FARMERS’ UNION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLV, Issue 10168, 25 July 1924, Page 7

FARMERS’ UNION

DOMINION CONFERENCE.

AGRICULTURAL BANKS

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, July 24. “That we again emphatically impress upon the Government the necessity for legislation to enable farmers to* form agricultural banks,” was a motion moved by the president of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union (Mr W. J. Poison) at the annual meeting to-day. Mr Poison said it was asked what was the object of the banks when there was such a magnificent institution as the State Advances Department lending large sums to settlers. Air Poison said he yielded to no man in admiration of the work of that Department. He did not suggest that the Department should not be gone on with, but it did not perform certain functions, which an agricultural bank would automatically perform, and it did not get rid of many anomalies and impositionsi which they suffered from under the ordinary banking system. Mr W. B. Matheson said that an advance by the State of £IOO,OOO for the establishment of the system would be a thoroughly sound investment. The Minister of Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod), in reply, stated that any remarks he might make would be his own opinions and not those of the Government. Ho did not think there was any serious difference of opinion in Parliament to-day as to the virtues associated with agricultural banks. There w r ere, however, differ- 1 ence of opinion as to how far the State should go in supporting the system. Reference had been made to a sum of £IOO,OOO. To his mind that was only a flea-bite. He was quite sure that if that amount would set up an agricultural bank it would be found in five I minutes. As far as Parliament was concerned there was, however, the very large question of how far the State should go in guaranteeing the bonds of the institution while the State itself was carrying on a Department, not altogether on the same lines, but which was intended to meet much of the existing difficulty. If the day came when an irresponsible Government was in office, the precedent set up in connection with agricultural banking would be extended to fields which he was sure farmers would set their face against. He admitted the beneficial results of agricultural banking in other countries. Messrs Forbes, Irield, Sykes Masters, Bitchener and Macpherson, M.P.’s, promised to give support to a measure- for the establishment of an agricultural bank. I’he motion was carried. A delegation from the Dairy Farmers’ Union waited upon the conference and a resolution that the two unions should “get together” was adopted. Mr P. J. Small, president of the Dominion Dairy Farmers’ Union, Mr B. Roberts, president of the Wairarapa Dairy Farmers’ Union, and Mr John Fox, Dominion treasurer, waited upon the conference. “The desirability of such a federation is felt very keenly by our members,” stated a manifesto by dairy farmers. “Looking back over the past we find scores of able but futile efforts made by various individual organisations. Were they united the attack no doubt very often would have carried the day. This makes one feel that the fanners of New Zealand have not had the support, and did not receive that recognition which their economical position warranted and justified.” After discussion Mr H. Atkins (Manawatu) moved: “That this conference approves the idea of the bringing together of all sections of producers- and extends an invitation to representatives of the Dairy Farmers’ Union to meet our executive in a round table conference with the object of bringing the desire about.” The motion was carrieL