FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1920, Page 7

FARMERS' UNION.

PROGRESS OF TARANAKI* THE AFTERMATH OF WAR. GREATER PRODUCTION URGED.

«, m twentieth annual conference of the Taranaki Provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, was held at Patea yesterday. Mr. R. Dunn (preside/it) presided, and there were also present: Messrs. A. E'. Was'ie-(vice-president), E. Maxwell (Opunake), fc. Mills (Hawera), J. S, Barrow (Te Koto, R. Lamhie (Pihama), E Belts (Manaia), members of the executive and Mr. G. 11. linckeridge (secretary). The following delegates were also "present: Messrs. W. A. Sutherland and H. Hodge (Patea), J. Cleaver (Te Roti), fi. Looney (Opunake). T. Julian {Wnv C al ~; ?, 1T < N ° ae * e )> «• Betts (Manaia), 0. Webby (Riverlea). W. E. Carter (Eltnam). D. T,. A. Astburv (Mangatoki), ond B. Rnskin (Otakeho). Mr. F. M. Granger, Deputy Mayor, in the unavoidable absence of the Mayor, extended a welcome to the debates' Mr. Dunn suitably responded. The president's annual report stated: Another year has passed since the dark clouds of war have lifted from the great struggle for freedom of the world We m hoped and thought that peace would bring a certain measure of contentment J? the peoples of the different countries that had been engaged in the great struggle; but, alas! though the blood--shed has stopped we are still in the throes of great unrest; the world seems to have gone mad, and the people cannot be satisfied to settle down to the essential work of production, which alone will lighten the burden of taxation Which ■ inevitably follows war. The greatest drawback to a settlement of the unrest is the continued inemasine cost of necessary commodities; but when one takes time to think you must admii that nothing else could be expected when millions of men were withdrawn from the avenues, of useful production and their energies were used as a destructive force. Material valued at many millions of pounds has been used up, with no monetary return to the Mate to show for the expenditure All wasted energy which might have been used up in the channels of useful production must be made good in some way, and the only way is for all sec tions of the community to settle down and each and all do their best to proluce more and economise more, and so he.p to make up the wastage of war, which in a measure must be made good.

THE LAND BOOM. There is a great boom in land going on m the Dominion, and more especially m the North Island, and I think Taranaki is well in the lead. When one realises that farming land is only worth what it can produce after paving expenses, it sets one wondering (what with _ the present unsettled state of snipping, shortage of labor, high cost of fertilisers, an d all the hundred and one things required on the farm to get the best return possible from it) if it is in the best interests of the country. We have seen other booms in land followed by depression. The prices of the exportable products of the farm are controlled by the world's markets, and the laws of supply and demand rule the whole (not as I have heard some people assert, that he high price of land is contributing to the cost of living). I would advise caution; there is a limit.

PRODUCTION. Everyone who has the Dominion's wel™i a * heart Wi " ndmit that 01,r P" eat need to-day ig increased production. How can that he brought about' Wo require more labor for the farms; We want more desirable settlers from overseas to take up farming pursuits. Jn tha first place farmers in this Dominion must realise their responsibilities and endeavor to make their lands produce to the utmost capacity. I am afraid the farmers are looking at their returns from the wrong standpoint, only takin" notice of the apparent money values of their products and not taking into con,sideration the depreciated value of the Sovereign, which has depreciated seven shillings as compared with pre-war days So if farmers will look at their returns from that point of view thev will not be so satisfied with their returns and will use their utmost ..endeavors to increase the value of their output for the country's good. The Government Statistician'has called attention to a reduction of nearly 800,000 in the flocks of the Dominion. The principal export* show a decline in quantity, which is however, disguised by the high prices ruling. The yield per acre of the chief crops has tended downward for the last ten yeart. In the ten-year period, 1908 to 1918, the production of wheat declined from 3375 bushels to 24.23 oats from 4044 to 3-1.64, barley from'3o »7 to 30.15, and potiftoes from 0.52 tons to 4.38 tons per acre. There have been seasonal fluctuations, but the tendency has been steadily downward. The figures have a grave significance for tlie country.

