NORTH CANTERBURY FARMERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 519, 28 May 1909, Page 10

NORTH CANTERBURY FARMERS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. j RETROSPECT" OF THE TEAR.,...' Ull TELROUirU—I'KSS'S ISSOCIATION.) Chrlstchurch, May" 27. The annual provincial conference of'the North Canterbury Farmers' Union opened today. Mr. D.'Jones, president of the executive, occupied the chair. The president, in moving, tho adoption'of tho annual report and balance-sheet, said that, during the past year,' the work of tho union had been progressing satisfactorily, and there had been an inoreaso.in member- ■ ship. Thero had been a record harvest in Canterbury—almost a record in New Zealand —and it was/satisfactory to know that thoy had been able to gather it under old conditions. Probahly a larger area would havo • been sown if there had not existed some uncertainty on this point. Regarding tho farm labourers' dispute, ho expressed the opinion that farmers and the majority of workers re- ' ! cognised tho wisdom of the Court's decision. . (Applause.) : Good Year In all but Monoy. > Though thoy had had a plentiful year, it 1. bad not ; in tho majority ot instances, been, a financially successful ono for farmers. Tho I wheatgrower was undoubtedly this year in an I exceptionally good position, but, when they i considered the stats of. tho oats and meat ■ markets, they recognised that men on the ' lighter class of soil had not had a good year.' . The meat market had been in a stagnant r condition for some time, and their export 3 trade in lamb.was being threatened by tho , 1 : Argentine. , . ..;:,-. ._ . -. .., 3. ! ■■"''.'-.'■ \ \ - Tho Argentine Danger. ■ Regarding the Argentine competition in I the lamb trade, .the speaker said that the j increased export from tho Argentine seemed |- ;tp indicate that New Zealand farmers would i havo to ba satisfied to accept lower prices. 1 '.In face of the keener competition, the New i Zealand farmbr would have to look more ■ to the quality of his lamb than he had done • in tho past.' ..(Hear, hear.) The drafting of lambs sent to the "public s'aleyards was not '.. satisfactory, and they were sending away too ;many second-class lambs. Ono Cood Effect of Tight Money. : After rofcronco to necessity of dealing with 1 turnip blight in order' that tho, carrying capacity of lighter lands should not bo decreased, Mr. Jones referred to financial mat- . ' v tors, and said that, men who had had to renew 1 their engagements had bebn unablo to do so on tho samp easy term's as in previous I' years. Public' and private expenditure had, ] in tho' past, been on altogether too largo a ■ scale, and one way in, which the. monetary ■ 'stringency might _bring good, was in tho ; direction of steadying land values. Tho pro--1 'fits made out of land speculation.had given 1 the public an.idea that immense profits woro . 1 .being mado out of farming, but ho was satis- ' ! fiod that money mado out of.bona fide farra- : ing hadnont been excessive in Canterbury.' '■' Speculation in land had forced values up teo high'in most instances. -.•■-■■ Defence. [ On the question of Dominion defence, the , following motion was carried:—That members . of this conference recommend tho Govern- '■ ment to take all tie necessary steps to im- , provo the system of tho internanl defonco of ■ the Dominion by means of some scheme of ; universal military training ,up to 21 years ; of age.