ECONOMY AND WORK

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 70, 15 December 1921, Page 10

ECONOMY AND WORK

ONLY WAY TO AVOID DISASTER A FARMER’S ADVICE TO FARMERS “ALL LOSS AND NO PROFIT” By Telegraph—Special Correspondent. Masterton, December 14. A meeting of farmers was held here yesterday to discuss matters affecting farmers during the present crisis. Delegates were present from all localities betwsen Pahiatua and Martinborough, and the questions considered included the freezing award, shipping and railway freights, and the proposal to send a producers’ representative to England. With reference to the freezing award, it was resolved to ask Parliament to amend the law to enable farmers to appeal. Mr. Hugh Morrison, president of the Wairarapa provincial district branch of the Farmers’ Dnion, who presided, said that the position of the farmer to-day was extremely precarious. Farmers had to face the facts, and unless they did so they would not be doing their duty. Taking a profit and loss account of today, they found that ii showed all loss and no profit. AVool, tallow, and meat bad slumped, but they had had one prop —the lamb market. Now, even this had collapsed. Freezing and shipping costs were still high, however. Taxation had doubled and trebled since 1911, interest on money had risen even as high as. 12| per cent, in some cases, and freezing and shipping charges had doubled. ■ If they could get those costs down, things might be better. The farmer could not pass on these high charges, and something had to be done. What could they do to avoid disaster? The answer was economy and work. He believed that farmers were doing their duty in this respect. The time had come when they must look beyond their own holdings to the affairs of the outside world. That was what this meeting was called for, and to consider ways and means of easing the pressure that was now being brought to bear on farmers. The first thing to bo done, continued Mr. Morrison, was to bring down the cost of getting their produce Home. Before the war it cosi them ljd‘. per lb. to get their meat to London; to-day it cost about 3Jd. If freights, etc., were not lowered some of the best men in this country, men who had bought land anu had made great sacrifices, would be lost to the Country. Dealing with the Arbitration Court award for freezing workers, Mr. Morrison said that in 1914 it cost 255. per 100 to slaughter sheep; today the same work cost 395. 4d. Mr. Massey had been' doing his best to get shipping freights lowered, but more remained to be done. There had been a drop of Jd. per lb. in freights the other day, but what was this when it was [considered that lamb had dropped from 6d. to sd. in six weeks? He was in favour of the producers’ shipping scheme, and thought that machinery should bo plpced on a working basis, so that the scheme could be put into operation if necessary. It was gratifying to know that wool prices were improving slightly, but to get anything out of wool besides paying interest it was necessary to receive 9d. per lb. To-day they wore getting only about sd. However, he had every confidence that things were going to improve. The question of taxation needed reviewing. It. was pleasing to know that a 10 per cent, rebate had been granted, but it was impossible for many farmers (o meet the charge in the time allowed. The supertax was only a war measure, and should be abolished. NOT LACKING COURAGE. The farmers had been accused of being pessimists and lacking in courage, concluded Mr. Morrison. He denied this, for he had been out in the back-b/ocks and had seen men there who, though up against it, were carrying on. These men, who had their wives and children to look after, had only a small margin between retaining their farms and going out to look for work. He defied anyone to say that they were lucking in courage. Taxation and general charges must be reduced, or these men would go out. Many farmers had given up their land already, and unless something was done many more would be bankrupt. He moved, and Mr. A. J. Speedy seconded :— "That this meeting of farmers feels that it is urgent that the Government should at once investigate the serious financial position a large proportion of farmers are in, with a view to keeping up production and saving many thrifty farmers from ruin and in turn a number of commercial farms, and also cause unemployment for labour. The United States has already taken steps to help tho farmers, which example might be followed here. The arbitration laws of this coun-ry are bolstering up one section of tho community at the expense of the other, which is not only unjust, but will if persisted in, bring about a collapse of tho finances of the country.” Mr. William Perry said it seemed io him that the meeting needed to make some concrete proposal. Mr. Massey had done and was doing his best. The question was what steps could be taken to get over many difficulties that faced ihe farmer. Ono of the first, moves was to lower costs such ns freezing rates, etc. There were certain business concerns which were directly dependent on the farmers for their prosperity, and these firms could be relied on for their help. Even if only the cost-of-living bonus in the freezing award could lie cut down some good would be done. (| The motion was carried. THE FREEZING AWARD. Tn reply to a question by Mr. H. Evans, Mr. J. C. Cooper said that a newspaper paragraph to the effect that farmers had been mistaken in assuming the freezing award was only revisablo in two years was not correct. The chairman read the following telegram received from Mr. A. D. McLeod. M.P.:—"The Court may amend an award to remedy a defect or error. It does not and cannot amend an award in other ways without tho consent of both parties. It can and‘does amend ihe cost-of-living bonus.” Mr. T. R. Barrer moved, and Mr. L. T. Daniell seconded:—“That in view of the authoritative statement that awards of tho Arbitration Court, cannot be reviewed under .wo years, this meeting resolves io ask Parliament to amend the law in the direction of granting an appellant a rehearing of his case within three, months of such awards being made.”