MORE PEOPLE WANTED. To help production we require more population in this country, and some inducements and facilities must be offered to desirable emigrants from Great Britain. The Prime Minister has stated that a fair number of emigrants have already announced their intention of coming to New Zealand, but the shipping facilities will not admit of their coming out for some time. It seems rather strange that the Government should sit down and simply wait for tilings to right themselves' instead of exerting themselves to provide accommodation by chartering or inducing the | imperial authorities to release ships | enough to come to this country with a full complement of passengers and relieve our congested meat stores for hack loading. While waiting, some other i country may get the pick of the emigrants from the Old Country. It is most essential that New Zealand should enter upon a vigorous immigration campaign. The country has lost 10,000 of its best men in the war, and a great many others have a depreciated capacity owing to disabilities. There has beoii a great loss through cessation of ordinary immigration during the war" estimated at 70,000. In an interesting letter to the Prime Minister on the subject of Imperial immigration, Mr. T. R. Sedgwick states that to migrate a trained soldier would not cost £2O, and his labors would enrich the Commonwealth by £IOO a year. The future of New Zealand lie? in migration or conquest. If New Zealand desires more population she should prepare now to act for herself. Migration being an economic factor it finds its own level. As soon as \va"pj rise, rmtmcrism. uu■employment, Mid overcrowding are **■•

dueed at Home, thereby the tendency to migrate will decline. Now is the time. A year hence it will be too late. WHAT WILL NEW ZEALAND DO 1 Speaking at the laying of the foundation stone of the new State Fire Insurance building in Wellington, the Prime Minister remarked that improved machinery and new sources of cheap power w.ould do much to increase production. A good supply of efficient labor is also essential, and a wise and bold immigration policy would materially help the producers. When the leader of the Government acknowledges the great need of the country in this connection, surely some definite action will be taken fit an early date. The carrying out of public works in this country requires modernising. A great deal more life must be put into the Department's undertakings- Political influence should be cut out, and the carrying out of works authorised placed in the hands of a board of managers to see that the work is carried out economically and expeditiously. Do away with the present system of spending a little public, money on a number of works in different parts of the country and dragging on for years with no return for the money expended. When public money is being spent, the same spirit \.hich actuates a private individual when carrying on a work which involves considerable expenditure should be displayed to get it revenue-producing in the least possible time. Everything which goes for efficiency should be up-to-date. All the best iabor-saving machinery should be employed. It is farcical to see some of the antediluvian methods which are being used in building railways, not only in Taranaki, but in other parts of the country, as well as public money frittered away, and what for?

MORE SETTLEMENT. It is necessary to push forward the settlement of new lamb to further increased production. A good deal of land has been purchased by the Government and sub-divided for soldier farms. This :s all right, and just as it should be, hut we must not lose sight of the fact that that land was more or less productive while in the occupation of the former owners, and while the production from the soldier farms will no doubt show an increase, we require that new undeveloped land be brought into cultivation. With prospcts of increased population we should be prepared to offer any land that is at all suitable for settlement to men who wish to take it up, and assist them as far as possible to bring the holdin.es into cultivation. Any money spent in assisting new settlers to bring new land into cultivation will be a gilt-edged investment for the State. The more new land brought in the more production. There is a great difference in the price that wool growers get for wool and the price charged for the manufactured article. Jt looks as if someone was getting too much out of it. There is a great leakage that might be saved to New Zealand if a much larger proportion of our wool could be worked up in this country. We par the freight Home, and pay freight and duty on the manufactured article back, anil many other incidental expenses ' that wight be saved. There is also a valuable by-product in grease from the wool, which is all lost to this country. It will be said that New Zealand is not manufacturing country. I say it is time we made a start iii that direction. Of course, this is another direction in which immigration would bo needed. More and larger woollen mills would be a decided benefit to this country, hut as the workers necessary for industrial enterprise will require houses to 1 live in, it will be necessary to provide housing accommodation.

DRIED MILK INDUSTRY.

A delegation was sent from Taranalci a year ago to investigate the working of the dried milk industry as carried on in the United States and' Canada, and to furnish a report as to the advisability of establishing dried milk factories in Taranaki. Evidently we are very little nearer the solution of the problem as to the advisability of going m for dried milk. The initial cost of putting up a factory to convert the milk from a large district would be something like £70,000, and the expenses in evaporating the milk at the present time would lie very heavy. The price wo would get for the finished product is estimated at from 2s 5d to 3s per lb of butter-fat. Now, will the difference ■n the payment for fat warrant the expenditure and the risk of losing the established market we have for cheese and butter at Home? And if the demand for milk powder i* so promising, why is not the venture taken up to a greater extent in Canada, where, I understand, there are only a few factories? And if it is a remunerative venture, will not countries adjacent to the united States, where the machinery to equip a factory is made, not seize the opportunity to get in before New Zealand and get going? And if they do, will it not be to our interest to keep on making cheese and butter, for, if dried milk is manufactured'to any great extent it will take milk that' otherwise would be used in the. manufacture of butter and cheese? Then, again, tliej output of butter, and cheese at ■Home l must go down as the demand for" milk supply for the cities increases. To go in for the manufacture of dried milk in Taranaki there would require to be a federation or amalgamation of factories, so as to get the milk from-con-venient areas, and if tjiis- is not done it Will open the door for private enterprise to come in and group the smnller factories, for they, are manifestly too weak to finance such a costly undertaking. The farmers must remember that milk would have to he delivered twice daily for some months of the year, and no whey or skim milk for calves or pigs would be available, which must be > all taken into consideration when weighing the pros and eons- I have a perfectly open mind on the question of the dried milk industry, and I just submit to you a few points which it would be well for farmers to consider. At the present time, owing to the uncertainty of adequate supplies of coal, it is unlikely that anything will be done in this matter

