FARMERS’ UNION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 235, 18 July 1930, Page 6

FARMERS’ UNION

PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE. THE DUTY ON WHEAT. PROTEST AGAINST ANY CHANGE. *. The Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union met this afternoon, when the president (Mr G. Tait) presided. The President referred to the death of Sir Joseph Ward. The Dominioh could ill-afford to lose men of his calibre. A message of sympathy had been forwarded to the relatives. The members stood in silence as a mark of respect. \ letter was received from the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union stating that, at the last- meeting of the executive, Mr C. Morland wap appointed area officer for the whole of Canterbury. It was stated that Mr Morland had had farming experience, and should prove a sucoessful organiser and helper. The terms of his engagement were included in the letter. The Chairman- extended a welcome to Mr Morland, who was present at the meeting. Mfc Morland said he was aware there was a deal of organising work to be done here. This was his maiden official visit to the County.

The president said the order system of registering members was a good principle, but it would be more satisifactory if the orders were collected locally instead of in Wellington. It w'as recommended that Mr Morland make a further canvass in the district.

In reply to the Executive’s letter, urging the Government to undertake further research work ip the matter of controlling grass grub and diamondback moth, the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. A, D. Murdoch) stated that investigations with regard to the- letter were in hand and the Department had arranged to obtain from Europe a supply or certain parasites known to attack this moth. The grass grub pest was also receiving attention. Copies of the minutes of the annual Dominion Conference and the Dominion Executive meeting, held at Wellington in June, were received. Copies of the various financial statements of the Union were also enclosed. The Tariff Protection Committee wrote stating that the committee, which successfully dealt with the sliding scale of duties on wheat last year, had again to take in hand the protection of the grain-grower owing to strenuous opposition from the North Island to the present protection given. This year the position was aggravated by the fact that, in addition to wheat, other classes of grain were aimed at in the form of an attack, asking that the duty be removed from stock foods. Mr Evans, who attended the meeting, detailed the business that had been transacted.

Mr G. W. Leadley said he thought the movement asking for the abolition on stock food was the thin end, of the . wedge, the aim being to remove the duty on all imported grain. The evil they were'up against was that the North Island consumer did not realise that the South Island was not getting the benefit of the high rates on the grain. Cases were reported where £2 was being paid per bag for fowl wheat- consigned to the back country. It cost a producer £3 a ton to send potatoes from Ashburton to Auckland. That would be all right if high prices were maintained at the other end. The North Island consumers should he convinced that they in the South Island were not getting rich at their expense. Mr Carr agreed with Mr Leadley that it was the thin edge of the wedge to get at the duties on wheat. The question to be contended with was to see that the wheat which entered free of duty did ultimately reach the millers. Much was being made oh the poultry industry, but statistics, showed that the amount of poultry was 2.S per head of the population, being- the lowest since 1864. There were’ only 412 poultrymen in New Zealand who had flocks "of 300 or over, while there were 6703 farmers in New Zealand who were wheat growers. Poultry-farming was only a side-line. Mr G. H. B. Lill agreed they should look into the charges of transport and handling. Mr Evans said that as much stress was being laid on the pig industry as on poultry. Pig feed could be.grown as easily in the North Island as here. They had to fight strongly to maintain their rights in face of the agitation ity the north. Where the agitation was coming from, was from the loss of revenue in merchants’ business. Abolition of duties would not mean cheaper bread.

Air Evans said there was a danger from importing Australian wheat in the form of saffron. This would 1 tend to introduce further weeds into the country. It was unanimously decided that the executive protest against interference with the existing tariff, and the drawing up of the protest was left to Alessrs Evans, Leadley, and Carr. Air A. P. Bruce said it was a sign of a weak Government when committees were set up to go into vital matters. It also entailed heavy expenditure. (Proceeding.)