FARMERS- UNION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2525, 28 July 1915, Page 11

FARMERS- UNION

DOMINION CONFERENCE

THE MEN IN THE TRENCHES

OUR DUTY TO THEM. The fourteenth' annual Dominion Conference of. the. New Zealand Farmers' Union lvas commenced' in Wellington yesterday, the president (Sir James G. Wilson) being in the chair. , Delegates from. the various centres were present as follow Messrs. G. W. Leadloy (Ashburton), E. Campbell (Wajiganui), T. Moss (Eketahuna), H. A. Nevins (Tenui), H. J. Richards (Levin) W. J. Birch (Martonl, A. A. Ross (Te Kaun-hata), 11. Dunn (Auroa), ,T. A. Miller. (Hastings), Walter Thorn (Richmond), R. E. Goultfir (Blenheim), G.' Anderson (Mahau), G. Gardner , (Medpiiry), 0. J.-Talbot (Timaru), J;\Begg (Mosgiol), W. Ai Cox (Kauana), Major Luslc (Te Euiti), J. Boddie (To Kuiti), R. D. Duxfield (Ngaruawahia), A. A. Boivler (Jlatamata), W. Raymond (Olive Range), E. Maxwell (Opnnake), G. T/. Marshall (Marton), H.' Booth (Peilding), E. Whik-ell (Wakapuaka), ■ P. Meeliau (Blenheim), A. Mackay (Blenheim), F. J. Delaney (Westlarid)', . J. M'Mahon (Keneperu), G. Sheat' (Dwisandel), R. Evans (Kaiapoi), G. L. Twentj'man (leimika), It. M'Kenzie. (Palmerston North),. J.. M'Queen (Invercargill),. and the secretary (Mr. E. C.'Jack). President's Address. . ■ In tlie course of his presidential address, Sir James Wilson covered a : number of subjects. On the question of the disposal of our moat, ha said: "On'the whole, as far as the purchase of the .meat is concerned, it seeins to - : have worked out fairly well. There was some fiiction between buyers aaid sellers in Canterbury, but that seems to have been arranged:, One thing that material-. ly affected the consideration of this whole question from a farmer's point, of view was that if the Fome Government purchased the meat they would be moro likely to find the spaco to carry it Home, ■ for. : it "was seen that besides tho space. being very, limited at-the . moment and seriously- endangering ' th© ' export of meat (there was no fear but that there vbilld be..sufficient space for dairy produce)—that the space in the later vessels -would be still further restricted— tlio rush of meat had already filled ths storage capacity over the whole of New Zealand, and more especially in Canterbury. .'The lateness of the fattening season, there delayed the arrival of tha lambs,' and the sliortage of storage induced a great rush to get in first. The result ivas _a, block such as had not been felt since tho trade began, 'and [ am afraid many farmers havo lost heavily in consequence.. • " Meat Exports. : "I find that the carcasses exported from October 1 to May 31 in the last ,t\yo years to be as follow. Tliey aro taken to the latest date I had tho figures when looking into this subjcct 1913-14: Number of steamers, 55 and part 2 others, say 56; beef, 143,515; mutton, 1,673,591; lamb, 2,315,114. Total, 3,647,543. 1914-15; Number, of steamers, 52 and part 2 others, say 53; beef, 330,951; mutton, 1,638,419; lamb, 1,964,972. Total, 3,941,253. Total capacity of steamers in 1914-15, 5,280,400. In, these figures the quarters .of heef are reduced to the sheep weights. You will perceive 'that the total shipped in the,'last season -was greater in these months .than in 1913-14, but that thoro are about 250,000 lambs short in the last season; but the quarters of beef aro much increased and this makes'the total number look la'rger. The earlier steamers could not get a full load, and :tlie later steamers could not take the quantity offered,' and this caused a blook. The lamb was really in store and cculd not be shipped. At the present moment it is estimated there are two million carcasses in store." "We Have Come Out Well." > The list of cargo ships arriving and to arrive would lead one to expect that the stores will bo empty at the end of October, but that did not get rid of the fact that there are heavy losses being sustained at the present moment, and he was sure that evory ono would do everything possible to alleviate that loss. However, wo had come out on the whole very well. (Applause.) Some have lost, but a much , greater number have gained, and ,we havo, created a record of exports owing to the high prices obtained for our produce. Wlnlo /the world is aflame, wo are going about our ordinary avocationa, the seas being kept: clear of our enemies (except for a few submarines) by Britain's wonderful Navy (Loud applause.) The Army an.d the Farmer. "As the army marches on its stomach, ' Sir James continued, -'the farmers at this end are necessary to the men in the trenches, and it is tho farmer's duty at all hazards and without thought of reward ,to devote his land to such purpose as will turn out tho greatest amount of produce—(applause)—and from what I know of the farmers of New Zealand I am sure tliey are determined to do their share. (Hear, hear. "During, t'lio last three years wo havo less wbcat. We grew in 1911-12, 215,528 acres, 7.261,138 bushels, exported bushels 505,'3; 1912-13, 189 - 869 acres, . 5,179,626 bushels, exported bushels 62,338; J 913-14, 166,774 acres, 5,231,700 bushels, exported bushels, nil; 1914-15, 189,567 acres, 6,487,824 bushels. "We must, then, havo been living on the 1911-12 harvest or else importing flour—probably both. This last season the ( wheat area exceeded tho previous year by 23,000 acres. This year it is possible that 240,000 acres may be in wheat. Our average wheat crop is round about 30 bushels to tho acre, which would give us 7,200.000 bushels, and this would leave a certain amount for export. Tho figures so far at our disposal show that there is a. shortage' of oats this year, but how much tho statistician is not yet able to tell us." The oats had been gradually decreasing, and figures showed that our supply was very much short of our 'requirements. Creat Year For Wool and Dairy Produce - "Wool-growers have had a great year and it is gratifying to see that those who/have got their returns aro giving freely to tho various relief funds wliic'E are being asked for. I think that generally the feeling is that much of the i surplus' should go in this direction. Mich wool lias, however, been hung up in the London docks owing to tho inability to get it unloaded, and roturns for wool which was sent off in the early part of the year are not yet to hand." As to dairying, ihis had been a remarkable year for its good prices. "Although the actual number of sheep has fallen slightly, there is no doubt but that we shall turn out as. many 'freezers as we did 'ast season. We may take it for granted—until wo see otherwise—that our produce call ho cavric-J to its destination dospito the enemy's submarines and navy. While the war lasts tho contract with tho British Government will continue, and tho arrangement for t'lio carriage of our meat is made between the-British Government and the shipowiiors. As a special freight is now being paid for by the Board of Trade for tho carriage of our meat, T presumo the contract entered into between the freeing companies and tho "ihioßWt: con)E3fties is at an cud."-

