N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 59, 15 July 1913, Page 6

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

ANNUAL C()N F Eit ENCE

Wellington, July 15

The annual conference of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union commenced to-day. Tne President, Mr J. G. .Wilson, in a lengthy address, congratulated the conference on the attainment of the freehold, for which they had fought so long. During the year New Zealand had experienced a very fine season on the whole. There had been a drought in the North of Auckland and crops in the South Island had not been as good as usual, but stock had done remarkably well in most parts 4 Dairying had made such strides in the last few years that the export value of the produce.' of the industry was greater than that of the frozen meat trade. For the first time this year frozen meat returned £3,650,648, whereas dairyproduce yvas entered as £3,915,794. There seemed a likelihood of still further expansion in the near future. With the high prices of the last few years for dairy produce, laud had risen very much in value, and in areas suit- 1 able for carrying about 25 cows £75 is being paid for land in the best dairying districts. Most people would say that this price was far beyond its value, but there are those who aver that it is not too high, and they base their estimate on the fact that even it this price men arc making a comfortable living from 25 cows. Sheep farmers had also had a very satisfactory year. In a statement he had made con years ago he said they could double their export V from the land. He now found they had nearly achieved-that result. In 1903 the exports of agricultural products were of the’’value of £11,057,101, and in 1913 the value was £18,867,098. Butter had risen from £1,288,650 to £2,056,615, cheese from £181,604 to £1,859,177 and wool from £3,924,484 to £8,065,945. Frozen meat had shown only a slight increase of a few'hundred thousand pounds. The question of re-aggregation was discussed. The President said there had been a great deal of foolish talk about reiggregation. Personally, he regarded it as political talk. “I may say,” he added, “that on this coast this sort of thing has taken place. The land was originally bush, which was cleared by the original owners, in some cases in large areas. It is now. being disposed ofrin very small areas. Right along the coast land is being cut up. Not less than 200,060 or 3UU,UUU aciv.s ■ ifig been cut up along the West Coast during a v6ry few years. There has been no re-aggregation, except in a very few instances. The Union desires to re-affirm its views against reaggregation as being injurious to the country. At the same time there were areas which had been cut no into small sections in the first place. It *.\ as only reasonable that men should have enough land to make a living rut oi it.” '■ • : -- 1 ■

It was finally decided; “That tin conference is against re-aggregation of land. It considers that all land should be disposed of in such aiea's ns will permit a reasonable living to be made by any person taking it up. Some provision should be made $o that all conditions which are imposed, by a Land Board should be so altered as to enable holders of such land to borrow money on equal terms to Ordinary freeholders.”