FARMERS’ TRIBUTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 August 1938, Page 7

FARMERS’ TRIBUTE

MR HUGH MORRISON’S SERVICES TO COMMUNITY GATHERING AT PAHIATUA Warm tributes to the sterling services by Mr Hugh Morrison, as Wairarapa Provincial President of the Farmers’ Union, and in other capacities were paid at a smoke concert held in Pahiatua on Saturday night by the Pahiatua branch of the Union. Mr T. E. Anderson, president of the Pahiatua branch extended a welcome to Mr Morrison, and also to Messrs W. J. Thomas, C. T. Richardson, James Watson (provincial secretary) and A. G. Dawson (Dominion organiser). Mr Morrison said he had joined the Farmers’ Union 35 years ago. Even in those days party politics were a cause of dissension. He though that party politics should be barred from the Union. Mr Morrison stated that New Zealand exported more per head than any country in the world. This, he said, was the reason why the Dominion had the highest standard of living in the world. Her exports alone enabled her to maintain that standard. The world at present had a war complex. The war complex naturally had repercussions-on the export trade and was responsible for “bumps, slumps, and booms.” At present according to reports from Geneva a slump was looming as a reaction from armament making. . In the next decade, according to these reports, prices would gradually rise but, with intermittent depressions, so long as there was no war. But at the end of the decade it seemed likely that stability would be reached. Each swing of the pendulum towards low prices, and consequent depression, during the next ten years, would be smaller on each occasion. Prosperity and stability would be almost certain at the end of that period. Mr Morrison said that the future of New Zealand lay in the land. No matter what temporary depressions might come along, the youth of the country must stick to the land. He felt sure that the market for produce from the land was widening day by day.

Speaking of the quota system, Mr Morrison went on to say that there was very little likelihood of our quotas to Britain being restricted. Restrictions against our exports to Britain had proved to be damaging not only to British industry, but also to the British agricultural community. If butter to Britain were restricted the consumer would not buy British butter but margarine. Mr Chamberlain was of the opinion that restriction of quotas would ruin the Empire. Speaking on the compensated price scheme, Mr Morrison said that he favoured the principle, but was not sure of the method of operation. Farmers were responsible for our prosperity and should have a decent standard of living. In case of a slump the farmer should be compensated against this. The sheepfarmer had been hit by the fall in wool and by-products and loss of sheep, said Mr Morrson. Deterioration in the quality of hill land was a big factor. The sheep farmer was having a “champagne tax” laid on his land where he was only in a position to pay /‘beer tax.” Second and third class land, under present high costs and taxation were being farmed by sheep farmers at a loss. Mr Morrison concluded by saying that no matter what slumps came along he felt sure that New Zealand would pull through. He had been very pleased to address such a gathering and. hoped to be able to do so again. Following the address several toasts were honoured. A song written for the occasion in honour of Mr Morrison was sung by Mr John Husband, and received with great enthusiasm.