FARMERS' UNION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 214, 29 May 1918, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION

WBIIINCTOfI CONFERENCE

OPENED AT MASTERTON (Special Reporter.) m , , Masterton, May 27, Ihe animal conference of the Wellington Branch of (lie New Zealand farmers' mi oll wns at Masterton to-day. There were present Messrs. G. L. Marshall. president (Marton); XV. B. Matl-e----son (Ekctaliuna); W. .T.,Birch (Mnrton); Thomas Moss (Eketahuna); Alex. Howie (Wavtrley); K. Booth (Feildingl; Kwon Cnnipbcl) and Allan Robinson (Wanganni); John Balsillie (Palmerston Xorlii); H. A. Noviik (Tinui); I [n;:h Morrison f.Ma-lciloit); G. G. (Jliycv (Mangawelca): A. I). M'.l,eod (Martinborough); John Hare (l/ketalnina); A. I'ryde (Niroalia); W, ("1. Parker (Hukanui); 0, M'Elroy and A. Campbell (Fciidlng); G. iJalzioli and J', Chisholm (Hunterville); W. H. '100 good (Kutneroa;; S. Broartbent ami .T. Prouso (l.uvin); IV. J. Mooro (Makuri); (!. G. Oliver (Manga weka); A. Stuart and K. (Marton): N. Small, jun. O'ahiaUuO; J. A. M'Leaven and H. Vile (I'ftlincrston North); 1,. Howell (Paraparaumil); W. Howell (Poliangina); W. G. lieard (liangiotu); O, M'lntyre (Hangiv.^.;ik); ,T. Gloyne (Tiongofoa); F. Ivirloa and K. Law (Shannon); .r. Smith (Tniliape); ,T. A. Austin (Wmkanae); W. H. .Sandford (Wainianno); A. liobinson and ,r. Allison (Wangamii); Or. M'Gregor (Waverley); C. F. Baker (Woodville); K. Vac.ticr OTliakaronga); Tl. M'Gregor and T!. TJ. M'lOnzie (MasteTion); H. C. Conk (Greytown); C.. Itoid (Carterton); K. O'Ncalo (Featlierston); It. A. li'enall (Gladstone); H. Daysh (Martinborough); W. Houghs (I'mni).

On behalf of the Mastertori Branch .Mr. Hugh Morrison..welcomed the delegates. Jl.o ! remarked that il was five years sfiico ji. provincial conference had been held m Masterton.

The president, in welcoming delegales, remarked that the conference was meeting in the far-famed Wairarnpa, famed lor tho loyalty of its people, and for the success of the-farming operations of its Bottlers, This district was yearly cornins more to tho front as a breeding ground of stud stock. Why this should be was n question somewhat hard to answer. A happy combination ol' capable breeders and a suitable soil and climate was probably tho foundation upon which this success has been built. Those who came froiu the West Coast knew that their land was deficient in lime, and lie felt sure that land must be supplier] with a proper quantity of this very essential material below the best results could be obtained. Limed land meant good bone, and good bono usually led to good conformation and constitution. The war cloud was still casting its shadow, and the "silver lining" of peueo seemed as distant as it dill last year. One hundred thousand able-bodied men, out of our total population of a little over a million, had been trained and bad become first-class soldiers, who had and are making a reputation for themselves, which will be handed down with the utmost pride and veneration to the generations yet He leU the sacriiico of so many of our best young men was too terrible to dwell upon, but the sacrifice will not have been in vain. The Dominion wouia emerge from tho war as the true Britain of the South, true, that is, the best traditions of the nee from which we have sprung. Surely, no effort temporary loss was too great to make when we think what a German peace would mean for tho English-speaking races, and yet a section of the community seemed to obiect to all the measures which are necessity to enable us to make the greatest possible efforts.

It seemed wonderful lo him that with oiie hundred thousand soldiers withdrawn from their pre-war occupations tho work of the country has gone.on without more .difficulty than has been experienced. Many farmers whoso sons are at tho front must put in very long days of hard work to have carried on, but the work of production must go on. Tho financial burdens were mounting up at a great rate, and the country was absolutely dependent upon the profitable working of the hind to meet these obligations. It would need nil our energies during this coming season to keep the various branches of the agricultural industry going at full speed, and something more would have to bo done in the way of helping each other during busy times. The "unofficial" holidays should l.i" reduced as-much as possible. Personify, he hoped racing would be further curtailed. He knew to his cost howmany essential works were delayed by race meetings. Shearing was greatly retarded last season, and freezing works had to hold up stock on account of so many employees taking days off to attend races.

Many - very essential farm managers and employees were now being calS-d up, and the time v.ns coming when e*ery man who was able to work should lie called upon to do his "bit" in keeping tho industries of the country going. Those who through age' or infirmity can not serve their country at the battlefronl, must feel that it is their duty to do nil they can at home.

Many of our'soldiers were now returning, and possibly some of them might take up team work, and help to increase the area in wheat which was a national necessity. Unfortunately, many of tho men expect to go on the land and work it profitably for themselves without the necessary practical training lirst. For an inexperienced man to take up fanning before he has had a proper course of work on a farm was like a man expecting to be a bank manager without spending years learning tho business as a bank cierk. Unless a man has had his eye attuned to notice the very minute changes which occur in animals and pasture under his care, and which are sufficient to indicate to an experienced man what alterations are necessary, ho will not bo ablo to avoid making very costly mistakes with his stock and with his crops. Mr. Marshall said he was very glad to see that the education boards were taking up tho subject of agricultural education moro and more, and delegates would have noticed with pleasure that agriculture is now included in the list of subjects which can bo taken for tho E.A. degree ..at our university colleges. Tliis was a great advance, by which the country would be a great gainer in tho future.

