FARMERS' CONCERNS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2953, 13 December 1916, Page 6

FARMERS' CONCERNS

RISK OF WHEAT CULTURE

GOVERNMENT AID NECESSARY

CONCERNING CO-OPERATION

FREIGHT AND OTHER PROBLEMS

Some interesting ideas were expressed concerning problems now confronting farmers at the annual luncheon and annual meeting of shareholders of tho New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Distributing Company. Two matters principally referred to wero the growing of wheat in this country and the federation of Farmers' Co-operative Associations. Sir James 'Wilson, chairman of directors, presided. Sir James Wilson, speaking for tho directors, welcomed the farmers to the meeting, and to Wellington. Before going on to speak of the company, it was impossible for him to refrain from saying something about the terrible war which overshadowed everything, and which, unfortunately, showed no signs of ending. But he believed that everybody would rather see it continue than to see it end to our disadvantage. Nearly all shareholders in the company had sons or relatives at the front, but he was sure they all held the opinion ho had lust expressed. Farmers Doing Well. Here in New Zealand' there was no doubt that prices had never been so enormous, but expenses were also very heavy. It was quite true that tho farmers were doing very well, but it was a very necessary thing for New Zealand that farmers should do.well. If it wero not for the farmer he did not know what Now Zealand would do. When it was remembered that out of 33 worth of exports 25 millions worth came from tho land, it was obvious that unless a farmer did well Now Zealand was in a very bad way. However much wo might hear about the farmers exploiting the public, it was quite certain that only from the land could bo obtained the. wherewithal to enable us to recover from our war losses. The Government was now commandeering most of our articles of food and clothing. Ho thought that the Government had dono right in taking the wool, and ho considered thatthe growers had met tho Government in a very proper spirit. They wero receiving considerably loss than present values for their wool, but they were yet receiving very good prices. Ho scarcely liked to touch upon tho butter question, because that was not so well settled. In this case ho thought tho principlo adopted had been wrong. About Wheat-Crowing. In regard to wheat, there was to be a conference in Christchureji this week to consider a scheme regarding the production of wheat. There was no doubt that tho farmer had been growing wheat during the last twenty yearsai a loss, and the public had been gaining by cheap bread. It was quite certain that there would be, a deficiency this year. The area under wheat was at least 100,000 acres less than last year,, and to make the return equal to that of last year an averago crop of 30 bushels would bo required. He did not consider it at all likely that thero would be such a fiuo yield. The Government must consider the question of taking over the whole of tho wheat, because if there was to bo a scarcity there must bo no speculation in this articlo of food. He hoped somo arrangement of this kind would be made. At the same timo tho public must recognise that they v had had bread for a long_ time at a rate which was not a paying rate for the farmer. Our Depleted Herds. Tho meat-purchase schemo had worked very well indeed. Personally, he had not viewed with any very great satisfaction the increase of prices given a few weeks ago. Ho would have preferred to see established hotter conditions of sale. There was cause for concern about the too prodigal slaughtering of our best cattle. He considered that it would be very wrong for the Government to interfere with the disposal of sheep, but he was not at ali suro that something ought not to bo dono about cattle. So much of our best, fattening pasture was being used for that tho cattle herds tended to diminish. If our stocks of beef cattle came down too low, it would not bo to the advantage of this country', for even after the war beef would still be in very strong demand. At least aadirection should be given to the farmers not to destroy their calves as they had been doing. Perhaps the law,of supply and demand would rectify' this, because if prices rose, farmers would not be so reckless in the killing of their young cattle. Sir James Wilson concluded with brief reference to the subject of cooperation. The co-operativo system, lie said, was going to be of groat service to New Zealand. They were now or. tho very eve of the federation of the co-operative societies of New Zealand, and ho thought it was going to h-i a very great movement indeed. There were a- few initial difficulties still to be got over, but he had no doubt that they would be scot over, and that in a few years the federation or the co-onerative associations of farmers would have tho greatest effect in New Zealand. He saw no reason why the farmers should not take a very much larger part in the commercial world. Risk of the Wheat Market. Mr. E. W. Relph, manager of the North Canterbury Farmers' Co-opera-tive Association, who was present, was invited by the chairman to speak. Mr. Relph said he would have to difi'ei from the chairman on one or two points. Ho considered that it would be a calamity if we were to allow ourselves to be dependent on other States' fo,- our foodstuffs. (Hear) hear.) But the president had said that for years past the farmers had been growing wheat at a loss. He thought there had been years when wheat was grown at a loss," but of later years this had not been so. The case was rather that' other products had been more profitable, and perhaps less vexatious. He had lately gone into figures with some more thoughtful Canterbury farmers, and they had admitted- that at the prices obtaining for some years past they had been able to make wheatgrowing pay very well, even allowing for 1110° enhanced" value of land. The difficulty of late years had been in securing labour, and last year this diflicultv had been very much pronounced. When normal conditions were restored again he believed that somo system would have to be devised whereby farmers would be freed from anxiety as to prices. It did not seem to bo right for the community to rely on the farmers to feed them, and then to rcnuire the farmers to take the risk of prices which might he governed In- a set of circumstances such as had occurred last year, when Australia produced a very large surplus ,; of wheat, bringing tho price down, .mid causing lo<=s to our farmers here. The farmers, if they wore to continue to grow wheat, would have to bo guaranteed a fixed nrice. . This scorned to ha the only fair way.

