FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16858, 11 June 1920, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION.

annual provincial CONFERENCE. The annual provincial conference of the North Canterbury branch of the New Zoaland Farmers' Union cpened yesterday morning. Mr P. Jones, M.P., provisional president, occupied the chair, and the following delegates were present:—Messrs G. W. Leadley (Ashburton), G. Slieat (Kiliinchy), V/. A. Banks, D.. Bates (Central), Seth Smith CWiiau), D. J. Doak (Oiuiiii), H. Mcintosh, G. V,'. Heney (Kaiapoi), H. AVil.s (Ashburton), R. H. Bailey \Loburn), T. Sv;veuson (Cheviot), 11. Oliver (tLoiorat-.i), W. T. street (Aylesbury). T. Lcoeli (Kangiora), J. D. Wylio (Sefton), Geo. Gardner, G. G. Newton (Waikari), D. thaw (.Lowc.iffe), Vv. W. Mulhoiland (Dariiold), J. R. Cul.eu, and J. Brown (executive). - PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. Mr Jones, in his address, referred to the deaths during the year of several members of past executives. The late Messrs 1 W. McMillan, !•'. Rvan, and T. B. Howson, he said, did exceedingly useful service in the early days of the union, and their loss wa.s fe.i. by a wide circle of friends. Reference wus made to the visit of the Prince of Wales, and Mr Jones proceeded: "The nast season has been a very sati3lacioiy_ one to tho producer. Prices for everything that we purchase have been very high, but we nave had fair prices for our producc. The grain yields are good, our turnip crop is the best for several years, and the same may be said of cur autumn growth. The stock _ should go into the winter in rirst-c.ass condition—a fact that should have a very material bearing on next year's lambing returns. The outlook i for the future is difficult to forecast. We have had several years of fixed prices, the shipping has been 11111}cr Imperial control, and to-day wo are faced with a great congestion of wool and meat in the Dominion, and also of wool in Australia. This is causing some apprehension in producing, ex- | porting, and banking circles. Some, indeed, I are painting tho picture very black, but it may be that we are becoming tos much doppendent on Government contro"..'" Since the . prices of frozen meat in London have been : reduced, a very marked increase in consumption has taken place, and vessels can be unloaded now as fast as they arrive in the Thames. Tho coal stores of the Dominion are full to-day, but tho ships promised up to November 39th (if no delay takes place) will leave less than three million freight carcases in store at what may bo termed the opening of the new season. Comparative figures indicate that we sha'.l then be in a better position than we were at the same time '• last year, and with restrictions removed from consumption, this should continue to improve. The average yearly shipment of frozen meat for the ,J9lu-18 period was £6.500,000, and in 1919-20 it was £9,628,000. Owing to drought, Victoria and New South Wales have suffered severely in the frozen meat trade, and tho be°t authorities state very definitely that they are out of tho meat export business for at leas-t two years. This will aesist New Zealand in two ways: It leaves more shipping available for ns, and it also means three or four mi-lion carca=e3 ioss from Australia. America is also taking a large quantity o; lamb, and this will probably become an increasing trade. The future is not without hope; indeed, it is difficult to think that, in a world where foodstuffs are bound to rule at a high level for the next year or two at least, meat should not find a profitable maiket. Whatever may be the prospects of frozen meat, the prospect in front cf the wheat grower in New Zealand is the brightest in our history. This is our sowing time, and we arc therefore most favourably situated in being able to take advantage of what looks like a world shortage cf wheat. Of course, there are no ab=oluie certainties in farming, but statistic*, backed by a number of authorities, point in the direction of hi:h prices. The potato crop this year is good and vciy frcii from di c e;'.