Colonel E. 11. Rhodes liad donated .£IOOO as a foundation for a "Kitchener Memorial Scholarship I'und" to provide .scholarships for the sons of soldiers who wish to take up an agricultural coursu, and who liavn _ fulfilled certain condilions. The object of the fund was an fxcellent one. The executive committee had decided lo ask the branches to support the fund, and if possible add another .£IOOO from the Farmers' Union of the province. , Great difficulty had been experienced miring the season in maintaining our export trade, and it was only too evident; that the shortage of shipping will be more pronounced in the near future, and it seemed as if our produce would have to bo stored for a considerable time. Tho import trado was also in a bad way, manures, machinery, wire, and many other necessary articles were at an almost, prohibitive price, and with the added difficulty of securing .suitable labour it was probable that (lie country would as a whole not be able to keep up its present rato of development. They would have lo wail; until Ihe end of Iho war before any great advance could be made.

City people complained that the cost of living had increased very considerably, and apparently many thought thai; tho farmer was to blame for this. His experience was that the farmer takes what oflered him for his produce. Tho actual market price was settled bv tho law of supply aud demand, and if a producer were foolish enough lo lot his produce go at less than the ruling market price, the only result would bo that llio middleman would make a larger profit, but tho consiimor in most eases would pay exaclly tho same. lu many lines of produce tho price paid by the consumer w,-is about double that which tlie farmer recoives. Tho Jixccutivo Committeo lately protested against fowl wheat boing sold up to Bs. fid. to 9s. per bushel, when the farmer only received from ss, (id. to ss. 10d. per bushel, and he was glad to see that the -middleman's profit had now been limited to 15 per cent. It was not so much tho higher prices that flio pro-

ducer receives for his products, as the increased cost of marketing and converting it into food that makes tho price so high. Twenty years ago ho was paid •is. per bushel tor his wneat, equal to 4-sd. per lb. This year he got Gs., or 1 l-sd. per Jb., a difference ot 2-sd. per lb. Two pounds of wheat from tho farmer costs 2 2-sd. Yet the price of a two-pound loaf was 5d., or sld. booked, more than 100 per cont. increase. .It would bo a good saving for townspeople to buy a fow sacks of wheat, and have it ground into flour, and then boko their own bread, as many of tho country people do. It would then cost them 35d. per loaf. Air. .Marshall said he believed the "go-slow" policy of trade unionism was really the greatest cause of the increase of the cost of living. When a smaller amount of lnl>our was given for a sovereign, it followed that a sovereign would purchase a lesser amount of tho result of that labour. This process was going on contiminlly, and the public was very slow in realising this fact. He hoped to live to soo t.lio day when trade union leaders would try to increase tho usefulness of their members, and by lectures aud night classes and by example make them more efficient workmen. Unless a man took ati interest in his work ho was seldom contented and never rose abovo his fellows.

Taxation was already very heavy, and naturally landowners were supplying a largo proportion of tho money required for war purposes, but as long as tiie demands fell equally upon nil classes of the community no ono had a right to protest. The farmers, besides paying income and land tax directly, wero also contributing very largely to tho public fund, by not being allowed to sell their produce in tho open market. The prices lixed' by the Imperial authorities .were much below wlrnt tho main products would realiso otherwise, as tlw following extract from the Bonrd of Trado report, emphasises:—"ln respect to tho pricos of New Zealand's primary products these prices, (is has been repeatedly emphasised, wero necessarily lixed by tho prices paid for such products overseas. Now Zealand'farmers have undoubtedly accepted less than market values for tho produce from the Imperial Government, aud a report submitted to the House last session showed that had farmers been allowed an tfpen market for their cheese, meat, and wool, these three commodities alone would have yielded approximately an extra ,£9,000,000 to the farmers, than the prices agreed upon between them and the Imperial authorities." In conclusion, Mr. Marshall said:—"l think you will agree with mo that tho policy of our union, for the duration of the war, should be to loyally support the National Government, in the measures it has taken to enable this small country to give tho greatest assistance possible in carrying tho war through to a successful issue. Any man who is not willing to do all he can to help is a shirker. I havo little sympathy with ilie Second Division League, becauser we had no guarantee as to how long tho war will continue, and a timo may come when the financial strain on the country will become too great. At the present time, the wives of the married men now being called up have a much more liberal allowance mado to them, than in any other part of the Empire. As a union we must urge all who cannot go to the front to remember that our timo is really not our own any longer, but that it belongs to the nation, and we are called to make the 'best use of it that we are able. It is clearly the duty of everyone who remains here to do his utmost to make his land as productive as possible by every means at • his disposal. All that we can produce is badly wanted, now, nnd will be more urgently wanted when this unmerciful and abominable war is finished, and flint will bo when and not a moment before the military power of Germany has been so badly crippled, that she can no longer threaten to bring the world under her dominance. Then, and then only, can the Hag of a righteous and abiding peace be unfurled." (App.'ouse.) It was resolved that the Government be-urged to facilitate by every means in their power the importation of machinery for cleaning seedy and dirty wools. It was also resolved that-tho attention of the Government be again drawn to tho fact that seedy wool, especially crutchings, are being sold at less fliaii pre-war rates.

White Pine. On the subject of tho conservation of white pine it was resolved that owing to the approaching shortage of white pino the Government bo urged to control white pino forests, with a view to protecting the butter and cheese industries. Meat and Dairy Product!, It was resolved that the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Wholesale Federation be asked to forwhlate a plan for improving the method of disposing of our meat and dairy produce in Brita'.n, keep, ing in view the probable necessity of es. tablishing the coot stores in four British ports for the purpose of reasonable distribution. The conference adjourned until to-mor. row- morning.'