FARMERS’ UNION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 October 1939, Page 7

FARMERS’ UNION

MORISON’S BUSH MEETING I THE DAIRY INDUSTRY ' * ( ADDRESS BY MR A. LINTON. ; I (“Times-Age” Special.) i Despite the rough weather there was) I an excellent attendance at the meet- | 1 ing of the Farmers’ Union held at 1 Morison’s Bush Hall last night. Mr V'. 1 G. K. Wiggins, the branch president, i occupied the chair. 1 The newly appointed secretary of the i Wairarapa Farmers’ Union. Mr R. H. Williams, was introduced to the members Others present were Messrs H. . Stephens, W. A. Tate. A. Haigh, J. W. . Barnard, Lauri Thompson, C. Field. G. Thompson, A. Maidmant, J. Kearney. J. R. McNamara, J. H. Kidd, N. I. Skeet, E. J. Galyer. A vote of sympathy was passed to the family of the late Mr J. Watson. Mr J. H. Watt gave an interesting talk on the farmers’ Land and Income Tax He pointed out that every farmer would now be liable to income tax. There was no exemption up to £3OOO as previously. He stated that the allowance on Life Insurance had been re duced. The limit was £l5O premium. This was for income tax purposes and not allowable for Social Secuiity. A circular from the Labour Department in reference to subsidy on farm labour up to 75 per cent on certain works was explained by the secretary. A feature of the meeting was the address by Mr A. Linton, at the con elusion of which he- received a hearty vote of thanks. Mr Linton stated that this was the first time he had had the pleasure of talking to farmers since his appointment to the Dairy Control Board. Mr Linton dwelt on various matters relating to the dairy industry, in the course of which he stated that there was undoubtedly very grave dis satisfaction right throughout the dairying industry in regard to the fixation bv the Government of the prices, not only for this year but also for the las. dairying season. He outlined the system'of payment to dairy farmers. He said that the Dairy Board had had associated with it the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and the North and South Island Dairv Associations in all its negotiations with the Government, stating that the great bulk of the decisions were unanimous. The best way to increase production was to make it pro fitable to the producer, said Mr Linton. The Dairy Board was anxious to institute a system of apprentices for farm labour whereby a young man would be able to eventually have his own farm. Mr Wiggins asked Mr Linton to explain the reason for the difference in price of bobby calves, 7s 6d advance payment for Ist grade and Is 6d foi the balance. In reply Mr Linton stated that this was being conducted by the ' Internal Marketing Department who had their own inspector at the freezing : works. The reason for the big difference in price was because calves under a certain weight were simply made into manure. This was a hardship on some of the smaller breeders and representation had been made to rectify this. . T • In reply to another question Mr Lin • ton stated that there had been a defin, ite improvement in the quality of cheese since the introduction of the grading of milk. Mr Kearney, manager of the Grey town cheese factory, received an assurance from Mr Linton that the experts from Massey College would be ! only too pleased to visit the Wairarapa and confer with the factory managers. In reply to another question, Mr Lin--5 ton stated that a hold-up of shipping was a serious problem especially with ’ the storage of butter. ! Mr W. A. Tate stated that before farm work would become popular with ; young men the rates of pay for farm ' work would have to be brought into line with the wages paid by industries ’ in the cities.