SHEEPOWNERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17221, 11 August 1921, Page 4

SHEEPOWNERS' UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union was held in the Chamber of Commerce buildings yesterday morning. There was an attendance of over 20 members, the president, Mr L. A. Rutnerford (.Haydon -Downs) presiding. Apologies for absence were receivod from Sir George Clifford and Mr H, D. Acland, tho latter of whom was to have addressed the meeting, but was unable to attend through illness. The Annual Report. Tho annual report stated, inter alia: The membership 6hows a slight increase over last year's total, 54 now members having enrolled. A meeting of South Canterbury members was held at Timacru in September, for tho purpose of forming a local Committee, wften the following gentlemen were elected .-—Messrs U Murray (Chairman), H. B. S. Johnstone, R. Ktil-1, H. iuworthy, E. R. Guinness, J. lnness, • i'\ F. Smith, J. Cameron, and W. Preston, Mr Moffat being appointed secretary. 'iiie nnancial position has been well maintained, outstanding liabilities having been met, and a credit balance shown. The past year has been a particularly .eventful one Tho question of free competition in connexion with the purchase of our produce in N%w Zealand was considered by the Executive to be of sufficient importance to warrant a special effort on their part to maintain, this vital principle. Your committee 1 felt,, and still feels, that the only solution of the present difficult position is to welcome every competitor for our produce here in New Zealand, which, with, the safeguards already , provided under the Act, cannot possibly be anything but beneficial to producers here. The fact that tho United States Government has interested itself in the matter of a license being granted Armour and Co., and is making strong representations to our Government .on their behalf, is surely a sufficient answer to those who contend that Armour's operations will ruin our farming industry in New Zealand. The beneficial effects of this firm's business in the South Island during the past season must be admitted by any unprejudiced sheepowner. It is hoped that your new committee will realise and maintain the necessity for the enforcement of thi* principle of open competition and free markets for our produce here in New Zealand. ■*'• ■ Thd question of the disposal of the enormous quantity of carry-over wool, and the marketing of the current clips _ in the manner best calculated to relieve the present position without unduly jeopardising out future markets, has received the- attention of your committee, and, »s is generally known,, the Government have appointed a special committee to fix reserves and allocations with a view.to tho.maintenance.of at least: that level of values which will equal the. cost of production.. _, This action was decided on after exhaustive, enquiries, and several sittings of the Produce Committee, as far as can no judged at this early stage,, the scheme evolved is working smoothly, and will, it is felt, eventually prove to be in the best interests of sheepowners. The shipping position has engaged the earnest attention of the Executive, and in conjunction: with various committees specially tot up by the .Government, and with other bodies, we have been active in advocating a safe and sound lino of policy in connexion with this matter;. Various more or less yrild, assertions" 1 have been made as.to tho possibility of SKoving-'our; own-lines of steamers,, butthe experience of others who hftvp niade" tthis Experiment, coupled with....the figures that have been supplied to us,,has convinced your committee that the present is not an opportune time to launch out in the direction of purchasing, ships, as our industry is in no condition to stand any further burden of taxation, ft is realised that there are some ways m which the shipping rates on our products might be lowered, and representations have been made to:the-Hon.- thePremier in England re these and we are in receipt of cable advice; from him to the effect that our propoeals will be placed before the British Cabinet and Shipping Boaxda with a view to a reduction in these rates being; reaohed. '.' ' * ''■'! The matter of rabbit destruction has been'carefully watched in the interests of runholders, and your committee haa kept in dose touch with the officers of tfio Department concerned. Varioua suggestions put forward by your; committee have been acted on, and others ore being given consideration at the .present tune. A resolution was forwarded to the Department from your committee recently with the object of strengthening the hand of the' Minister of Agriculture during his tour in Otago, and Southland and supporting him in his. advocacy of more efficient methods being adopted in dealing with the destruction of this pest The kea menace has received considerable attentionv from your : committee during the past year, negotations with the-Agricultural Department having resulted in a subsidy of os per head being paid by this Department, in addition to that already paid by local bodies. Reports received by the secretary frOnj the variouß districts indicate a marked decrease in the numbers of keos. since this added inducement by the Department to the destruction of the pest was granted. Runnolderß are to be congratulated on the results of your committee's representations. ' The balance-sheet showed .subscriptions for -the year to amount to £I2BO lis 6d. On the debtor side salaries, and commissions amounted to £550 14s Bd, rent £lO9 13s 4d. balance carried forward being £1496 6s, which was reduced by £767 16s 9<L. (sheep farmers' labour exchange), whioh item the committee recommended should be written off from the assets, thus reducing the balance carried forward to £728 8s 3d President's Address.

