in rates; in fact, there was no justification for any differentiation at all. Ho considered that tho South Island farmers were entitled to a very substantial increaso at once, and he thought a committee should be set up to meet tho companies, and if tho result waß not satisfactory to go into tho matter in conjunction with the Shecpownors' Union. He moved to that effect, the motion being carried. Tho chairman said that tho shortage of sugar was affecting tho fruit growers of Canterbury, because the usual supply of jam could not bo made, to the detriment of the demand for fruit. He thought the Union should approach the Prime Minister, and tho Board of Trade, and request it to froo as liberal a supply of sugar as possible for tho next two months, so that housewives would bo enabled to raako tho normal supply of jam during the frnit season. At the present time there was an immense nmonnt of ctd.ill fruits going to waste in many gardens. It was decided to send a letter on the lines indicated.