FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16220, 24 May 1918, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION.

annual provincial CONFERENCE. The, annual Provincial Conference of tlie North Canterbury district of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was opened yesterday in the Board room-of the Farmers' Co-operative Association. The chair was taken by tho prosident, Mr ]>. Jones, and there wero present tho following delegates:—Messrs W. Hall (Central), G. Kippenberger (Oxford), K. Pettigrew (Waiau), D. J. Doak (Omihi), E. C. Patcman and J. Gibbs Stanton (Kaiapoi), C. Reid -and W. Oakley (Ashburton), li. W. Johnson (Dunsandel), J. L. Cullen (Malvern), C. H. Ensor and R. H. Bailey (Loburn), T. Geo (Cheviot), W. Mulliolland (Dartield), W. A. Banks (Rangiora), T. E. L. Roberts (Scargill), J. i). Wylio (Sefton), J. T. Henloy (Springston), H. M. Andorson (Temple ton J. The executive was represented by tlio chairman, and Messrs G. G. Morton, W. Bailey, J. L. Cullen, C. H. Ensor, li. Evans, J. W. Foster, G. Gardner, F. G. Horrell, R. H. Bailey, T. J. Henley. K. Pottigrew, and IX J. Doak. Messrs G. YV. Lcadlcy and G. Sheat, of tho Dominion executive, were also present. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. Tho president, in his address, said they would notico that there wero not many subjects for discussion on the order paper. The branches had recog- 1 nised that it was necessary to bear many things that in normal times the Union would endeavour to remove. Now Zealand had made great sacrifices,! and would have to make many more.! Tho reinforcement problem was a very

difficult ono to fathom. "Wo aro told,"' ho said, "that it is wholly a question of shipping, and yet they ask us ; n this remote cornor to increase our quota ■while American men, comparatively close at hand, aro uaablo to get into the firing line fast enough for lack of shipping." A big effort was being made by the Second 3>ivision league to obtain higher rates of pay and allowances for their wives and children, and public sympathy was with them. .There' was no doubt the problem was a difficult one, and intimately bound up with the duration of the war. Tho Government would have to be exceedingly careful of the financial position of tho country. The dishonest and seditious practice of some public men inflaming, tho public mind by quoting our increased. value in export as so much additional taxable wealth, without taking into consideration the increased cost of production, was exceedingly -cprehcnsible. With the calling up of |

the Sccond Division the production of tlto Dominion would bo seriously impaired, ,and a continually increasing number would have to be kept by a continually decreasing number. Our ability to pay taxes was dependent upon the snipping of our produce, and the prospect was not satisfactory. Mr Jones referred to the urgent need for strict cconomy, for as the war continued it would be found increasingly necessary to further conscript wealth. Economy was a great source of revenue. What to do with the hugo number of returned and returning men had caused the Government and the public anxious thought. The general, opinion was that after the open-air life they would rush the land and loavo the cities. It was somewhat surprising that, although nearly 20,000 men had roturnod, only 634 had taken advantage of the supply of settlement facilities already provided. The problem would probably solve itself by each man taking up his own job, though in many instances they would havo to marry the girl in possession. As farmers' they must be prepared to give every assistance, and he suggested that one way was to mako increasing provision on the farms for married men. After urging farmers to support the movement for the completion of the Otira tunnel, lie dealt with tho reccnt investigation into the allegations regarding tho American Meat Trust in New Zealand. The evidence j given before tho committee did not rci veal anything new, and it secmod as if the agitation was tho result of the severe competition between the larger and smaller meat companies, lie considered that, though it would be wise to keep an eye on any Trust operations, there was nothing in the, evidence to justify the finding of ihe committer, which suggested that the Government shouid'consider a scheme for controlling tho export of meat, after the war, and its distribution. Mr Jones, aitcr remarking that there would be no shortage of ewes next spason. dealt with the question of groin growing. ''The ;>nst year." he said, "has been mcst disappointing: indeed, it can be safely vtnted that ihe farmers have supplied the consumers with iheif bread for three .wars and have received no rent in return for ihe land. Vvo have been accused of giving fa!-o estimates pf cost, but tho cost of the wheatgrown by the Coverninent proves that wc were fairly accurate in our statements. Tl'o bitter t»nuts that arc thrown at u« as a class by men who arc. not conversant with the facts will. J ■ fer.r, causo a material reduction in the | area sown in grain. This, however, is 1 no time for retaliation. It is of vita! ' importance that Ave be sslf-supporting in foodstuffs during the Avar, and must do our utmost te maintain the produe- j tion of tho Dominion. It is. however, very questionable whether we can crow : sufficient wheat with the present lul>our ; supply, and if the present drastic rato of reinforcements is continued we axe t certain to bo faced Avith a serious short- j age. The consumer must help himself, and everyone with a garden uncultivat-1