On ihe .suggestion of tho chairman Mr. Barrer agreed to let his motion stand over until Mr Daniell had spoken concerning the matter. Mr. Daniell said that the award in the freezing industry, while satisfying to Iroth parties cited, had proved most disastrous for tho third pariy. the farming community. Never before ha<l it been driven home to the farmer that the freezing companies were only commission agents. The farmer had not realised that he naid tho freezing worker almost as directly as ho paid ihe shearer. By h queer freak there was no right of appeal against tho decisions of the Arbitration Court. They had now lierm on the rocks for a year. Tho Government had given a gentleman a commission to go to England for twelve months and look for rainbows. By (hat lime one-third of tho shcopfarmcrs would b« ruined.

The farmers knew their own. power; they knew how thj> producers fought ana won in Sydney when they were refused) a living wage for their milk, but having so long stuck up for constitutional methods they were loth to resori to other methods. If this award was allowed to run on unquestioned it would materially help to bring black ruin to many fanners. If no protest was made and prices improved in two years the demand would be for more and more wages. He did not stand for tho methods adopted in Sydney with reference to milk; they had a far more constitutional method <rf dealing with the position, but it was as well to let people know what could be done if necessary. Mr. J. C. Cooper said that if justice was to be done the law must be altered io allow an appeal against an award. They did not want to bring about a change by Bolshevik methods. Mr. A. Falkner considered that they should appeal before tho Bar of the House for an amendment '.o the law. Mr. Barrer’s motion was then put to tho meeting and carried unanimously. SHIPPING FREIGHTS. Mr. E. C. Holmes moved: "That the anomalies in shipping freights bo pointed out to the Minister of Agriculture and the Primo Minis.er, and that the shipping companies’ be asked to bring back freights to the 1914 basis.” Mr. Holmes suggested that if it were not possible to return to the 1914 basis it: might be possible to have arrangements with the Australian Commonwealth line of steamers. Mr. Barrer seconded the motion, which was carried. A motion "That seeing the serious financial position of tho farmers to-day the hanks be asked tc help to save the position by reducing interest on overdrafts,” was defeated on the casting vote of the chairman. Mr. W. PeiTy moved: "That this meeting of producers favours the proposal to raise the necessary money by a levy on sheep and cattle to pay the expenses of a producers’ representative in. London, with the object of looking after and advertising our produce on tho Home markets.” He felt that with a competent man at Home looking after farmers’ interests groat good would be done. The chairman said ho would second the motion, which he thought was worthy of support. Further discussion of the motion was postponed until a meeting in January. Another motion carried was tho following: "That the Minister of Railways be asked to reduce freights to seaports, particularly of meat to the 1.914 standard—from 38s. 6d. per ton to 21b. Id. per ton." FOREIGN MARKETS TRADE WITH CHINA AND JAPAN. The scientific marketing of New Zealand’s primary products and the question of finding air-buffet In foreign countries for meat, wool, butter, etc., was discussed by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last evening. Mr. A. D. Carson stated that he had noticed that China was u likely customer, and he wanted to know if this matter could be inquired into. The president (Mr. T. F. Martin) said that tho Associated Chambers of Commerce had considered the matter of foreign markets, and the next morning he had to meet the Prime Minister on the very subject, to put before him certain resolutions which were arrived at at Christchurch in connection with foreign trading. The Chambers of Cbm* merce were asking that a representative of New Zealand be stationed in New York to look after the Dominion’s interests in America. Further, that representatives be sent to the East to see what could be done to extend New Zealand’s trading arrangements with China, and principally Japan. He had. also to bring up the question of the Ministry of Commerce. An. attempt was being made to do away with that portfolio, and the chambers considered that such’ a step would be detrimental to the interests of New Zealand. Regarding foreign trading lie had been considering <Lr some time that the chamber should have a full discussion on the question, as they knew the Farmers Union' and other associations had been making public statements in connection with the marketing of our goods in other lands, and it was really necessary for the commercial community to come forward and express their views. Mr. W. S. Wilson said that in Canada and the United States this was one of tho chief functions of the Chamber of Commerce. New Zealand was not getting a fair deal bo far as London was concerned. In the very near future, he understood, there was going to be an announcement made in parliament concerning this matter. The Reform Party had been discussing ft, and were formuijffftlg a big scheme. It was quite necessary "that the farmers should have the commercial comnilfnffy behind them.