FARMERS’ UNION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2132, 15 July 1907, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION.

THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.

In the course of his Presidential address to tho Farmers’ Union Conference, tho President (Mr. J. CL Wilson, of Bulls) dealt comprehensively with tho Land Bill, mentioning •'•ln relation to tho pamphlot, wc cireulutod 100,000 copies both in town and country, and wo havo reason to thin'k that'it has boon tho means ol assisting the public to form an opinion on this question. No attempt to refute the arguments set forth has been made. All tho criticisms that I have seen of those opposed to our views have been confined to statements about the conduct of our Union which are absolutely untruo.” He wont on to say, “Wo aro now in the same position as wo wero at our last conference. Wo do not know tindetails of tho now Land Bill, and therefore we cannot givo expression ol opinion ns to what the Union think of tlio proposals. It is questionable whether we should not-, on another occasion, hold our conference a little later, so that we could have the policy measures which affect the farmers before us when discussing them. It is a curious commentary on the views held by some of the papers which so heartilv supported tho last Land Bill, that they now declare the limitation proposals were “absurd and unworkable.” and the graduated tax tho proper method. No statement has vet been made which showed that aggregation of large estates in tho Colony was going on; though, no doubt, some farmers have bought their neighbours out where it suited both parties. In considering this question, it is well to put on record the largo amount land pays by way of taxation and rents, besides tho actual Land Tax. Tho latter tax. with tho incroaso in valuations, will bring in about £400,000 this year. Add to this the rates on land levied by local bodies, which in 1904-5. was £1,019,431, and which is probably £1,200,000 at the present time. The next amount is the death duties. During tho last, three years there has been paid through the Stamp Department under the Deceased Persons Estates Duties Act. ISSI. about £150,000, but 1 havo no means ol knowing how much was paid by land, and bow much was personal property. If we put down £BO,OOO per antim. we shall probably be near the mark. There is then tho sheep-tax, a relic of the past-, and held on to bv all Treasurers, though essentinllv a. class tax. The amount last year was about £20,000. Besides this, there are the fees paid to Government for the valuation of land for mortgage purposos; the lees "aid for Crown grant. , . . Tho territorial revenue which land pays is about £260,000 per 'annum. So' that with all these fees and revenue, we might fairly say £300,000 comes, in as revenue to the Government. The contributions which land makes to have its produce carried, makes a large proportion of the revenue from our working railways, but I do not take credit for that; nor for tho amount of general taxation which the owners pay, for they do this in common with the whole population. To summarise these amounts we have, Land Tax £400,000 Rates £1,200,000 Death Duties ... £BO,OOO Sheep Tax £20,000 Transfer stamps, fees of various kinds, and revenue from land £300,000

Total per annum £2,000,000

Yet the cry is often uttered, “Increase tiie Land Tax,” forgetting the many burdens the land already carries. As if taxation of others (beyond the taxation necessary for the proper carrying out of the Government of the country) can ever make a country wealthier, or the people more prosperous! The wealth of any country is what the primary producers aro able to extract by skill and science from the land. The more hampered thev are. -the less will be the return, and thus the wealth of the C-olony be reduced.” Other subjects touched’upon by the President were:— DUTY ON WHEAT. “Mr. Millar seemed to hint in Dunedin that there might bo aii export duty on wheat, so as to 'keep down the price to the consumer in fNew Zealand. That is to take out of the pockets of the farmer a further tax, and hinder the expansion of trade. Surely Now Zealand would never agree to such a retrograde step! That, and his other proposal to set up a Board of Commerce to regulate the price of commodities and decide what was a fair remuneration for capital, reminds ono of the mediaeval times, and docs not speak well for the spirit in which he will approach the tariff question.”

A RECORD YEAR. “The past year has been almost a record one for New ZcalancT, the exports showing an extraordinary rise of £3,100,000 in the last twelve months. Nearly half of this is accounted for by the rise in the price of wool. Frozen meat has risen another £700,000. Butter and Cheese also show a substantial increase. These four items, together with sheep-skins (£270,000 increase), almost account for the total increase.

“That being the ca.se. tho wool growing and dairying industries have had exceptional years. The price of blitter in London has not- justified the high prices given at the beginning of the season ; and those who purchased must have lost considerably by the transaction, for the price fell rapidly in London, and has not yet risen to 100 s. This has caused a considerable quantity to be stored in the Colony, and winter prices are lower than for ■some years past. Still the consumer gains the advantage. No one can foretell what the prices will be during the coming season, but until this old butter is worked off, it will have a depressing effect on the market. It is thought, however, that it is not so much factory hotter that has been stored as milled butter, and if that is tho case the effect will not be so marked. The New Zealand butter has been received with great favour in London, and if there was a proper system of selling to the best advantage as the Danes have (through a committee in London acting in concert) we should increase our prices, for we are not so far behind Denmark in quality as would warrant the difference in price. MILKING MACHINES. “Tho milking machine is now past the experimental stage, and when it comes into common use, it must lessen the labour on tho farm. There are now several on the market, and it is the intention of the Agricultural Department to install three machines at the Levin Experimental Farm to allow farmers to make a comparison. We arc yet a long way behind in the yield of milk that should with care be expected. There arc cows in New Zealand giving more than 5001 hs but-ter-fat. There is one, a very common looking cow, on the Levin farm, and another on Mr. Exley’s farm in the Hawera district. The first at the price paid out by the factory at Levin will give a return for butter fat alone during the year of £2l 17s fid. . Mr. Exley supplied a cheese factory, and the price paid for butter fat gives a return of over £23 for his cow. The mention of those actual returns open up a possibility in New Zealand of another million being added to our exports. Hut- it is only by Education and progress that any average advance per row can be obtained. The Government has determined to appoint inspectors, and a thorough system of inspection of yards and herds is to take place. And it is intended to show what, an easy matter it is, and within everyone’s reach, that the weighing ol the milk of each cow should be carried out. A proper supply of water at tlie milk stand is imperative during the summer, if our butter is to improve.”

