N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 122, 14 May 1908, Page 4

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

TAKANAKI PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE.

The annual provincial conference of the Farmers' Union opened at ilauera yesterday morning. There were pie- | sent: Messrs E. Maxwell (president), J.

Thomson (treasurer), J. Ore Murray (Elthain), Jus. Davidson (llaweru), ,1. Stevenson (kaputii), W. 11. Ijjecli (lvitiuiala), A. Allhuscn. (Kaponga), 1.1. T. Had (Leppcrtou), J. Marx (Mangatoki), Jas. Robsoii iNgairc), S. Forsyth (Opu mike), J. W. Jones (Patea), A. Voullaire (Riverlca), J. A. Jones (Stratford), F. J. Virgin (Tarata), J. Burgess (Wa-

rea), J. 11. liiue (Waitara). The following visiting members were present: 1 T. 0. Hodgson (Eltham), W. Rogers , (Stratford), YV. Blair (Otakeho), 'i. , Chapman (Eltham). Apologies were | received from Mr. Marx and Mr. KobisOll. THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. The president welcomed thu delegates from the various branches of the Union. Proceeding with his report, he said the number ot branches in the province was 32 that was counting only active brunches—and thu membership had not increased. ihe levies made during the pa„t year by the Colonial and Provincial Executives was the same as iu Ihe previous year, viz., 2s each, or a total of •Is per member. Of course it would he. recognised that this was very small indeed in each case, and barely provided lor the coßt ol printing stationery, „tainps, etc., or for the salaries of secretaries. In each case it would be entirely inadequate but for the fact that there were a number of members Of the Union who not only gave their time for nothing, but paid in addition considerable travelling expenses out of t'heif own pockets. None of the members had ever received anything towards their expenses iu attending meetings. He mentioned this so that the delegates might he able to inform their branches that not one penny of the monies re ceived by the executive was spent in other than the necessary costs he had already mentioned. Although the Union was doing good work and making fair progress the membership was far from what it should be. The executive before Christmas appointed Mr. Naughton provincial secretary aud Mr Catanach the canvasser of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance, joint organisers, with the object of trying to increase the.

membership, and they had, although only engaged in the work for a very short period, done very good work, but latterly, for various reasons, they had not been able to carry out the organising, but it was hoped it would be gone on with shortly. A 8 the payment of salaries for this work entailed considerably extra expense on the executive the provincial levy had been increased for the present year to 3s. He regretted the Union is shortly likely to lose the

services of the provincial secretary, Mr. Nanghton, who had rendered valuable and faithful service. Everyone would regret- Mr. Naughtou's departure. He would lie a great loss to the Union, and his position would be Hard to fill. lie drew- attention to the lad that although a number of the tanners iu the country whd belonged to the Union gave a great deal of their lime and spent very considerable sums in furthering the works of the Union in fighting and guarding the interests of the farming community, the greater number by far of the farmers seemed to be willing lo let thoso willing few do all the work and provide all the expense. While they were apparently

prepared to participate in any benefits received they did not seem to realise how ) unenviable the position was. He urg |ed every farmer to join the Union. The Union should be a much greater power. It had done a great deal, but | anyone who followed events and saw i what the labor unions were doing, what single taxers desired, what the socialists prominent among whom were members of the Government in the House —were aiming at, they would know what a great battle the farming community had before them, and in re-

sisting further encroachments, to say nothing of regaining last grounds. It was not the interests of the farming community only that were at stake, but of the whole community. Nine-tenths of the exports of the colony were what might be termed primary produce, while that of the bore quite ait insignificant proportion of the whole. It fehuuld be evident to all thai, if not whole prosperity of the Dominion depended on the prosperity of the primary producers. Iu the case of trades, manufactories, etc., any increased cost resultant on increase ot wages, shortening oi hours, etc., onlv resulted in increased

I prices being demanded and obtained, I whilst in the ease of iirimary producers tlit'y hail lo compete with all parts of tins world, take what they could get, ujiy increase in cost of production having to come out of their profits or labor. It should Ijc evident to all that, if not successfully resisted, the encroachments and demands by other sections of the community would rapidly bring about such an increased cost of production that not only would any profit there was now be swept away, but it would ■soon be impossible to compete with other countries, resulting in disaster to the fanners and the whole Dominion. It was only necessary to remember what the fall in wool alone had meant to the

country this year. He thought it would be admitted that the cost of production had already greatly increased, and in many cases the producer had to work very hard and long without anything like the return for the labor of himself and family that was now demanded for ■ the man alone in the town. The country had now very plain evidence that the conditions were already such that many were seeking more favorable fields in other countries, lie pointed out that I the Union's attitude was almost wholly I that of defence. It ri object was to conservo the rights of the farming com-

munity and prevent any encroachments. It did not attempt in any way to interfere with other sections of the community. Consequently its ranks were open to all whose, interests were thos: nf the primary producers, no matter what their political beliefs might be. Though necessarily most of its work was of n political nature, it was distinctly uon-party as applied to two sides of the House. It had been careful to avoid taking any party stand in elections, and had treated the Government

