"FARMERS' WEEK."

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 124, 25 May 1920, Page 9

"FARMERS' WEEK."

PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE

OPENS,

RECORD ATTENDANCE,

THE T>.RESIDEXT-S ADDRESS,

The 1920 provincial conference of the 'Farmers' 'Union opened this afternoon in the Town Hall Concert Chamber with promises of being one of the most successful in the history of the Union, the delegates comprising one of Uie largest gatherings that has met on any slmllnr occasion.

The agenda paper comprises no less than !W remits on matters directly Influencing the farming Industry, ell of which H is hoped to deal with by Friday afternoon.

To-morrow the conference win go into committee to discuss 21 remits directly concerning the Union itself.

The presidential address, delivered by Mr. Boddle, covered a wide range of subjects, ' of which agricultural education received ' most attention. The fund raised by the ' branches in the province towards refurnish- ' Ing the Sailors' Home la Auckland, he . stated, amounted to £350, which sum we gratefulv acknowledged toy the tnwtees. ' RAILWAY RESTRICTIONS. \ Owing to the ■curtailed railway service | whleJi .became necessary in consequence of • the disastrous "go alow" policy of the coal miners, a local committee of business and other Interests aud the Farmers , Union, was appointed to arrange for a fnlr allocation of the limited goods traffic, and to ensure the carriage of essential commodities for carrying on the producing industry, the president of their Union acting on the committee. By this means the farmers were assured of a fnlr proportion of the available space, and were able to carry on in spite of the difficult conditions. raLITICAX, I'LATFOEM. Aβ instructed by the last provincial conference, the executive drafted a political platform and submitted same to the branches for approval. Of the returns received, 17 branches and one snb-provlnclal district were in favour of the platform, Iβ branches and two suVprovlnclal districts gave It their qualified approval, and two branches disapproved. SHrPPINKJ AND MEAT COSIFBEEXCB. dircers and others Interested in the meat Industry was called, the final outcome being a recommendation from the conference that the Government, after making certain necessary inquiries, should call together representatives of all the producers' Interests -to deal further with such important : I matters as meat, wool »nd dairy produce ' I disposal, and shipping.

EMBAKGO OX HIDES. Strong representations were made the Union in regard to the embargo on the export of hides and the fixing of prices, and consequently a conference of Interested parties wee held In Wellington, the embargo being subsequently withdrawn, subject to the tanners having the first option of purchasing at the highest auction rates of New Zealand hides before they could 'be exported. The result has been that the producers are now receiving fair market value for their hides* and Justifies the nrra attitude the executive has always taken up against Government Interference with prices. SHORTAGE OF SHIPPING.

The shortage of shipping and consequent congestion of the freezing worke In this province had received considerable attention by the executive, realising the extreme urgency of the position. Owing to representation*, the UTiuie Minister referred the matter to the 'New Zealand Overseas Shipowners' Committee, o nd 1» its report It states that Auckland has received its fair share of shipping space for ■meat and other produce, and that other districts .are also affected severely by the shortage of tonnage caused by the congestion In meat stores at iHome. To relieve the situation two steamers, with a com•btaed capacity of 230,000 freight .carcases, have been diverted from 'Australia to New Zealand for Ma.v loading, while In June another ship will be diverted from Australia, together with a steamer employed in •River Plate trade, with a capacity of abtjnt 100,000 freight carcases. The diversion of these ships will relieve the congestion somewhet, and vow that the British Government lias reduced the price of meat in store at Home the position is likely to i improve very considerably.

COMMANDEER CUP IPROTOUCE. At the request of the Dominion president the branches throughout the Dominion were circularised as to their opinion of the •Government fixing; prices of produce and the renewal of the commandeer. Of the returns received in this province all branches were unanimously against any prices being fixed by the Government. On ' the question of the renewal of meat and dairy produce, a large majority were In • favour of the extension of the commandeer of meat, unless stores were cleared 'before the commencement of the next season. With rgard to dairy produce, the majority f were in "favour of the open market. IMMIGRATION.

The Important matter of Immigration ia<l recelTed the attention of the executive from time to time during the past year. In January last the standing committee Interviewed Misses Wntkin and Glrdler, envoys sent 'by the Imperial Government to report on the conditions here for the employment of women. The fullest information was slven these ladies, and the assistance ot the organisation was offered. There aeems to be no likelihood, however, of the Imperial scheme toeing carried out for a year or more owing to shortage of snipping. When tie time arrives, the branches will be asked !to form local ladles' committees to receive women Immigrants and assist them to obtain employment. It had been arranged that immigrants arriving In the near future, who require country employment, shall be put into touch with the provincial office. DTIA.'FT ON WOOIi. The question of the abolition of the draft on wool'bad been brought before the executive .by the Marlborough Woolgrowers 1 Committee with a view to having tnte unfair tas on wool-rowers removed, and it Iβ proposed t0 appoint a representative committee to confer ways and means of abolishing ttto imposition. Mr. H. E. Worsp -was appointed hv the Provincial Executive as delegate to represent this province on the p»P~«« committee, which will meet at Wellington as To" as some information has bLn obtained from Australia and Souti Wrica with which countries It Is proposed that united action should be taken.

CLOSING RESIABES. ln conclusion. Mr. Boddle congratulated them on the present prosperous state of the farming Industry, aad particularly those engaged in dairying Even meat and wool, although at present seriously handicapped by shortage of dipping, mnrt in the near future, he added, present a more eatisfactory outlook. With shipping normal, their productive soil, their abundant rainfall and their magnificent climate, the future of the primary producers of this Dominion was bright with promise.