FARMING INTERESTS.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1918, Page 3

FARMING INTERESTS.

SHIPPING PROBLEMS

MASTERTON, May 28. The Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. \V. D. S. Macdonald) attended <the Farmers’ Union Conference today. In speaking on remits, the Min- . ister congratulated, the conference upon passing a resolution of loyalty to : the Government. He said it was im- | possible to refer seriously to hydroelectric power until the termination of the war. | In reference to shipping matters ; the Government intended ujiiiig Its power to import wool and corn sacks at reasonable prices. The Government was doing everything possible to securetransport for produce. The whole matter of imports and exports was controlled by the Imperial authorities Owing to the position that had arisen nothing but essential goods are likely to be imported. ( Fencing wire could only be procured from America, and there was insufficient shipping to it from that part. Every possible fa--1 oility would bo given for importing machinery for cleaning wool. The Agricultural Department would have places establihed in both islands for the treatment of seedy wool. In regard to the price of bread, the Board of Trade had power to revise as it thought fit when asked to do so. No retailer was allowed to sell second-grade wheat at a greater profit" than 15 per cent. He denied that any wheat imported from Australia had been sold as fowl wheat. Dealing with teachers’ salaries, he said that Cabinet had only recently agreed to an increase of £15,000. He 'claimed that no country wns monbeing done for education that in New Zealand. He agreed that any person who would not fight for his country should he disfranchised. The Government was doing everything possible to conserve white-pine timber. Tile Government wns careful not to put returned soldiers on land from which they could not make a decent living.