The past season in Tnrannki has been a phenomenal one for dairying. Tn the spring and the early part of the year the wentjier was most unkind for the dairying industry, and the returns in many cases were disappointing. Weather conditions then changed, and we have had splendid warm rains, with an abnormal growth of grass, and all the leeway has been more than made up. Root crops have grown splendidly, and very little disease is in evidence. We will commence the winter with a good roughness in the paddocks, and the prospects are that the animals will winter well.

INCREASE IN CHEESE EXPORTS. The value of cheer.e exported from the Dominion last year amounted to

£7,790,990. In 1918 it was £4,057,278. It is interesting to note the value in 1910, when it only amounted to £1,190,373.

The exports from Taranaki for the year ended December 31, li))il, were valued at £5,058,447, or £B4 per head of the population. The previous year exports totalled £3,401,084, equal to per head of the population. This year's figures represent more than one year's production, owing to the clearance of the accumulation of produce. Mr. Buckeridgc, the provincial secretary of the Fanners' Onion, has outlined a ischeme to create an interest in agriculture and stock raising among bo-s and girls attending schools in Taranaki—to establish boys' and girls' clubs something on the lines on which they are run in the United States and Canada. It is hoped that such a scheme will stimulate and encourage a love of agriculture in our young people, and as it is proposed to run the scheme by the Farmers' Union, with the help and co-operation of the technical and district schools, it is hoped that the movement will have the assistance of everyone who has the welfare of the boys and girls at heart, and an interest 'in furthering the cause of agricultural education.

More and cheaper manures are an absolute necessity on the farm if we are to get the greatest return, ar.d with the scarcity and high cost at the present time somj farms are being starved in that respect, and it takes a long time to make up leeway from lost fertility of the soil-

In conclusion, I hope that the uncertainty which prevails v at the present time with regard to shipping and freights and clearance of freezing works, and whether there will be an uncontrolled market at Home for our produce, will be all cleared up soon, and enable us to commence another vear with something like normal conditions.' The conclusion of the address wa3 greeted with applause. Mr. E. Maxwell moved that the conference accord the president a hearty vote, of thanks for his address, wh'lcii would prove valuable to the whole nonunion. Touching on one aspect, he said that there must be some reason for the decrease in grain crops. This was serious and there must be some special cause for ibis. Possibly it was due to the shortage of fertiliers. Mr. Cleaver seconded the resolution, which was carried.

EXECUTIVE'S DEPORT. The executive reported as follow.;: One of the many subjects dealt with by the executive demands more than passing notice, viz., the effort to diffuse information on economics by medium of the daily Press. In this "the Union has been greatly assisted by our local papers, which have devoted quite a considerable amount of their space to printing many excellent articles on questions of economics. Your executive set up a committee to draft a scheme for carrying this still further, and it hoped that during the coming year a good deal may be done in this direction.

The present. extremely high cost of living is engrossing the attention of all shades of the community, and your executive has felt it advisable to direct attention to the necessity of a more vigorous attempt being made to prevent the exploitation of the public by bringing down a remit dealing with the prevention of profiteering.