and Opposition candidates alike in obtaining from them pledges as to their altitude in reference to the main planks of the Union. A careful record and analysis of how those pledges were kept u.i* in the hands of the executive, so that in future elections it could be known whom they could rely on as their friends. In other partg a movement in the direction of the Union taking a stronger political stand had be<m made, but so far nothing definite had resulted, flic Union's chief work during the past vcir had been in continuing their light for I he freehold, and although the principle of the freehold was maintained in the Land Act, which, however, contained much that the Union regretted; this would not have been so had pledges been conscientiously carried out. The proper valuation of improvements had In 'U one of the chief concerns of the Union, lull, unfortunately, it failed to gel provision made for fair treatment, and I lit- law it stood was most un-|ii-I l» all lra,.-b..Mci>. The question ■■l the tarilf had been an important one, and although the Premier stated lo a di'putalion from the (.'olonial Conference

Ilmt it. would Ih' found to lie a. revenue tariff, it had provi-il to lie of a highly protective nature. Whilst jnctouiling to ease the burden it had undoubtedly incleaned it. It was well to note that", although the Dominion had been most ]u"-.jit-nuis and largo surpluses had heen declared year a Tier year, the taxation per head, including local bodies' rates, lor last year were Co 18s (id. as against U !'-> MM in l»!)5. 'ii, P 1 niou had done excellent work during the vear in connection wit], labor disputes, 'and it was entirely due to the Union and especially to tlie colonial president (Mr. •I. C. Cooperi that a satisfactory ar-

1.111;;.-incut was made in the Wellington -hearers' dispute. Good work was also being done in connection with the farm laborers' dispute in Canterbury. A

| drovers' dispute was now pending in Wairarapa, where preference to union ' ists was demanded. The Union had been endeavoring to get some alteration made in the Conciliation and Arbitration Acl either to exempt farmers from the operation of the Act or to provide that farm laborers in a district must, befor? citing the fanners before the Court, bo in favor of such citation. The Union had obtained the abolition of the sheep tax, by wlu'ch the fanners were relieved , of a most iiiijnt.l class tax and saved £21,000 a year, many times more than

the entire subscription paid by members of the Union. The Union." llmngn small numerically, he claimed, was solting a policy for the whole of the producing communily. aim was unilonbledlr having a great inlluence. Although politically non-party, il was unquestionably establishing a parly of its own, or. rather, of the whole of llie producers. The Farmers' Mutual Insurance started by (he Union had again had a successful year, The losses made were promplIv met. and the .association commenced the new year with a snV.-tantinl cash balance. As president be had visited a number of outlying branches during the year. The executive had held regular monthly meetings, transacting a largi

amount of important business, the secretary having sent out (ill communications. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET.

The report and balance-sheet (already published) were adopted. REMITS TO COLONIAL CONFERENCE The following remits were carried:— "Tint the Conference is of opinion

that ::o tcuure is satisfactory to the Icirinc-j of Uio country that does uoi provide for the selector of Crown or surplus native land s acquiring the freehold of his holding; hut the Conference considers that the title so acquired should be saddled with similar conditions as to area as the original lease had."

"That the Conference urge on t'he Colonial Council the importance to this country of the importing of an adequate supply of cdicieiit farm and domestic labor either by an association of members of the Union themselves or by thi (joveruinent."

"That the strongest possible protest be made against a member of Ihe Conciliation Board fomenting a dispute and then adjudicating 0 n same, as the position is impossible and intolerable.''

"That the executive considers the Conference should do all iu its power to nave the law so altered as to prevent the possibility of preference being given to unionists, as such is arbitrary, hampering to industry, and must he detrimental to the prosperity of the Dominion."

"That a further and more determined' effort should be made to have the clause relating to valuation of improvements in the Valuation Act amended by giving full value for the actual benefit to land from improvements other than visible."

"That it he urged that a rigid surveillance be kept over the sale of grass seeds and cereals for seed purposes, to prevent the sale of weed-infested seeds, etc.. and that a sale of seed's should be an implied warranty of purity unlens specially stated to the contrary." The following remit from Raholu was referred back lo the Branch:—"That; this Branch objects to the drastic proposals by the (joveriinient with regard to milking-sheds and yards." The * executive's motion, "That the Conference is of opinion f ,omc alteration should 1» made in the law so as to provide that compensation cannot be recovered in case, of damage by bush fires where it is proved that all reasonable precautions have been taken," was lo*: on the voices. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. . The following officers were elected: President, Mr. E. Maxwell (re-elected); vice-president, Mr. ,1. W. Jones (reelected); hon. auditor, Mr. B. DWe (reelected); executive, Messrs. S. Forsyth, A. Allhusen, W. Blair, 0. J. Ilawkeii, .1. Thomson, R. Lambie, J. Stevenson. J. N. Murray, and J. Davidson. At this stagp (a p.m.) the Conference adjourned till 10 a.m. to-day.