! A hearty vote of thanks was accorded tho president for his address. Native Lands. The conl'erenco then proceeded to deal with the l emits on . the order paper. A remit from Auckland proposed; "That this coufcrenco affirms tho fourth plank of the Farmers' Union platform, via.:. That Native land£ which benefit from the expenditure of special ond general rates shall be placed upon the same looting as European lands so situated'; and will continue to urge the Government to ,move in the direction indicated." Several speakers pointed! out that tho .Natives, who rarely paid rates, were responsible for ii good deal of road depreciation, and l wore as often as not a bar to the progress of many districts and boroughs. Tho conference unanimously decided to adopt the remit. Three remits, all from Auckland, were next taken together, viz.: "That tho Government be asked to acquire as much' unoccupied Native land as possiblo each year, and to offer it for settlement."

"That the Government be requested to repeal the Urewera Native lieservo Act, and to throw open for. settlement what is known as the Urewera Country"; and "That the Government be requested to put oil the market at once all lands already purchased from the Natives in the Urewera Country." Delegates expressed the opinion that, as the. country might shortly be faced with financial stringency as the result of the war, all land capable of cultivation should Tbe thrown open for settlement. Major Lusk declared that a million acres m the Urewera Country were suitable for settlement, and East Coast lesidents were eager to take up some of the land. • All three remits Y er e adopted by the conference. Noxious Weeds, Etc. The following remit, from Pelonis Sound,, was also adopted:—"That Section 6 of the Land Act, 1913, be amended so as to allow of the land being loaded with the 6urvey fees." The Nelson delegate proposed, and it was agreed: "That the Government he asked to throw open for selection all Crown lands, as soon as they are surveyed." ■ A remit from Auckland in reference to weed-infested lands was referred to a committee, which draw up the following recommendation:—"That this Conference suggests that the Land Act ho so amended that where the officers of the Land Board "report that second! or third-class' Crown lands are overgrown with noxious weedsj that the land should ue offered for settlement under the following conditions: (1) Applications to be called for those who are prepared to occupy the land and eradicate the weeds,' and (2) a title to issue to him only if at the end of ten years the Crown Lands Banger report that tho occupior has exterminated the noxious weeds."

lhe recommendation was agreed to! . ■ On the motion of tho Taranaki delegate, it was decided"That tiio Government he asked to encourage tho planting of as ii'iueh land as possible in each dis-. trict of such- land as is too rough or too poor to be profitably farmed, especially tho planting of such land as in infected with noxious weeds, with a view to their suppression, and also to prevent the weeds spreading to tetter.and comparatively clean lands," and that encouragement he given by the appointment of qualified persons to lecture and givo instruction throughout tho country, and especially in the schools.'' , Mr. E. Phillips Turner, of the Forestry Department, attended the conference, and addrosscd tho delegates in regard to "N.Z. -Native, and Acclimatised Trees." He dealt with the various values of treo for timber, weed-exter-minators, and also referred to the useful purpose they would always serve in making the - homestead more beautiful. At the conclusion, of his address, Mr. Turner.was heartily thanked by tho conference. It was resolved to urge the Government to continue the work of planting' the sandy waste land on the .West Coast. National Endowments. , .From North Canterbury the follow,ln?im?mit came before the-conference: — _ a should lio introduced to Parliament to amend the National Endowment Act, 1907, on the following lines: 'That all national, endowment laiKte held at the date of the passing of this amendment Act shall, as soon as suitable opportunity offers, be sold for cash, or leased with tho option of purchase. Whero lands are already leased, the; option to purchase to be offered to •the present lessee at the actuarial valuation of tho State's interest in the land, and'the payments by way of purchase to be made by instalments of not les3 than 10 per cent, of the ascertained value, and that all moneys arising from the sale of endowment lands shall be placed in the special fund, asfciblished for providing for the purchase of land for close settlement.'

A lengthy discussion followed,- delegates being unanimous in the opinion that the.lands should be settled instead or being nl'wjd to deptocialo and go,to. waste as yt present.' ' _ At 6 o'clock <the discussion was adjourned until 9.30 a.m. to-day.