FARMERS’ UNION.

Shannon News, 30 September 1921, Page 1

FARMERS’ UNION.

sub-provinciAl executive MEETS. The Manawatu Sub-Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union met in Levin on Saturday, the members present' being Messrs. A. Buchanan (chairman), F. W. Hubbard, J. A. McLeavey, J. Balsillie (Palmerston North), A. McLeavey (Ohau), G. Tully (Levin), B. Gower (Foxton), Tatton Fraser (Waikanae), H. Barber (Shannon), H. Bond (Rangiotu), L. 11. Atkins' (Manakau). FARMERS’ TRADING CONCERNS. The chairman presented a report touching on matters of interest to •farmers, particularly that of the cost of various articles of merchandise, veterinary requirements, grass seed, etc. The farmers were interested in. Urie; trading concern, and he thought Jhey should be able to purchase through it cheaper than they were doing • at present. ij Mr Hubbard expressed the opinion that farmers could not compete in business with men who had been in business all their lives. He deprecated the lack of energy that farmers put into their affairs, and instanced the : publicity campaign, of which much yas expected and nothing came.' Touching on the prices farmers had to pay for their requirements, he thought, some good) would be done, if orders for manure, etc., were grouped by farmers in different districts. Within a temmile radius of Palmerston North or Levin such requirements would represent a very ■ large order, upon which there would be a substantial rebate. This would ,be a big saving to the farmers concerned. ; | ! The chairman referred to the quesition of sugar, and said it was time the Government allowed a free market for this product. Instead of that the Government seemed to be standing behind the Colonial Sugar Company. A' 1 Palmerston North- gentleman who had lately returned from Java stated that • sugar was being manufactured there at a rate that would allow of it being purchased in New Zealand at half the price we were paying for our present supplies. A member expressed the opinion l lliat Java sugar was being. bought up in certain quarters and retailed at the higher rates. Referring again to prices of merchandise, the chairman said the farm-- ! ers were asked to pay too much by their own trading concern.

Mr Bond said, as a shareholder in the " farmers’ concern, he could bear that out. \

, The cftaTrmfcn referred to grass seed, and quoted the prices paid by the wholesale purchasing firms and the -retail prices; the farmers had to pay. It was shown that the shipping freight from Marlborough, where a great deal of the seed came from, to Wellington, was excessive, and it should be taken into consideration whether the farmers should not combine and charter #1 vessel when, required. The chairman stated that another matter was auctioneers’ commissions. In the South Island , the commission was per cent, but in this Island it was 4 per cent, which ftras too high. After further discussion, it was decided, on the' chairman’s motion: “That the Farmers’ Union should take steps to get move effective work from its trading yentures.” REMITS. The following remits were received from the Palmerston branch for circulation:—" ' ’ “That this branch is of the opinion that the .present, form of land valuation! is Unequitable, ..and asks that the Provincial'Executive shall go into the matter. “That this branch strohgly supports any action that may be,taken by the Government or our own people to keep any trust inimical to the interests of the producers from operating in this country.” Mr A. McLeavey said he understood the Ohau branch had forwarded a remit recommending that another crushing plant, to deal with Nauru phosphate, be established. On being assured it bad not been received, Mr McLeavey asked the meeting to accept the remit then, which was agreed to. He stated that Mr Greenwood, the agricultural instructor, had informed the Ohau branch lately that two crushing plants would be set up in the South Island and one in the north, and it was considered that an additional plant should be established in this Island. Mr Fraser said such a plant, should

be at a seaport for the convenience of handling. Mr McLeavey stated that the plant allocated to the North Island was to be at Auckland, so that they should endeavour to get the additional' one at Wellington. The Ohau remit would be on those lines—that it be a recommendation to the Government to establish an additional crushing plant, and suggesting Wellington as- the site. TE HORO BRANCH. Mr Paddon, secretary of the Te Horo branch, waited on the meeting and asked its advice. He said the branch had a fair membership, but owing to a certain local controversy, wliich had no connection with the Farmers’ Union, it was impossible to get a meeting. He had no doubt the trouble he had mentioned would be settled amicably in time, and that, the Union would go on as before, but in the meantime he wished to have the executive’s advice as to whether he should collect subscriptions and carry on as usual, He repeated that he had been unable to get a meeting of members. Members were unanimous that Mr Paddon should carry on, all agreeing that he should be commended for the very real interest he was taking in the welfare of the branch, considering the difficult position that had arisen.