lod should he liable to a fine. To diß- - tlio statement that farmers adopted a go-slow policy with wheat jproduction, 1 give the following figures. —Tho average acrcago m wheat jor eight years before the war was _<J0,U40 | acres." During tho throe years or war tlio average acreage was 272,650, or an increase of 37,005 acres per year. _Keferring to tho question of price-fixing, lie maintained that Canteroury ana North Otago had been made the chop-ping-block for tho Dominion. when prices were low the farmers "took then gruel," but now tho grantors wei» favoured at tho expense of the producers of bread. It was a mischievous praetieo to fix prices when they tondod to riso hut to let tho producer shoulder the burden when they fell. Tho Union some two years ago secured a promiso from tho ! Government that it would not complete agreements with the Imperial or other 1 authorities without consulting tha Union, and much important work, involving manv millions sterling, had been done to their mutual satisfaction. It. was fortunate that tho-farmers had ait organisation all ready to carry out this work, and every farmer outsido tho Union should join anu show'his practical appreciation of the • valuable work accomplished. (Applause.). , A hearty vote of thanks ana appreciation was passed to the president for his address. | REMITS. ' The remits-wore thon dealt with. Remits were received from Ashburton and Springston ' protesting against tho unfairness of the. mortgage tax. After somo discussion, the remits were carried unanimously. Mr 11. H. Bailey (Loburn) moved:—. .''That, in the event of mill-owners adjusting prices for next season's threshing, tho Farmers' Union, bo represented^' ' Mr°J: Gibb-Stanton seconded tho motion,, which was carried.. . • ' Mr K. Pettigrcw (Waiau) moved .•7-' "That, owing'to the" increase in rail' way freight pressing unduly hoayily on those at a distance from the centre, thd Railway Department be asked that 2 universal terminal charge per truck be substituted for the 20 per cent, iricreajjc that has been enforced during tlio past two years." Mr Kippenl>erger seconded tho motion, which was carried. Two remits were forwarded by Ashburton and Kaiupoi,- tho first, that tho

Government sjiblild send a forestry expert to Canterbury to give advice as to tho best varieties of timber trees to plant and the best methods of planting them, and the second that the Government be asked" to plant all waste'lands with suitable timber trees to provide against the impending timber scarcity. Mr C. Reid (Ashburion) moved tho remits, which were bracketed togethor. Air J. Gibbs Stanton (Kaiapoi) seconded them, and they wcro carried unanimously. Mr Leacifey (Ashburton) moved: — "That tho Canterbury Progress League be asked to appoint a Country I>evelopment Committee, and to appoint three or four representatives from tho Farmers' Union on that committee." • The mover said that from his perusal of the reports of the Lsapjue meetings, their objects seemed a little circumscribed, and be thought it would bo a good thing if tho farmers were directly represented on the League's organisation. Mr C. Reid seconded tho motion .pro forma. Ho wanted to know more about the League before he would consent to join it, though he agreed that ifc would bp better for the League to have practical country representatives on *lt. Mr C. H. Ensor said that if the League pushed on tho tunnel work ib would be a most valuable move towards tho development of the West Coast, which at present was hindered' in its , full production by lack of facilities for j transit. I It was eventually decided to refer the 1 whole question io tho executive for furi ther consideration. Mr W. Oakley (Ash burton) moved: — "That, in view of the great increase in motor traffic, the Conference take into consideration the best method of. improving and keeping in order the main roads leading north, west, and south from Christchurch.'' Mr Leadley seconded the motion, which was referred for discussion to tho Dominion Conference, and to the incoming executive to deal with. The Conference then went into committee to deal with matters pf Union organisation and finance. The Conference will resumo at 9.30 a.m. to-day.