The president, in moving tie adoption of .the report and balance-sheet, said that the membership* was not satisfactory, considering the great importance of the industry to Canterbury. The Union's executive had fought strongly for the principle of free competition in this country. He had spent 25 days on the Armour case during the past twelve months, and he had to W that the officials of the company had given him all the information asked for and had never tried to influence his opinions in anyway. The main, objection to Armour's operations here was the evidence of the Federal Trade Commission, and that Ar« mour and Co. of Australasia was a branch of Armour and Co. of Chicago. This * theory had' been exploded, and-it was only just that the Government should at once issue a license. . As it was they had made New Zealand look very.small in the eyes of the world over this question; Dealing with freight, the speaker said he was satisfied that the shipowners were find* ing it just as difficult to carry on as the sheepowners; The reasonable thing to do was to meet the shippers in trying to run their boats at the minimum rate and then, if they did not meet them fairly, it would be time to talk of owning their own ships. He was strongly in favour of the Government setting uo a shipping board for. the purpose of cd» lecting all the information possible, ana of dealing with any questions, that might arise. The producers' shipping scheme, which, was at present in the bands of the Government, was not, in his opinion, worth the paper is was written on. The executive had epent a lot of time fighting for the principle of 'free competition in this.country, an 4

etrongly advised the incoming committee to fight on. When all the facts were undft'steod, the dangar of the trust bogey -was ridiculous &nd had only Ijeen advocated bv a few cranks, and '.nose interested in keeping competition •way from themselves. Much had been &aid lately about co-operation. To have their own ships and distribute their own produce looks very nice on paper, but" he had no sympathy with such a edienie. To carry it out would mean probably more taxation and restriction, which they did not want; but they did want the world's market value, and the only way that they could get it was to have free competition in*"*he Home markets, for it was very hard to follow what took place 10)000 miles away. After going exhaustively into the question or wool profits, the executive, through the -Federation, laid all the facts and figures before Mr Skerrett. The speaker could say that had there not been a mistake at this end, for the four clips commandeered, they should 'havo received £30,000,000 more than they did. He was confident that, knowing oil the facts, Mr Massey would do the best to secure back the best part of that £8,000,000 which they have heard so much about. The speaker said he did not think that any practical man would differ with him when he Baid that tho sheep flocks throughout Canterbury, iii many cases, were deteriorating, therefore it was necessary for every farmer to be most careful in selecting Ms rams, otherwise is would be left lamenting, for it would take the best that could bo produced to maintain their name for prime Canterbury. In reply to a question, it was stated that the Union membership was 1600. The motion for adoption was carried. Election of Officers.

Mr L. A Rutherford was re-elected president. Mr B. Tripp (Timaro), having withdrawn his nomination, and Mr D. Westenra (Dunsaadel) was elected vice-president, his being the only nomination.

The following committee was appointed:—M. Bethell (Culv«rden), E. Hay (Pigeon Bay), E. M. Morten (Tai Tapu), L. B. Macfarlane (Culverden), C. H. Ensor (Rangiora), G. Fulton (Fendalton), H. Ensor (Rangiora), Geo. Murray (Fairlie), H. Acton-Adams (Tipapa), N. D. Campbell (Motunau) T. Maeefield (Akaroa), A. J. Murray (Kaikoura), G. 0. Rutherford (Culrerden), H. Mworthy CTimaru) J. D. MoCraoken (Bangiora). W. Hanrner-Atkinßon (Oulvwden), <all re-eWed); F. H Smith' (Albury), J. F. Macfarlano (Hawkswood), O. T. Jeesep (Metbren). General Business. Mr J. D. Hall commented upon the fact that the large body of farmers was unorganised, and unable to effectively voice their opinions. The Sheep Owners' Union, the A. and P. Associations, the Farmers' Unions, and the Dairy Farmers had no provision for their representatives getting together and discussing their common interests. Shipping, for instance, was ft matter that Affected them all, and in a matter like this it would be an advantage if representatives from the four organisations could be elected to meet in "Wellington as a Federated Council, and deal with, fannere' interests. The opportune time to discuss the matter! was now, and he moved: "That it*be a recommendation to delegates attending the meeting of the Sheepowners' Federation to support a proposal to form a farmers' organisation to deal with important matters affecting farmera' interests.". The speaker said that anything would-be better than the present system, as when representatives met in there was a hopeleeSmuddleV' The question «f taxation was pretty Mack"it the present time, with wool "at BJd per lb, and tho matter «t representing to the Government thewwddm of pgrmitting the payment in, Instalments was one that such an Organisation could handle. ■ Another was JM, taxation of mortgages, which;, wob a waif measure, and aholild be.aßolished. A speaker thougni thdiproppsal of awas tfiet best, possible" solurtipn, as by it they, could bring.pressure to'bear where Hshoula'be brought. The ■prettdent expressed,. m'mself_ as against nq. amaljjainatipn of the differ.ent existing "bodies, bob in favour or a federation. , i MeSfcTS M. Bethefl and E. Hay : ako j euptsorted the motion, which was car* | riei'ttoanijneaiily.