ORGANISER'S REPORT. Mr. 0. Ii Buckeridge reported:— Since my removal to Hawcra I have found my time so fully occupied that I have had little or none to devote to visiting the branches, and am sorry to say that a number of what were good strong branches last year have apparently died out during the year. It is a matter for serious consideration how interest can he sustained in the work of the branches, once they are started, for it itppears quite clear to me that it is hopeless trying to arouse enthusiasm in the Union upon the lines that have hitherto been adopted. Once a branch is properly started it should be possible to keep it alive without constant visits from the organiser, but unless some scheme can be evolved which will interest the farmer in the work of his Union, we will continue to have branches started or revived, and then to see them collapse again, like a burst bubble, as they have been doing for years pnst. lam satisfied, after some years of trial, that farmers in Taranalu. taken as a whole, do not grasp the meaning of what their Union should be to them, and my experience in trying to organise them has been disappointing enough to damp the ardour of any man, be he ever such an enthusiast. To call meetings and make long journeys to attend those meetings, and then to find only half a dozen or so present is disappointing enough, but when a good strong branch is started and it dies out in less than a year, it is much more so, and evidences most clearly to me that some radical change is necessary in our methods to keep the branches alive. How best to overcome this apathy on the part of farmers has been constantly in my mind, and, la-gcly as the result of the splendid assistance I have received from the staff of the Hawern Star, by placing at my disposal current literature from otTter countries, I have recently suggested to the branches a scheme for starting boys' and girls' clubs in connection with the Union on somewhat similar lines to those that have proved such an immense success in Canada particularly. I am fully convinced that if we are to create enthusiasm in the work of the Union it must be begun in childhood, and by interesting the children in the farm and the work upon it, endeavoring to foster in them a love for the healthy and beautiful life than can only be found in work accomplished in the open air, and in delving into the hidden secrets of nature and trying to wrest from her the lavish assistance she is alwjiys so ready to give when approached in a proper manner.

I trust that the conference will take time to fully consider thiis subject and that Rome definite steps mav be taken to inaugurate these boys'and girls'clubs and to banish for ever the. lack of interest that at present exists amongst farmers in their Union and what it can accomplish.

ORGANISER'S VISTTS. The vice-president moved a remit from the Omatn branch to the effect that the organiser should visit each branch on request every six months. This was seconded by Mr. Cleaver. The organiser said 'that he wouikl visit the branches whenever possible Some branches were keeping interest alive amongst themselves by starting root competitions, etc. Otakeho had found this very successful, and he Jolt that other branches would alco <lo so if thev n<nmt.cd the fame system. Warea was also dnin<! rpdcr.did won;. Some district; required galvanising into action ennfinuallv. Mr, Mills did not see the noed for

the remit, as they did not pay the oraniser a sufficient salary to command him where he should go. The organiser had discretion sufficient to go to any branch wherj assistance was required.

The remit was curried, with the ad dition ''when necessary."

FERTILISERS. Mr. Euskin (Otakeho) moved: "That as it is essential that as the present volume of production should lie maintained or even increased, the (iovermnent be urged to make available at the earliest moment adequate supplies of necessary fertilisers for the Dominion's requirements." He pointed out that fertilisers were necessary for increased production and the Government should be asked to help.

Mv. O'Den seconded. The president said Mint the remit intended the (lovernwent to watch that New Zealand did not run risht 'out of tliese manures, and at the 'same time keep in view the question of manufacturing the phosphates from Nauru Island.

Mr, Maxwell emphasised the importance to the country, if production was to be maintained, in obtaining suitable fertilisers. The remit was carried.

Mr. Buckeridge (executive) moved: "That the facilities which obt.Jn for the carriage of agricultural lime on the railways be extended to lime carried in New Zealand that is brought to the railway by water carriage." He stated that the matter had been before the conference for some years. He now had a letter from the Prime Minister stating that ■it was hoped something would be done in the matter. They, however, wanted something definite, as the matter ■ was particularly important to Taranaki.. They had gone to considerable trouble to find supplies of lime, contiguous to Taranaki, but it was impossible to obtain supplies of sufficient quality and quantity in Taranaki, and if this remit was carried it would place Taranaki in the same position as other parts. From analysis of roots in Taranaki it was found that they were deficient in lime in some eases to the extent of tons per acre, so that it would be seen how the question of cheap lime affected production, Mr. \V. E. Carter seconded the remit, which was carried.

EXPEDITING PUBLIC WORKS.. . The president (Auroa branch) moved: "That the Government be urged to adopt a more vigorous policy of carrying out public works by—(a) Use of labor-saving devices; (bj By introducing a proper system which .'will ensure the earliest completion, up to a paying point, of works in hand." The president said he was opposed to the work being spread over the Dominion in little lots for vote catching purposes, and the expenditure spread over several years. Work should be pushed on to a payable point as early as possible. This was seconded by Mr. W. E. Carter, and carried.

EDUCATION MATTERS. Mr. Buckerhlgo (executive) moved: "That the study of economics be made compulsory in the secondary schools." The mover said that this was a subject little known of throughout New Zealand. A knowledge of economics would do much to overcome the question of the high coat of living. Mr. J. S. Barrow seconded the reeo* lution, '

Mr. Maxwell said that it would benefit the whole community if there was a greater knowledge of economics and they must start in the 'schools, where the fundamentals would be taught and the mind trained to reason on sound foundations, without which they would be finite at sea, and a prey' to any jjarticular fadThe remit was carried.

