THE FARMERS AND THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 267, 31 July 1918, Page 4

THE FARMERS AND THE WAR

Tub war was' writ large and plain over the proceedings of the New Zealand Farmers' Union Conference, which opened its proceedings yesterday. Frequent references to the great conflict in which the Empire is engaged occurred in the address of the president (Sir James Wilson) and in the speeches of members, and a .number of the remits dealt with war matters. This was inevitable, for the war touclics every phase of ,our national, life, and no section of the community is more loyal or more desirous of helping the Empire to achievc victory than the farmers. Many townspeople quite- misunderstand the position of the farmer in these critical clays. They seem to think that ho is having a splendid time; that he is making tremendous profits; and that hisanxietics are few and small! The prices for farm produce arc undoubtedly high, but it must not be forgotten that the'cost of farm requisites has greatly increased. Wages have advanced, and skilled labour is scarce. As the war goes on the position of the man on the land becomes more and more difficult, and the future is very uncertain. Those who are 'inclined to call the farmer hard names, and think he is enjoying an excessive measure of prosperity, should remember that the welfare of the city depends very largely upon the welfare of the farming community. It isagood thing for tho whole Dominion that our export trade has been so well maintained. It is of the highest importance that our producing industries should be as successful as possible. A serious setback in that quarter would ibo felt throughout the length and breadth .of the land It is, therefore, highly desirable that tho farmer should be able to Ret his produce to tho British market,_ and unfortunately tho shipping difficulty has now becomo extremely acute. Sir Ja'jies Wilson informed the conference that "at no period of the war has the outlook for shipping been so unpromising." No satisfactory solution of the problem is in sight, and yet the discovery of a solution is of absolutely vital importance. Sir James Wilson cannot at present see a way out of the difficulty. He can only point to the fact that "the steamers which usually carry our produce arc rushing backwards and forwards over the Atlantic carrying men, munitions, and food for tho soldiers that the United States is sending over to help us beat the Hun." However urgent our need for ships to carry our produce may be, the need of winniat; the war is still more urgent. Victory must be the first and supremo consideration. 'Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward are in England at the present moment, and they know the seriousness of the shipping position. It may be taken for granted that they are doing all jn their power to induco the Imperial authorities to supply our rcnuiremcnts. We can feel reasonably sure that some of outproduce will be shipped, but it is impossible to sa.v how much. The farmers of New Zealand have no desire to hamper the British Government On the contrary, they want to help in every possible way. They realise that they have much to be thankful for, and that, the wonderfully good fortune that they have hitherto enjoyed since the outbreak of war may not continue rierht through the struggle. Sir .James Wilson speaks the mind of the whole farming community when he asserts that "although we have many difficulties ahead, v possibly somo losses, even financial stringency, we have.made up our minds that whatever happens wo are going to win through, and the farmers are determined to do what they can to help." They know that a nation can never win through a great war by whimpering and whining, but by overcoming difficulties, by grappling resolutely with adverse circumstances, and making the best of things. Our producers are not ungrateful, nor are they unreasonable. They do not axpect tho British Government to do impossibilities. .They arc the first to admit that the Imperial authorities liave treated thern most generously in regard to tho purchase of their products. Anyone who is not fully satisfied on this point has only to think what would have happened to the New Zealand farmers if the Huns had been their masters. As Sir James Wilson remarked, when we think of such a fate wo know what a privilege it is to belong to the British Empire, and it is because our farmers prize this privilege that they want to deprive the Huns of the power and opportunity of injuring the Empire in the future. The conference very properly regarded it as part of its business to discuss - the future of tho German Pacific colonies. It passed a resolution endorsing the action of Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward in demanding, in I lie most emphatic manner, that these colonies shall not be returned to Germany. It is desirable that the Imperial authorities should be made to understand the mind of the people of New Zealand in regard to this matter. It would bo foolish to shut our eyes to the fact that when the time to discuss the conditions of peace arrives an attempt will be made to restore to Germany hor Pacifio dob-

sessions. Any such proposal must bo most resolutely resisted, and the resolution carried by the conference will tend to strengthen the hands of our representatives at the Peace Conference. It is important that tho British Government should know that we do not want the Huns for our neighbours, and that they will never ho allowed to re-establish their power in this part of tho world if \ye can prevent it. If they regain their lost fooling it will he not only without our consent, but in direct opposition to our most emphatic representations.