FARMERS' CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 172, 22 July 1924, Page 8

FARMERS' CONFERENCE.

FEARS FOR THE PRODUCERS. CLOSER UNION "URGED. THK OUTLOOK SURVEYED. (Special t" ••f ; lar."i WELLINGTON, this day. 'Producers do not realise that even in >pite of high prices production is at a. standstill, while the towns arc poin~ ahead by leap? and bounds," stated Mr. W. J. Poison, in his presidential address at the Farmers Union Conference to-day. '-They dun't read statistic.-." he "continued. "They fail to grasp the significance of the steady reduction in the country's proportion of both population ami wealth as compared with the towns. They do not realise that history is only repeating itself. They art- astonished when you lell them that in America and Australia, wealth, which was formerly held by the country, is now almost in the possession of the towns. Nor do they understand the reason why they are setting less than half the value the consumer pays f , "" the product they •.tow. The arresting figures lay bare the whole position, and show those who care to read that we are steadily losing frround. Compare such a situation with Denmark's, a country with every climatic and physical disability, and with little or no wealth, which, in less time than it lias taken the American producer to drop from owner of SO per cent to owner of ■"> per cent of the community's wealth, has grown rich, until to-day she stands at the head of the list, the richest country per head hi" population in the world. If producers would recollect that Denmark has applied the co-operative programme we seek to apply»here. they would better understand the necessity for united action and more deeply appreciate the work of our organisation/ Preparedness the Watchword. Attention was drawn to a recent statement by Mr. T. 6. Weston. president of the Employers' Association, to the effect that trade reports throughout the world showed a thorough-going , iffort in all parts of the world by rural 'communities to increase their production. Present high prices in dairy produce must inevitably mean bigger outputs, and New Zealand farsers must be prepared to meet greater competition and lower prices 5n London. That was a statement which would be echoed by all fanners, and it was for them to meet the position by greater organisation and co-operation. On the latter point Mr. Poison stated that properlyapplied co-operation should reduce the costs all round, and it should be their aim to correct the system by which the cost of distribution had become greater ' than the cost of production. In America it had been found that to make this effective the storage facilities should be owned and controlled by the producers, to do away with speculation in the products. He stated that it was vital to the country's interest also that immigration be pushed ahead. Commenting on the free trade verdict at the British elections, he remarked that apparently the British elector did not think New Zealand preference was worth troubling about, and New Zealand producers might now look for foreign markets with a clear conscience. On the point of taxation, the president made some comparison with other countries to New Zealand's disfavour. If there was to be a reduction of taxation, the maintenance of economy in our public services must be insisted on. "I imagine." he added, that the Taxation Commission's report will not be palatable to producers. While we admit the fairness of income tax properly applied, to are certainly not going to stand double taxation — land and income tax. The Government which seeks to impose it will sign its own death warrant." Political Action. Attention was drawn to the need for_ wool control, and, Mr. Poison defended the dairy control legislation, predicting that the Dairy Control Board would do valuable work for the producers and the country. He also reminded members of the union that they would have to keep up their defences so far as the shipping companies were concerned. Finally, after reference,to the position of the freezing industry, he touched on the political situation, and the "pros- » pect of a tampering with the individualistic system which has given Britain her Empire and built up these dominions." The country was determined to see this country developed as it should be developed, and to set their faces against its being plunged annually further into debt because easy money was available.