Benefits of Union. With regard to federation lio believed that all tho technicalities would be

dealt with before the now year, and then all that would be necessary to put the scheme into operation would be the appointment of a competent officer to undertake tho initial work, lb was hoped that by tho medium of this scheme the fanning community would be able to secure to themselves certain advantages which they could not hope to securo through their respective organisations. There were many matters on which tho farmers had hitherto been unablo to obtain redress, which ho felt suro they could obtain by concerted action. One was the freight grievance. Bcforo the war the freight on a bale of wool worked out at 19s 3d. per bale. Then-the rates went up to about £2 4s. per bale, and now the charge was about £3 ss. per bale. It was absolutely hopeless for farmers to attempt to get any redress singly, but if the wholo farming community, through their federation, got 1o work, there was nothing in reason that they could not accomplish. In buying abroad, great advantages would be gained if the societies would pool their orders. They could even go to shipping companies and say that they were prepared to keep a, certain number of freighters constantly employed. Certainly tho farmers ought not to stay content to pay the extortionate rates they were now paying for the' carriage of their goods. He was sure that the scheme 'was a good one. ■Perhaps it would not be able" to do much with it until after the war, but meanwhile the farmers should prepare for that time to bo ready to start in real earnest as soon as normal conditions wero' restored. THE ANNUAL MEETINC. YEAR OF INCREASED BUSINESS. The formal business of the annual meeting was then taken. A. motion of sympathy with Mr. Alexander Strachan, of Ngatimoti, a director of the company, in the loss of his son, killed in action, was, passed. The chairman, moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, reviewed tho company's operations- for the year, referring with especial satisfaction to tho growth of the company's wool business. Ho forecasted a considerable inoreaso in tho company's business, which would probably mako a considerable increase in capital « necessity. He spoke of the proposal for forming a Now Zealand Farmers' Institute, which would be controlled by a body separated from the company— a different company altogether. Such an institution would ho a great advantage to the farming community generally. There would be a large conference room, which was very necessary, offices which tho company had agreed to take, and on tho top floor would be a club for farmers. Tho site had already been purchased, near the location fixed for the now_ railway station. The manager was advised' that the bulk of tho office room in the building could be let at once, some of it, perhaps, to Government Departments. In the end tho investment, ho was sure, would provo a good one. Three members of the company's staff had gono on active service, and the directors were pleased to inform tho shareholders that the three men wero all well. (Applause.) The company had been paying £5 a month into tho Belgian Fund for eighteen months, and in the motion which lie would submit he would include a proposal that this payment he continued. , He moved formally tho adoption of 'the report. Wool-Brokers' Charges. Mr. H. A. Kevins seconded the motion. Ho deprecated tho high charge of Id. per lb made for the storage of wool, and the displaying of it for sale. It was true that the farmers were not paying tho rate, but ho. suggested that brokers ought not to make such a heavy charge upon tho Government at this timo. Sir James Wilson said that he believed that it was not yet decided what the brokers were to receive. There was still dispute as to whether tho rate should be |d. or id. He detailed the services to be rendered by the brokers, pointing out that they were considerable. Indeed, tho brokers did not know what the cost to them of these services would be, because they could not know exactly what they would be required to do. Meantime, tho Minister was fighting the brokers on the question of this extra Jd. . Mr. Nevins: I suppose all Government work must cost more than private work. i , The report was adopted. Other Business. It was agreed that the remuneration of directors for the past year be £46, divided among the nine directors on the -board. Mr. D. M'Kay, F.R.A., was re-elect-ed auditor, at a remuneration of £40. Tho sum of £100 was voted as a bonus to the staff. The chairman moved in accordance with notice that the Articles of Association be altered to increase the maximum number of shares that might be held by one shareholder from 300 to 2000. He explained that tho motion did not involve an increase in the voting power of a shareholder. The resolution was carried. On the motion of Mr. Ewen Campbell the chairman was authorised to continue the -payment of £5 per month towards the Belgian Fund.

The following directors were elected: Sir James G. Wilson, Messrs. li. T Batley (Taihape), and H.-C. ■'Wilson (Mangaweka). A vote of thanks was accorded te the retiring directors, Mr M. AV. AVclch and Mr. J. Pearce.

A' vote of thanks was accorded to tho staff.