Mr. Dunn (executive) moved: That a Chair of Agriculture be established in

at. least one university in the Dominion,

H& stressed what was being done in the United States in this direction, and considered it was absolutely necessary that they should have a school where agricultural instructors could be trained for their life'*' work.

Seconded by Mr. A. E. Washer and carried-

LAND SETTLEMENT. Mr. Mills (executive) moved: That in connection with land settlement the chief aim of the Department should be the bringing into cultivation of land that is at present unproductive. Mr. Mills said that for some considerate time the tenor of the Government policy of settlement appeared to be in the direction of cutting up settled land into smaller areas. This increased production, but the advantage to the Dominion would be much greater if energy was put into bringing unproductive land into production. Seconded by Mr. E. Betts and carried.

NAURU ISLAND PHOSPHATES. Mr. Ruskin (Otakeho) moved: That the rock phosphates from Nauru Island be manufactured and treated by the Government..and supplied direct to the farmer. Ho said the idea was for the farmer to obtain the manure without nine or ten people having the opportunity to make a profit out of itMr. Berts seconded the remit. Tiie president Mid that the Government would take a long time to gather the necessary machinery, and the farmem could obtain the manure much quicker if worked up by some of the companies that were properly equipped for the purpose.

Mr. Ruskin said they did not care where it was manufactured as long as the Government kept control.

Mr. Maxwell said that he was in the dark regarding the position. Mr. Massey had obtained -l(i per cent of the,phosphate, but the speaker did not know whether New Zealand was to get. 1(1 per cent of the raw rock or 16 per cent of the manufactured article, as there were big concerns manufacturing it. He considered it would be better if all the manures were manufactured on the Island and shipped direct to various ports.

Tim remit was amended to read that the Government be urged to retain control of the Nauru Island rock phosphate, so that it may. he supplied to producers at the least possible cost. In this form it was carried. _ . >

SUBSIDY ON RATES. Mr Ruskin (Otakeho) moved: That the Government he urged to subsidise all local bodies on a flat rate of subsidy on. total general rates .collected. This was seconded by Mr. E. Maxwell, and canted. DEMURRAGE. Mr. Orr (Ngaere branch) moved: That the Railway Department be urged to give at least 48 hours in which to unload trucks at flag stations before demurrage is charged, and that notico of arrival of trucks at the station be sent by the Department to consignees immediately on arrival of goods. Mr. Orr said that' only five hours was allowed to unload a truck of coal and it was quite impossible for any. man to unload a truck in that time. formers often came several times to enquire for goods, and it would be quite easy for the railway officials to send advice. Mr. Orr agreed to alter the time to 24 hours. This was seconded by Mr. Betts, and carried.

.STATE SHIPPING. ' r ' ' Mr. Ruskin (Otakeho branch) moved: That the Government be urged to pafis the neecssary legislation to either acquire their own shipping or to allow the producers to" do so either with the assistance of the Government or. by themselves..

He pointed out how absolutely 'ia*A •ttMidsßt New-Z»ftknd-*R»-« t^v6l*> t '

ping trusts- His branch favored Stttd* shipping in preference to slips owned by farmers, which they considered/ would merely be -privately owned. Mr. Carter seconded.

The president pointed that justj prior to the war a representative Do* minion conference was held to discuss the question, but the matter was held' up. He considered producers would be much better off if they owned thei? own ships. Mr. Astbnry said if they were W combat the trusts it must be done by the Government of the country with thql financial backing of the people. Mr. Bnckeridge did not think that llj was a question the New Zealand Got*' eminent could tackle. He referred t<J the stops taken by the Imperial Gaw ernment to control shipping, and thai fact that the P. and 0. Company had absorbed other companies. If this part of the Imperial Government scheme we were all right, but if not Hi were up against n big combine. pi The remit was carried. '

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. *

Officers were elected as follovr«| President, R. Dunn (re-elected); vic*» president, A. E. Washer (re-elected)| lion, treasurer, J. Swindlehurst (rfr( elected); executive, R. Lambie (FiJ hamaj., F, Mills, E. Maxwell, T. W t Owen, S. Yickers, T. Julian, J. S. Bar* row, H. Hodge, E. Betts, J. Cleaver, IB L. A. Aatbury, B. Orr, H. A. §uthe« land, J S. Connett, CI. H. M. A. Voullaire, and C. Bourke; hotti auditor, .1. (','. Niched; delegate* to thjj Dominion conference, the president ug Mr. E. Maxwell. - "