FARMERS CONFER.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 May 1921, Page 8

FARMERS CONFER.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. > / gathering at eltham. IMPORTANT MATTERS DISCUSSED. The annual Taranaki provincial conference of the JNew Zealand Farmers’ Union was held at Eltham yesterday. The president (Mr. R. Dunn) occupied the chair, and the following delegates were present:—Messrs. A. E. Washer (vice-president), E. Maxwell (Opunake), J. Swindlehurst (treasurer), T. W. Owen (Eltham), S. Vickers (Omata), J. S. Borrow and J. Cleaver (Te Roti), C. Burke (Otakeho), H. A. Sutherland (Alton), G. Betts and E. Betts (Manaiaj, B. Orr (Ngaere), I). L. A. Astbury (Mangatoki), F. Mills (Hawera), A. C. Johnstone (Auroa), R. Lambie (Pihama), H. G. Gibson (Eltham), F; Gawith (Hawera), B. L. Webby (Riverlea), S. Bennett (Otakeho), W. J. Sandford (Manaia), R. C. Trewith and F. J. Allan (Matapu), J. Dakers (Manaia), J. A. Kurth (Okato), A. R. B. Pierce and H. E. Batten (Hawera), and G. H. Buckeridge A meeting of the provincial executive was hek) prior to the conference, when the annual report and balance sheet were received and adopted. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr. R. Dunn (re-elected); vice-presidents, Messrs. A. E. Washer (re-elected), and F. Mills; honorary treasurer, Mr. J. Swindlehurst (re-elect-ed) ; executive, Messrs. R. Lambie, S. Vickers, C. Burke, J. E. Maxwell, B. Orr, T. Julian, D. L. A. Astbury, H. A. Sutherland, A. R. B. Pierce, J. S. Barrow, G. H. Buckeridge, J. Cleaver, IT. Hodge, T. W. Owen, H. G. Gibson and F. Ji Allen (Matapu); delegate to Dominion Conference, Mr. F. Mills; honorary auditor, Mr. J. B. Nichol. PROTECTIVE TARIFFS. The president, on behalf of the executive, moved: “That the Farmers’ Union adhere to the principle that taxation through the Customs should be for the purpose of raising revenue, and not for protective purposes. He said that he had always held the opinion that taxation through the Customs should bp for revenue purposes and not for protection purposes. They need-

ed ships coming to the country with goods in order to take away their produce, and as there seemed little possibility of New Zealand industries being able to compete with industies in other countries, ho did not think they should be bolstered up by a heavy Customs tariff. Mr. Buckeridge seconded.

Mr. Johnstone said that if they carried the resolution they would be throwing down the gauntlet to the workers. Most of the industries had to be protected by means of a tariff, and it seemed to him that it was merely a matter of evolution, and they would be unwise to kill those industries. Perhaps the protective tariff could be reduced in some cases, but he personally thought it would be unwise to carry' the resolution.

Mr. Kurth also thought it would be unwise to carry the resolution, because it was likely to have the effect of antagonising labor. Mr. Maxwell emphatically disagreed with the two previous speakers. The ’rue position and the real welfare of the worker was on the land. If the heavy freight charges were not sufficient protection for the industries of the coun<ry. th: n those industries should not be bolstered up, and it was madness to in-sist them by putting on a high tariff. The whole of the country, including the worker-, suil.'i ’d owing to the high protective tariff Farmers were very heav. ily hampered by the protective tariff, and it was their business to see that the prijnarv industries of the country should not be unduly hampered by further high protective tariffs. Mr. Johnstone maintained that a big section of the community were nnsuitcd for farming,' yet Mr. Maxwell held the idea that everybody should be taken out of the factories and put on farms. That could never happen, and it was to the good of the country that they did have people working in factories who could not work on the land. The resolution was carried unanimous! v NAURU PHOSPHATES. Mr. Bennett (Otakeho) moved: “That the Farmers’ Union strongly oppose the Nauru Island rock phosphate being crushed and prepared in proprietary works, and urge that Government assistance be provided in building farmera’ own refinery works.”

In supporting the remit. Mr. Bennett said that the farmers wanted cheap phosphates, and it did not appear as though they would receive the benefit they were entitled to if the phosphate was, prepared in a proprietary works, The secretary said the matter had been discussed at the last meeting of the executive, it was decided to obtain certain information from the Government. He read correspondence from the Minister of Agriculture dealing with the nature of the plant reqiiired for treating the phosphate and where the machinery could be purchased. Mr. Maxwell said he understood a •system had been evolved in America wherebv the phosphate could be treated witliout the addition of sulphuric acid, and if this was true it would revolutionise the whole business. Tn his opinion it would not be right to oppose private enterprise in the matter: all the fanners wanted was to be able to get the phosphates at the lowest possible cost.