*e. The market is at present over supplied, and the price is low." I Concluding his address, the chairman r-aid the Union's methods of organisation needed 1 re-casting. On the motion cf Mr Banks, a vote of thanks was accorded Mr, Jones for his address. TIMBER. Mr R. Evans (Central branch) moved: — "That in view of the scarcity of timber at tho t) re sent time for all purposes, tho Goj vernment be approached as, to tho necessity ' -cf placing an embargo on the export of timber, r.nd also removing tHo duty on imported timbers." After discussion, the remit was divided into three different motions, and tha first—"That 1 the Government be approached as to the 1 necessity of placing an embargo on New i Zealand timber" —was lost. It was resolved i that the Government be asked to remove tho duty on imported timbers, and that the Gc- ' vernment be ssked to abolish the differential railway freight. I AFFORESTATION. ! Mr G. W. Heney (Kaiapoi) moved: "That Ihe Government be urgea to push forward afiorestation, especially with regard to quirkgrowing trees, with a new to supplying tie needs of the dairy and fruit industries, on land unsuitable for other purposes." Mr Banks, in seconding tlie motion, referred to the extent of waste land in North Canterbury, where afforestation could bo profitably carried out. The Government should bo urged to give bonuses to local bodies and farmers who planted suitable "The motion was amended to the effect that the words "county councils be subsU-

tutcd for "Government," and tliat the sup- , purt of the Progress League be sought. The piotion n-a amended was carried. It was 'eft to Mr Banks to arrange for reports being published aa to the bwt trees for afforestation. SHORTAGE OF TRUCKS. Remits frcm the Darficld aud Kniapoi ! branches regarding ihe rhorla&e oi railway trucks were considered. The Kainpoi branch urged the grunting ci better facilities for storage in vai.ivry goods sheds while there was a shortage of trucks. ; Mr Bank?, wl-o said thel the Government wa» doing its bf?t to meet the position, moved as an amendment: "That th-s Conference is vc.y riles sed to see that the Government is ma' ing every effort to meet the deficiency in the shortage of trucks and engine;." The amcnci-neut and the Kaiapoi pi?pc-ai regarding storage ir. goods sheds were j adopted. TRADE COSIMISSIONER. 1 Mr Seth-Smith (Wainu) moved: ''That it be a recommendation that the Government appoint a Trade Commissioner especially to deal with shipping and the placing of our j produce on the British market t:> the best i advantage." i Messrs Evans, Bates, and Leadley agreed that the producers should organise and work together to get better chipping and marketing cx all their produce. ! Mr G. El;eat c-aid that it would be futile for the producers to think that they cculd gel justice it" they sent a man to London to watch their interests. It would bo impossible for one m?.n to break up the trusts and combines operating. CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING. 'Mr Mnlholland moved: "That the Provincial Conference recommend to the Dominion Conference the matter of co-operative marketing of produce." Tlio mover's idea was that the farmers should form themselves into an association and take over control of the meat themselves. The association would buy the stock at market rates, minus a certain percentage. Next year the meat and other markets were going to be in a chaotic condition, and farmers not in a financial position strong enough to hold on to their produce would have" to sell at a disadvantage. Later, the market wou'.d harden. The association's work would bo to guard against- disastrous slumps by bridging over a sharp decline, and by means of the association it would be possible to avoid the agency of the Smithficld and other similar markets. The produce could be held in New Zealand cold stores, and shipped Home as required, the association's object being to maiutain a stsblc prieo rather than a high price. Unless at least 40 per cent, of the output could be controlled, the association would bo useless, but he thought control to such an extent quite possible. The trust competition could then be successfully fought. Mr Evans seconded the motion, which was carried. OTHER REMITS. The meeting favoured wool-growers being paid for their wool bales on the ,samo basis as the farmers for their corn sacks, and that the draft on wool should be abolished. Mr D. Bates moved: "That the attent'on of the Legislature be called to the serious position in whicii our Dominion is placed owing to the high rate of exchange, and that °the Government bo urged to imnose drastic and almost prohibitive import duties i for the time being on all luxuries and nonessentials imported from countries where the exchange is excessively unfavourable." i The Conference adjourned until 9.30 today.