FARMERS AND PRICES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 257, 18 July 1918, Page 6

FARMERS AND PRICES

MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE SPEAKS

THOSE WHO ASK FOR MORE

DUTIES WE OWE BRITAIN

The Minister of Agriculture (tho'Hou. W. D. S. Macljonald) delivered a long address to the Council of Agriculture in Wellington yesterday. In the courso of it he said:—

"During tho last four years the Government has had to interfere to a certain extent with the farming* industry of this country, as well as with many other industries. Of courso there is no question that overy man wants freedom, no matter what his business. That is what wo are fighting for to-day—freedom under tho British (lag,, freedom nnd liberty. ■ But there comes a timo when under war conditions it is impossible to allow things to go on as under the old order. The Government has had to take a certain amount of control.

"With regard to beef, mutton, nnd wool, I want to say that had not tho Government interfered this country would not have been in the position it is in to-day. There is a certain number of people who -want more, but I think that a great, majority of the farmers hero are satisfied. Some talk of getting to the world's markets,-but I do not knowhow they are going to get there without shipping. I only hope that the farmers will not be worse off so far as getting to the markets of the world goes. I 6ay again that ,1 think that the majority of the farmers of this country are satisfied respecting wool. (Hear, hear.) The whole of the wool purchase scheme is not yet completed. Wc have had some little difficulties 'regarding wool, and these are matters which are exercising tho attention of the people at Homo at the presont moment. Then at the I'aris Conference' certain obligations were en-, tercd into by the Imperial Government regarding wool, and until the termination of the war they cannot be altered. But I want to ask: What are we fighting for to-day? For many years—for half a century, perhaps—we have neglected our own protection, both commercially and otherwise, so far as Britain is concerned. Wo seem to have left the lines unprotected. This great-war has shown us whore wo should have been. We should have been working alongwith the Old Country all the Britain who has dono suoh excellent work in financing , the oversea .Dominions and her Allies.

Britain Should Control Our Materials, "I believe that every right-thinking man understands ikjt after the termination of the war it will take longer than our remaining life-times to reinstate matters where they were beforo the war. We think it a fair proposition that Britain should be allowed to control our materials until she re-establishes her industries, and if she asks for only twelve months at the present prices that wc are getting I think that she is making a -remarkable offer to the people of'this country. When you consider that England has cut down her industries to the minimum and hns all those men to reinstate, 1' think, you will, say that twelve months is a magnificent offer. And vet we have fi propaganda in this countiy of 'Let us !havo~ three months!' We have to realise that Britain must be ready to enter into the commercial war after the present conflict.' Wc have been so imbued with sordid commercialism that we have allowed Britain to bear the burden of projecting the Pacific and we have not paid our share. Are we, as soon as the wbt ends, going back to tho old state of things—of helping other nations to attack us again—after all the lives that have been sacrificed in Britain's civnse? I hope that those who arc attempting to raise the agitation throughout this country will set scant sympathy from the majority of the farmers. (Hear, hear.) J. feel very strongly about, this because the proper position has not been put before the people. When terms finally are submitted, I think yon will find they 'are' very satisfactory. It sippears to me to be a very good thing for the people of this country even if they do not get any of tho excess profits over and above what they are getting to-day. "The "outlooll: at the present moment is not very satisfactory so. far as our perishable products are concerned, if wool were tho only thing at stake the mind of tlje Government would not be exercised, and I would not lose one moment's sleep; bnt thoro are also the perishable products—beef, mutton, and butter. The leaders of the New 'Zealand Government and the Imperial Government are going into the question now nnd considering the matter of transportation, but we are in a more difficult position than ever we were since (he war began. You can rest assured that the best will be done. Perhaps before the conference ends wc will be able to submit some of the decisions fhat have been arrived at regarding the questions of transportation and cold storage. The llou. M'\ Guthrie is'handling this mailer. AVe are circulating the whole of the-freezing companies in this country to see what can be done, bnt it looks as if something moTe will have to he done than was done even last year. We have more frozen carcasses in store now than, we like to see there. We will get a fair number of ships for the next, two months, but even so, something must be dono. I hope'the conference will give consideration to this matter, and try to arrive at something which will be helpful to the Government."

Sir James Wilson ipentioned that on Hip previous dny the Board of Agriculture had passed the following resolution :-"From the full information that lias been placed at the disposal of the Boaixl of Agriculture regarding the.wool position, the hoard TCjshes to express its (satisfaction with tlie'erms offered by the Imperial Government, and to state that it considers that the 1 acceptance of- this offer by our Government is in the best interests of the Dominion."

Council Supports the Govornment

Mr. George Hunter, M.P., moved

That this conferenco expresses the hope that the negotiations now under consideration for the purchase of the wool by the Imperial Government will l>e completed on the lines indicated l>y the Minister' as being in the best interests of the Empire.

"Most of us," said Mr. Hunter, "thought that the negotiations had been completed, but it seems that they have not, and it might help Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward if we cable this resolution." , Mr. 11. B. Bunny (Carterton) seconded.

Sir Walter Buchanan asked if the mover would add this to bis resolution: "That this conference has no sympathy with the agitation emanating from a certain portion of the East Coast to vwry Ihe offer of the Imperial Government in regard to the wool purchase." Jlr. Hunter: If it is tho wish of the conference I. wilt make the addition suggested, but I think it would be better and more dignified on the part of the conference to ignore such en agitation. The addition was not made, and Mr. Huntec's motion was tarried unanimously.