Mr. Owen said it was a matter of vital importance to Taranaki, and if they were going to get the very best results out of the soil in Taranaki they must put phosphates back into it. It was the duty of the Union to see that the farmers should get the phosphates as cheaply as possible, and, if advisable, establish their own plant Mr. Vickers suggested that- it might be advisable to apply to the Government for the free carriage of phosphatea on the railways. Mr. Mills said the profit that was made in the handling should be only a fair business profit, but it was quite possible that proprietary concerns would be able to supply the manures quite as cheap, if not, cheaper, than the farmers could supply themselves by means of works of their own. Tlipv recognise that the one works situated at one end of the Dominion could not suppb- the renuirements of the whole Dominion. and. in view of the very high cr*r.f. Of the at Auckland, nt) did

not think it would be altogether fair to ask that the Government assist Taranaki to establish similar works in the province. Mr. Ha when said that in his opinion there was not room for other works in New Zealand similar to those erected at Auckland, and he did not think there was any possibility of the farmers being exploited by that company. He would be very chary of recommending that even a, grinding plant be established in Taranaki.

In reply to Mr. Buckeridge, Mr. Hawken said that the Government was going to see that the farmers’ interests were protected, but he did not think there would be any need for Government interference owing to the competition there was likely to be between the. various manure companies in the Dominion. Mr. Astbury suggested that the Otakeho branch should withdraw the remit. The delegates agreed to withdraw it, stating that their principal object was to emphasise the need for protecting the farmers from exploitation. A FARMERS’ BANK. Mr. Bennett (Otakeho) moved: “That this conference is opposed to the establishment of a State Bank, but is of, opinion that some form of co-operative agricultural banking suitable to conditions in New Zealand, should be instituted as speedily as possible.” • Mr. Buckeridge seconded. Mr. Astbury moved that the first part of the remit, to the effect, “That this conference is opposed to the establishment of a State Bank” be taken separately. He stated that he was in favor of a State Bank, and also in favor of a Co-operative Agricultural Bank. Mr. Orr seconded the amendment, which was carried. Mr. Burke then moved: “That this conference is opposed to the establishment of a State Bank.” Mr. Burke said the Government were not running their other institutions very successfully, and he did not think they would dfcnduct a State Bank very successfully. Mr. Astbury opposed the remit. The motion was carried. Mr. Bennett then moved the portion of the resolution dealing with a Co-op-erative Agricultural Bank, the motion being carried unanimously. CARRIAGE OF SHOW STOCK. Mr. G. Betts (Manaia) moved, on behalf of the Alton branch:—“That the Railway Department be urged to make such arrangements for stock that is being conveyed by rail to the various agricultural shows in the Dominion as will enable them to arrive at their final destination on the railway so as to permit of their being delivered on the show grounds in daylight.”—Carried. MAORI LANDS. Mr. J/S. Cleaver (Te Roti) moved:— ‘■'That /the. Minister’s attention be drawn to the fact that there are large blocks of Native land in Taranaki, already individualised, at present not producing at anything, like capacity, and that the Government be urged to acquire them for returned soldiers.” Mr. Cleaver said the resolution referred principally to a block of about 600 acres at the junction of the Mountain and Boylan Roads, which at present was not growing much more than noxious weeds.

Mr. Vickers suggested that the Government be asked to acquire the block for settlement, giving preference to returned soldiers. Th motion was carried. NOXIOUS WEEDS. Mr. Cleaver (To Roti) moved: —“That the attention of the Government be drawn to the rapid spread of noxious weeds, and that they be urged to take more drastic steps to have them kept down.” Mr. Buckeridge said the Government had a Noxious Weeds Bill ready to be submitted to Parliament which contained proposals for dealing more severely with the question of noxious weeds. Mr. Hawken said that the Pure Seeds Bill was a distinct improvement, because while it did not prevent the merchant selling weeds, it compelled him to' state whether any weeds were included in the seeds. It did seem strange that while they had a number of noxious weeds inspectors, they did not seem to be able to check the spread of weeds. Possibly the county councils should have control of the inspectors. Mr. Gibson suggested that one way oat of the difficulty would be for the farmers’ co-operative organisations to inspect the pastures before the seed was collected. ,Mt. Owen thought the control of the matter should be in the hands of the county councils and the police. The motion was carried. SEDITION AND DISLOYALTY. Mr, Mills, on behalf of the Hawera branch, 'moved: “That the law as it at present stands does not appear to be effective In preventing seditious or disloyal persons being eligible to take a seat in the House of Representatives, and that it should be immediately amended so as to prevent any suchr possibility,’’ The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. A. R. B. Plprpo (Hawera branch) moved: “That it is desirable that those inciting the public to acts of disloyalty and violence be effectively dealt with so afl to prevent a recurrence of such actions by them, and that, If not of New Zealand birth, they should be deported to the land of their nativity.” *—Carried. PREFERENCE TO UNIONISTS. Mr. E, Maxwell moved, on behalf of the Hawera branch; “That all the influence of the Farmers’ Union he ebncentrited in bringing about legislation to prevent preference being given to unionists in any cdurt or other award.”

Speaking to remit. Mr. Maxwell said jip hoped it would not be taken that the conference wqs against labor unions They recognised that labor unions had done good work lin bettering the conditions of th£ workers, but when they reach a ©tag/* of Homiiiation by official Labor they iWhefl an entirely different position. So lonf as the labor unions confined themsehys to matters affecting their own nieinb'*>. they were all right, but it had v ,w conic about that the unions ther -elvoi were dominated by official Labor Jh.e rem \va/ carried.