EMPIRE FARMERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17977, 24 March 1930, Page 8

EMPIRE FARMERS.

CONFERENCE AT WELLINGTON. GOVERNOR-GENERAL PRESENT. MR POLSON’S SUGGESTION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. Representative farmers from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada., and New Zealand are meeting in conference at Wellington to-day to discuss common problems. The Dominion president, Mr Poison, presided, and with him on the platform during the preliminary proceedings were Lord Bledisloe, Hons. G. W. Forbes, and J. G. Coates and the Mayor (Mr Troup). Mr Poison extended a welcome to Lord Bledisloe. His Excellency was known as one of the Empire’s most thoughtful statesmen. At present New Zealand was suffering from a small depression, but they were satisfied that it was a temporary depression. They believed in their destiny, and they would overcome their difficulties. They would receive additional encouragement from the fact that one who was so intimately connected with the major problems of the primary producers was living amongst them, and would lie able to give them his help and counsel. Mr Forbes asked the visitors to give their candid opinions on what they had seen in New Zealand, what were our faults, and what could we do to bring about improvementsMr Poison moved: That this conference of farmers from different parts of' the British Empire recommends that a convention of farmers representing all parts of the Empire should be held, say, once every two years, to discuss problems of the farming industry throughout the Empire, with a view to co-operative action where such a course is possible. Mr Poison said it was not possible for the conference to lay down any definite policy, but what it could do was to create an atmosphere ol' Imperial sentiment. It was untrue that the New Zealand farmer was anxious to get a better price for produce at the expense of the English farmer.

The present was an sge of combination. They wanted to eliminate waste and ascertain the demands of customers throughout the world. Mr A. V. Allen, of South Africa,, in seconding the motion, said if the conference was held in South Africa the Union would do everything possible to make it a success. Mr 3. R. Whitley (Great Britain) said delegates from the Old Country could not speak for any of their organisations, but generally they were in agreement with the terms of the motion, and on their return they would do everything possible to advance the proposat. The motion was carried unanimously. ______________