Farmers' Affairs

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 117, 3 June 1937, Page 6

Farmers' Affairs

WAIROA MEETING Important Remits Dealt With VARIOUS T0PICS The second annual inter-provineial conference of delegates of the Farmers' Unions of Poverty Bay, Hawke's Bay and Wairoa was held in the Mai-' sonic Hall, Wairoa, yesterday. Mr H. TayJor, of Wairoa, took the chadr, and after a brief welcome to the delegates, he made a special apology on behalf of the president, Mr P. J. O 'Kane, who had suffered a family bereavement. He moved a vote of sympathy with Mr O 'Kane, which was carried by all standing in silence for a brief period. Other apologies made were on behalf of Messrs J. G. Henson, A. T. Carroll, T. L. Powdrell, I. H. Curlett, and F. Harrison. Mr Taylor then called on the Mayor, Mr H. L. Harker, to offieially open the meeting. Mr Harker tendered. a welcome on behalf of the citizens* of Wairoa to the delegates Trom Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay to Wairoa* It was only by getting together, he said, to discuss such matters as appeared on the agenda paper, that they could bring their views before the legislative authorities. He was a keen believer in the Farmers' Union, though it might be unusual for the Mayor of a borough to say so, but to get anywhere in district progress, town and country must work together.

Ihe matters on the agenda were of vital interest, not only to the districts represented. but to the whole of New Zealand. It had been held that the Farmers' Union was, or should be, nonpolitical, but it must at times intrude on the political, otherwise if legislation was passed that .did not please them, and by which they were bound^ they only had themselves to blame. The Mayor thea went on to analyse the several remits, paying most attention to the matters of rating, noxious'weeds, electricity, etc. Those present were: Messrs J. T. Herbert, W. A. McCliskie (Poverty Bay), W. Tait, H. L. Taylor, H. B. Taylor, A. B. Taylor, O. G. Birrell (Wairoa), W. A. Bitchie, E. O. Holt, T. Priest, K. Kirkham, W. H. Much, A. J. Field, W. McKeesick (Hawke 's Bay), C. J. Harris, the organiser, W. J. Ross (Hawke's Bay), G. V. Smith, M. T, Trafford, J. Berry, P. W. Mossman, (Gisborne), C. R. Edgecumbe (Hawke's Bay) and H. L. Harker (Wairoa). Mr J. E. Benson was unanimously appointed dhairman. He endorsed the Mayor 's remarks, and admitted it was very difficult to get the farmers to get into line. He then gave a resume of what had been done at the last meeting in conference, as already published in the Press.

Remits Dealt With Remits were then dealt with as follows: — Hospital rating: That at the group conferences to be held at Wairoa on June 2, the question of hospital rating be fully discussed. (Poverty Bay.) Mr Tait seconded a motion in favour of an alteration in the incidence of the taxation, the.mover setting it down as 9/- in -a borough to £1 or £1 1/- in a county. Mr Trafford advocated a 50 — 50 scheme between rateable values and population. Mr Kirkham favoured the population basis, but Mr Harker gav© Wairoa' s experiences. The percentage of patients from the country compared with the borough was as seven to three owing to the fact that country patents had to remain in longer than town patients. Messrs W. Tait, Ritchie, Talbot, and McKeesick also spoke, and the remit favouring an alteration in the basis was carried, in effect, that 2d. out of the wages tax and emergency tax be used for hobpital board purposes. Rates : That the Government he again asked to consider a renewal of the 12-£ per cent. rebate on county rates as this is the most equitable manner of distributing a proportion of the petrol tax funds throughout counties as it would liave the effect of taking funds from main and State highways and enabiing counties to spend these funds on county access roads, and the higher the county rate, tho greater would be the rebate thus giving assistance where it is most required (Poverty Bay). The chairman moved the remit, but an amendment, moved by Mr H. L. Harker, and seconded by Mr Trafford, was carried, to take all roading costs out of the petrol tax. With this was coupled No 12 remit: That the Government put into effect a system of derating farm lands throughout New Zealand in an endeavour to iift a portion of the rates burden at present carried By tho farmers (Wairoa). Electricity Charges : That the Government be asked to reduce the charge of electricity to Power Boards and such reduction be applied to the assistance of reticulation of county districts, was moved by Mr Edgecombe, who gave the viewpoint of the county settlers, Mr Trafford seconded, and an animated debate followed, the only amendment being to add the word "smaller" after the word "Boards". Wages for Inexperienced Boys: That the law be amended allowing the inexperienced boy and the employer to come to an agreement of wages, not less than 10/- per week for first twelve months; after that the set wages to apply (Hawke'# Bay). This also ea used considerable debate, all of a favouruble nature. Remit carried. Noxious Weeds Noxious Weeds: That this Executive approach the Department of Agriculture through the Dominion executive ' asking that a special noxious weeds organisation be set up by tb6 Agriculture Department to formulate a scheme and enter into negotiations with couucils and other bodies they may deeni advisable for control of noxious weeds (Hawke's Bay). The motion was amended to cast on the Crown the duty of dealing with noxious weeds ou Crown lands, leaving it to the county councils to dea] with

the lands of its ratepayers. — Carried. Amalgamation Question : That conversations be undertaken between the respective organisations in an endeavour to bring about an amalgamation between the Farmers' Union and the New Zealand Sheepowners' Federation (Hawke's Bay), After a short debate the remit was carried as likely to strengthen the body of farming opinion. Mr Polson as Life Member : That this Dominion executive heartily recommends that Mr W. J. Polson, M.P., be elected a Dominion life member of the Union in recognition of the wonderful and valuable service he has rendered to the farming community over a long period of years (Hawke's Bay). Carried Unanimously Stable price for Wool: That .tho Government be urged to take up the question of a stable price for wool similar to that of the Dairy produce (Wairoa). After some adverse debate, the remit • was withdrawn jn preference to going to a vote. Education of Farmers' Children : That the Minister in charge of the State Advances Corporation be requested to provide funds sufficient for the education of farmers children .when drawing up budgets of expenditure, in connection with farms under the Corporations control, and that. the adjustment commissioner be advised when adjusting mortgages under the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehahilitation Act 1936, that sufficient allowance be made for the education of farmers' children (W airoa) . — Carried. Embargo on Live Stock : That the Government he urged to lift the present restrictions on the import of stock in view of the fact that sufficient protection is provided hy quarantine, to prevent disease being brought into New. Zealand (Wairoa). — Lost. Farm Labour: That the Government be requested to release money for the building of homes on farms for married people, without the present restrictionji regarding security (Wairoa), — Carried. This concluded the remits, and tho following resolution was moved by Mr Talbot: — That this meeting is not in favour -of a compensatony price .for primary produce owing to the piinciple" being economically unsound — Lost bj 9 to 10. Mr J. E. Benson was unanimously elected conference delegate. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.