CHEESE MARKET. “Cheese has been at a phenomenal pnee, and some of the factories are changing from butter to cheese. Those best informed, however, seem to think that the circumstances which caused the rise will gradually bo changed, and that next year there will be a lower level of prices.”

GRAIN PROSPECTS. “The grain-growers have not been so fortunate. There was partial drought in Cantorbruy, and the yield all over New Zealand was distinctly under the average for former years, so that, the price of wheat and oats has risen considerably. The anticipated shortness of crop in Canada and tho United States caused an excited market all over the world. I have always noticed in time of excitement prices are obtained which are not justified, and a rebound takes place. And it is safe to say in the farming world that things never turn out either so well or so badly as is at first anticipated. Tho statement that Canada’s crop would be short by 25 to 30 per cent, was mere conjecture. Lord Stratlicona, in a letter to tlie London Times, says “that such is not the case as far as area is concerned ; that the area in wheat will only be 10 per cent short of last year.” The sowing of crops, when he wrote on May 17 th was just being completed, and since then they have had favourable weather. After severe frosts in winter, it is usually expected that a good yield follows, and the 10 per cent shortage in area may be made up by the* yield.

“Tho English crops so fnr, promise well, and tho Russian crop is reported to he slightly below tlio average. Oormany is distinctly below tho amount necessary to feed lior people and will require to supplement her output by several million quarters for homo consumption. Hut it is too early to hazard an opinion. Prices in London have eased for future shipments, owing to better prospects for the crops. On the whole, however, we may look, l think, for a better range of prices

for wheat. The enormous output ot tlu> world’s gold will, no doubt, havo the effect of keeping all prices up to a higher level than a few years ago. “In oats, our yield is scarcely sufficient for our requirements, and Canterhury’s yield was very disappointing; hut the farmers there had their turn last year with this crop. “When the Agricultural returns came out, and it was seen that the yield was so low. a very sharp rise took place, and there was an excited market. But a rehound took place here as well, and prices again 101 l several poneo. Since, however, it has been found out that the oats woro not coming in freely, prices have gone up again, and they now stand higher than they have done for some tnno. There may lie some check when farmers thresh in the spring, hut bofore the now crop comes in both oats and chaff will bo very scarce. “The excellent- season in tno Commonwoaltli, has given them such a largo crop to deal with that- they havo not required assistance; in fact, wo havo taken some of theirs, therefore there has been a very small export of eats, and it is fortunate that the works going on in the North Island have been able to take up tho surplus of the South. In fact, wo havo no oats to export. . FROZEN MEAT TRADE. “The frozen meat trade has had a fairly good year, though prices in mutton havo been rather below tlio average. Latterly lamb has beon selling well, and boef has gone up.to over 4d per lb for forequarters, which has not caused a corresponding rise vet in tho Colony. In somo parts or the Colony there is a distinct shortage of feed, and stock have been rather rushed into the market, checking any tendeey to rise in price; but judging by tlni numbers, in the country, and the shortage of the turnip crop,prices may take a sharp rise belore the spring-fattened stuff conies into the market.

TURKU’ CHOP. “In some parts of New Zealand tlie I turnip crop lias been ouite a failure, and in others partially so, owing to a blight attacking the leaves which caused the turnip crop to rot; but every year we have some turnips ujfoeted,' though never so many as this last' season. In these crops, which I linvo seen,, the Purple-top Aberdeen was the most affected, the green-top Aberdeen less so, and the swedes not at all, though in the "VVairarapa, it is said, the swede was badly affected. It was also noticeable that the Imperial green-globe turnip was almost immune. The general opinion is that the blight is caused by the season, and with more equal rainfall, which is usual in New Zealand, the crops may not be affected another year to the same extent. A GOOD OUTLOOK.

“On the whole,” concluded the President, “wo may look forward with confidence to the coming year, if only we are left alone, and not be the medium of further exneriment. The total exports of the Colony amounted to £19,277,640 last year, and the produce of the farm accounted for £l7, 762,266. The former is the means of bringing the whole of this huge sum into circulation, and it shows the wisdom of fostering this primary industry. The whole export of the protected industries (unless they are contained in the enumeration “other N.Z. produce”) is apparel £2,107, and woollens £3,634; a. total of £5,741.”