FARMERS IN CONFERENCE

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13744, 27 May 1910, Page 6

FARMERS IN CONFERENCE

Ihe farmers who are attending the provincial conferences of the Farmets' Union now being held in various parts of the Dominion meet under pleasanter circumstances than -was the case last year. The Union itself is making good progress, and tho present condition and prospects of the groat .producing industries which it represents are most gratifj-ing. At the local conference Mr Evans deplored tho disappointing character of the harvest in Canterbury, but even in this matter some compensation was to ho found in the good prices roalisod by tho grain and in the splendid sens-on for fattening stock that has been experienced. Tho effect of tho season is shown in the large exports of lamb and mutton, the quantity sent away from Canterbury up to tliJ end of last month being considerably greater than last year, though the export of mutton for the whole Dominion .up to date shows a decrease. ; It is satisfactory to learn that farmers regard the threshing award as fair and) reasonable. There is a good d<»al in the argument that where tho conditions of labour arc fair and an. award is not required, an award should not. bo made. But -under the present conditions,ivith the Arbitration Act available for the manufacture of. "disputes" whether there is general dissatisfaction or. not, the farmers as a class, ono ■would think, will feel safer with an award than -without one. The President's reference to the increase in tho public debt will remind farmers that this is a matter in which they aro particularly concerned, for in the end it is. tho man on the land upon whom falls much of the burden of increased taxation. The Prime, Minister is very fond of pointing out how tho Government have reduced the taxation by Customs duties,, but it is perfectly obvious that tho man on the land provides a large share of the rising revenue, and he has therefore a great deal more than a passing interest in tho way the money ir, spent, for much of it comes out of his pocket. The question whether the Dominion gt-ts its moneys worth out of the cooperative hibour system affects him just as closely as the question whether the administration of tho country does not cost too much. It is indeed time, as Mr Evans said, that the-farmers laised their voices against the wasteful expenditure* or public money, and they can best make themselves heard in Parliament and in the Cabinst rcom by impressing their opinions upon those country representatives who support the Government in putting a heavier burden on the farmer's back. Some of ill© moro important remits to come before the Conference will be brought v;- to-day. The discussion yesterday 0:1 the California thistle question showed a diversity of opinion as to the coune of nction that is necessary. However desirable it may b ( e that the Waste Lands Board should eradicate the thistle on all unkased Crown land, >. lis no use demanding that it shal2 be done at once. As Mr Leadley said, there is not enough money in the country to do it. But it is certainly not fair that private land-owners should be compelled to clear their land ivhile adjoining Crown lands are permitted to become vast nurseries fcr the pest. Thero cannot in this matter be ono law for the private land-owner and another for tho State, and the Government must recognise its responsibilities more fully than it has yet done. We are rather surprised that nothing was said during tin. discussion about the beneficial effect of growing lucerne in thistleinfested land. It has been tried in Marlborough with marked success, and should be equally effective in the rich deep land in North Canterbury where the thistle is most abundant. Unless

some more vigorous action is taken in this matter Canterbury will become as badly infected with this plague as is Southland, and the fact that the Conference arrived at no definite decision as to what should be done should not prevent tbe farmers and the

Government waging a more effective campaign against the enemy than in

the pasi. The Government might well take into consideration tho suggestion n.ade at one of the northern conferences that they should seek ex-pen-advice on tho question.