CAPTAIN COLBECK HONOURED.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 246, 19 July 1928, Page 5

CAPTAIN COLBECK HONOURED.

SERVICES RECOGNISED. Presentation by Farmers. “ Will Raise Cain as Usual.” A pleasing ceremony took place at the annual smoke concert of the Morrinsville branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union on Saturday evening, when Captain Colbeck, who retired recently from active participation in the affairs of the union, was presented with a handsome pipe and tobacco pouch as a mark of the esteem in which he is held by the members, and of recognition of the many years of tireless service given to the farming community. ... „•

The toast of Captain Colbeck, wh=ii it was proposed by the president, Mr. J. M. Allen, was received with loud applause. There were few men in New Zealand who had done more for Lhe Farmers’ Union, or for the farmers than Captain Colbeck, said Mr. Alim. Speaking of his association with Morrinsville, the president said that when the branch was resuscitated the advice of Captain Colbeck had been of the greatest value. The speaker did not know what would have happened had he not had such an authority and enthusiast at his elbow. Meetings were always interesting when the Captain was there. In controversies he had “ leapt into the arena With all the merriment of the clown." There were many who had differed in view and there had been many an argument. But Captain Colbeck had 1ways held his head high and playei the game, and was not only respected but honoured for it. As a young man the Captain had fought at the Boer war. When he came back he had gone up and town the country, like’ Bright and Cobham in the repeal of the Corn Laws, urging farmers to combine for their own good and the good of the country. He regretted that the' Captain had taken the step he had recently. The president could assure him that :n the Morrinsville branch no man had ever been more welcome and no man would ever be more welcome than he. His cheery face and readiness for argument had been missed lately.

Captain Colbeck was arc irded ar. ovation when he rose to reply. He said the presentation had come to him as the biggest surprise of his life. He had certainly been working for the Farmers’ Union for many years. Whatever mistakes he had made were honest ones. He had attempted to do what was right and in the interests of his fellow farmers. “You will admit,” he said, warming to the subject, “ that it is almost lunacy on the part of farmers to oppose what I have been advocating all these years. (Laughter and applause). I have played on a fiddle with only one string, and I have played the same tune all the time—that is, reduce the cost of production. With this end In view I have advocated cheap money and cheap goods. The farmers’ overhead expenses are the cost of his land, the cost of improving, and his rates and taxes. I have fought with all my heart and strength for an agricultural bank. I believe the rural credits scheme is as near perfect as it is possible to get. As for long term credits the money is not being secured in the cheapest way.”

Continuing, Mr. Colbeck said that he had known Mr. Coates for many years—almost since he was a young man. It had therefore pained him to bring such bitter opposition to bear on the Government. It had been a strenuous fight to secure the financing legislation, and when it came it was given none too graciously. The farmers got it because they battled for it. As regards the system of customs taxation, the position would be made clear if the Dominion were regarded as a huge co-operative company, of which the people were shareholders. There were three classes of shares: Guaranteed stock, which was labour, preferential shares, the industrialists who got a third more for their goods than we would ge,t elsewhere, and the ordinary shareholder, who was the farmer. If there was anything left he got a dividend. If there was not, he got nothing. It had been urged that politics should be avoided by the Farmers’ Union. To follow the argument the M.’sP. were directors in the company, and every class of shareholder should have representation on the directorate. What was to stop the other directors from safeguarding their own interests and benefiting by their strength ?

Concluding, Captain Colbeck said he did not intend to retire altogether from the union. Seeing the Morrinsville branch wanted him to attend the monthly meetings, he would be there and “ would raise Cain as .usual. ’ (Cheers and applause).