FARMERS’ UNION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1938, Page 7

FARMERS’ UNION

MASTERTON BRANCH ANNUAL MEETING. NEED FOR BEST QUALITY EXPORTS. There was a large attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Masterton branch of the Farmers’ Union, held yesterday. The chairman, Mr J. M. James, presided over a good attendance of members.

The wonderful way butter prices had kept up at Home, observed Mr James, had made the lot of the dairyfarmer fairly easy. The same, however, could not. be said about the sheep man. Twelve months ago wool prices were at their peak and while he did not think they would maintain that level he anticipated that they would only drop about 2d a lb. Prices, however, had fallen from an average of about 14d to about lOd. A penny a lb. on wool meant a million pounds to the New Zealand grower. The increased production of pork was very gratifying, remarked Mr James, who pointed out that in the last ten years the production of pork for export had increased from 118.550 carcases to 437,155 carcases, while bacon had gone up from 29,000 carcases to 243,155 carcases. The Meat Board had been doing its best to boost the pork industry and the position must be gratifying to members. Mr James said he believed that in the future New Zealand farmers would be concentrating more on chilled than frozen beef. Prices for chilled beef had been very satisfactory last year and, more important still, the quality of the New Zealand beef was on a par with that of the Argentine. With competition so keen today it was essential that the quality of our exports should be maintained at highest level possible. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: Chairman. Mr J. M. James: vice-chairman, Mr J. C. Cooper; delegates to Provincial Executive, Sir William Perry. Messrs J. M. James, A. Forsberg, L. T. Daniell, W. James, C. C. Jackson, R. E. Chamberlain. R. D. McKenzie and J. G. Win-

gate; delegates to inter-provincial conference, Messrs J. M. James, L. T. Daniell and C. C. Jackson.

Reference was made to the valuable services rendered by Mr F. W. Parry, the retiring deputy-chairman, and regret was expressed that he was not seeking re-election to the committee.