FARMERS’ UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1022, 15 October 1903, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION.

On October lOtli a meeting of the Tolago Bay. branch of the Farmers’ Union was field at Tolago Bay. Present : Messrs Spence, llale, Holder, W. Reeves, A. Reeves, Forsyth, and Somerville (Chairman). The Provincial Secretary wrote, asking the branch to state the most convenient localities in the district for droving paddocks, with a view to urging the Government to acquire the same—lt was resolved to make enquiries Pom. some of the principal drovers.

Re guarantee of soundness in respect of dairy cattle offered at auction sales : The branch was in favor of supporting the proposal, with a view to its becoming customary for the vendor to give such guarantee. With respect to engaging a firm of solicitors who should undertake all the non-litigious business of the Union, it was resolved on the motion of Mr Spence, that members, ot the Union should use their own discretion in the matter of employing a solicitor Aft the close of the meeting, the Chairman drew the attention of members to the heavy burdens placed upon producers, in common with other bread-winners of the colony, through the protection tariffs Purposed on the community for the purpose of maintaining colonial manufactories and safeguarding their interests. He instanced two cases, namely, the woollen and hoot and shoo industries. The total output of the ten woollen, factories in , the colony last year was £359,300. '1 his included an amount of nearly —-90,000, which represented the. amount* (paid by the consumer) of the duty by which this o-utput was protected.. In addition to this £90,000, the consumer aLso paid about £75,090 tn duty on the £300,800 imported woollen goods. The cost _to the colony, therefore, of maintaining this •industry,!• whiiich emoloved only: 1993 people, was £165,000, or £97 a year for each man, woman, or child employed, and divided amongst the 310,000 bread-winners of the colony amounted to a charge of 9s 3d per head. The woolgrower even had no set-off against this, as the price paid him by the factories for his wool was entirely governed by the London market?, The total export of New Zealand-made woollen goods last year was £13,759. In the case of the boot and shoe industry, the total output last year was £586,900,, This included £132,000 representing the amount paid by the consumer of the duty by which this output was protected .j He also paid the uuty on the imported goods, which (m the absence of the actual figures) might at least he placed at £85,000. _ The cost to the colony of maintaining this 'industry, which employed 30u0 people, a large proportion of Whom were hoys, was at least £217,000 a Year- or over £7l for each. employe. W cost to the 340,000 bread-win-ners of the community was 12s 7d per head. They, therefore were •paving £1 2s 3d each, or a total oi £382,000 a year for the purppse of enabling 4743 persons to turn out clothing and footwear,- which could be imported infinitely cheaper.