AUCKLAND FARMERS' AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 275, 20 November 1899, Page 8

AUCKLAND FARMERS' AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE.

f i. MEETING OF DELEGATES.

To-day the annual conference of the 'Auckland Agricultural Association and delegates from the various other agricultural societies in the Auckland district, following on the annual show of the Auckland Association, was held in the latter : body's room, Queen-st., where various matters of interest to the farming community were discussed.

* Mr W. Westney, president of the 'Association, presided, and the following delegates were present: —Messrs Oliver Cotteril. and E. W. Brown (Hukerenui- Agricultural Association), Ed. Allen (Waikato Farmers' Club), Maurice Harding (Northern Wairoa, Agricultural and_Pastoral Association) Johp. Fisher (Waikato Agricultural and. Pastoral Association), Arthur G. Glass (New Zealand Farmers' Union), John Udy (Aucklantf Association),,C. Shipherd (Franklin Agricultural Association), D. G. Rutherford (Franklin), [Wain. Johns (Waikato A. and P. Association), Frank Colbeck (Otamatea Agricultural and Fruitgrowers'. Association), F. M. Strange (Te Aroha Agricultural Society), J. Kemp (Bay of Islands Association), W. McLaughlin, A-._£: Grainge_, W. F. Massey,M.H.R., J(_hn B. Anelm (Paparoa), F. Dye ,(Helensville), Gillies (Waikato Association), Ariell (Paparoa), R. Dick !^Ve_|ifp}d W^lfe t-ejjres-riting -fcli. ' Auckland , Society), N. . Hunt (Waikato), O. F. E. Dey (Te Aroha), and A. Bowler (Te Aroha).

Apologies for absence were read from a number of delegates. THE EXECUTIVE. The members of the executive or Council of the Association were reelected, with the exception of Messrs Ambury, Hawke, Kutherford, and Phillipps. The names of the members re-elected are:—Messrs Jas. Hume, Ed. Allen, Geo. Ballard, W. Greenwood, M. M. Kirkbride, W. Sharp, J. Udy, arid-B. Hall. The members elected to fill the vacancies were:—John Fisher, W.- Westney, and G. Shipherd. A vote of thanks was accorded to the retiring members for .heir services.

_>. - / FEDEKATION. 9 The secretary (Mr E. Hall) read an interesting paper on the question of Federation with Australia, written by Mr M. Kirkbride, of Mangere. In the course of his paper Mr Eirkbride made special reference to the importance to farmers of Federation, and looked at \the question from a farmer's point of view. He reviewed the position of New Zealand in to the export of produce to Australia and the prices obtained. Tlie commercial aspect, he said, meant more to the farmers than to any other class in the community. He went on to say: "The farmer should insist that when t!he question of Federation is under discussion in our Parliament his interest should receive due ; consideration. I hope that we,-.who have cleared the {' land of the forest and the fern, and

who barely get a living' wage out of present low produce values, will be as tenderly considered as the men who make our harness, boots, clothiang and farm requisites. The smaller farmers are more dependent on the Australian colonies for a market than tlie rtfnholders or graziers; they must look to the Old Country for a market for their wool .and mutton. The question of Federation is a momentous one, a serious one, indeed, if all Australian ports are closed against us. I do not think the Government of this colony has risen to the occasion. New Zealand should have had representatives at the Conference of Australian statesmen when Federation was discussed and agreed upon. Then we should have full official information on points that are not clear to us, and we should lie . possession of the reasons why we are standing out in the cold." The annual cost to New Zealand of Federation, Mr Kirkbride thought, would be about £240,000. Against this cost they would have free trade with Australia, and this would result in au enormous expansion of trade with Australia. The colony would thus be in a much better position as regarded defence. In conclusion the writer of the paper said: "I believe the time lias gone past for .New Zealand to enter the Federal Commonwealth as an original State: yet, after the Commonwealth has settled into harness, fixed its tariff, etc., we shall be able to judge precisely what it will cost us. I can only express my regret that those who are in authority over us did not take such measures as would nave enabled us to enter the Australasian Commonwealth as an original State. By so joining we should have had the privilege of assisting in the formulation of the Federal Constitution, and probably an opportunity of joining on the same terms as the rest of the provinces. We shall probably not get such good terms again. There are sure to be more difficulties in the way of federating, yet I hope to live to see the day when we shall cast in our lot with a people who are of the same race as ourselves, and who have laid the foundation of a nation that will yet be the largest and most influential south of the Equator."

It was resolved on the motion of Mr F. Colbeck, seconded by Mr Johns,

•'Tha.t this meeting- of farmers urges upon the Government the necessity of placing the question of federation before the people, to give them an opportunity of expressing their opinion on the subject."