FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20244, 23 May 1931, Page 4

FARMERS' UNION.

MID-CANTERBURY EXECUTIVE CONFERS. PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL REVIEW, A comprehensive review of the activities of the farming industry during the past year was submitted to the annual conference of the Mid-Canter-b»ry Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union at Ashburton yesterday by the president, Mr G. Tait, of Lowcliffe. "There has not been a more perplexing year within the memory 1 of most people now living,** said Mr Tait. The crops, wool, and lamb were comparatively good, but prices which were ruinous had to be accepted. Wool at 5d per lb, lamb at the same priee or less, and cheese at 5d or fld per lb, and butter-fat could only be produced at a loss, The recent slight increase in wool and lamb was welcome. The abnormal fall in the price of primary products had not taken long to reflect itself on the finances of the Dominion, and the Government had been compelled ta take drastic mea? res to balance the Budget. There still remained a substantial deficit, which it was proposed to overcome by increased taxation. "This is a questionable method which may have the result of drying up avenues of revenue,' * Mr Tait remarked. "From the farmers' point of view the only prudent way to produce the desired effect—that is, to balance the Budget — is for the Government to reduce further its expenditure until it corresponds with income. The farmer, however, is having a grave concern in balancing his own budget. With' an income shrunk almost to and sometimes past disappearing point, economy and self-denial have become compulsory." The only solution was to adapt themselves to circumstances. Tho prices of primary produco were down, and down to stay; then the cost of producing those products must be reduced correspondingly. The Ashburton County Council had given a good lead by reducing the rates substantially, and Other local bodies had done the same. The Arbitration Court awards would have to be made to correspond with industry's ability to pay. Professional charges, legal, medieal, dental, and others, to mention only a few, had so far shown no indication of any reduction, and it should be pointed out to those people that it was their duty to bear their share of the sacrifice,. With all sections bearing their fair share in she readjustment, the Dominion would again be restored to prosperity. The Political Situation. Tho Farmers' Union took no part in Party politics, but it claimed th? right to criticise Governments, and politicians generally. The legislation .passed at the recent emergency session bad the approval of the Farmers* Union, be-' cause most of the measures passed were reforms that the Union had , eagerly urged from time to time. 'lt is ap» parent to everybody, that the present position of Parties in the House is untenable," said Mr Tait, "and it is sincerely to be hoped that an arrangement will bp made whereby all moderate Parties - "" unite on common grounds to pilot the Dominion through these critical times. An object-lesson in betore us in our neighbours across the Tasman, our pom tion being only a year behind Australia. Should g<3<suro ft victory ai the next election we; wonld find ourselves is Ihe same unhappy position that Australia is" in at "the preset time.", Tim wheat-growers of, Canterbury noticed with, satisfaction, thatthe Wheat duties receiyed; favourable consideration from - Parliament than had been the ease W years, After a strong protest had been lodged .Mr Forbes had stated that it was not meant that the price would be Jess than 4s 6d net to the grower. The area to be sown in wheat this yea: would be larger than ever, and it . was estimated that there would be '60,000 acres more than last year.

Educational. ° The Union was actively interested in endeavouring to secure for the Ashburton High School tho status of an Agricultural High School. Ashburton_was one of the most important agricultural districts in the Dominion, and with its present laboratory and a suitable farm available no great expense would bo involved in making the school an agricultural one. Two new branches of the Union had been established during the year, one at Chertsey and one at Rakaia, while the women's branch had made excellent progress. They had the largest and most in* fluential Union in the Dominion, Mr Tait concluded, and, if judiciously* conducted, had almost unlimited power. That being so, it was necessary to exercise the greatest care in seeing thai nothing small or selfish was given the backing of the Union. The balance-sheet showed _that the year had begun with ft credit of £25 7? 10d, and concluded with a credit of £25 3s 4d. Remits. The remit : "That in view of the number of sheep being logjs from truolcs in transport, it be suggested that all trucks be equipped witn locks," was moved by Mr J. Bruce Brown on behalf of the Lowcliffe branch. Mr Brown said that some farmers had lost sheep in transport by railway from Ealing and Hinds to Aldington. Mr W. T. Lill (Willowby) said that the motion was only a "nibble." There iv ere several cases of sheep being stolen from paddocks. • The' motion was carried with the .addition that police supervision of stock trains be exercised when requested. Mr H. U. Wilkinson, on behalf of the Chertsey br -tch, moved: "That the Union urges / the Government to give relief in costs of farming operations and urges the Government to reduce tho rates of interest." He stated that rates of interest should drop correspondingly with the drop in the price of primary produce. The remit was adopted. The following remit was submitted by the Lauriston branch"That the Hosnital Boards' Association be supported in their endeavour to have legal right to the benefit of any claims of persons under any accident insurance policies for payment of hospital fees, and the following resolution be forwarded to the Government, local Members of Parliament, and the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union: 'That* legislation be introduced into Parliament giving Hospital Boards preferential .claims against accident insurance moneys, especially in the case of motor accidents where the injured person or persons receive hospital treatment.'" » In moving the adoption, of the remit, Mr W. R. Hammond said that the hospitals were losing a considerable amount through being unable to collect fees from insurance money. The motion was agreed to. On behalf of the Ashburton branch, Mr W. T. LiU moved: "That, information be gained as to"; what amount the Ashbtirton County would be entitled to iii respect of the proposed Government grant of £IOO,OOO on locn for manure." . " . .. ~ ... , Mr John Brown said the Government had lent out th© sum mentioned to the Rural Intermediate Credit Board for use in various districts, and the

Ashburton County, would get its quota. Dairy companies, - stock and station Agents and -other farmerp' biisinesa oiganisations should make application to the supervisor of intermediate credit in the Ashburton County for the grants. No further notion was taken in view of Mr Brown's statement. "That ihe Government be asked to make a searching enquiry into thq prices paid by users of .petrol and power kerosene," "was moved by Mr G. B. B. LiU (Willowby), ©a behalf of the Ashburton branch, gnd earned. Correspondence. With regard to the Union's protest against the increase of 5s per ton in the freight on Partridge peas between Ashburton and Christchurch, the Ministar for Railways (the Hon.- W. A. Veitch) -wrote that this was owing to th« abolition of preferential rates for locally produced goods, as recommended by the Royal Commission on Railways. Ho wan satisfied that the position had been met in a reasonable manner, and as the finances of the Railway Depaitment were in a very unsatisfactory state, he regretted that he was upftble to sanction any reduction in the rate for the commodity in question. , Mr D. Jones, M.P., said he would take up the matter with the new Rail* way Board and the General Manager of Railways. The Prime Minister (the, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) wrote stating that he bad noted the Union's support of the Asttburton Chamber of Commerce's protest against the importation of oats and barley from Australia and maize from South Africa. The Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. A. J. Murdoch) wrote that the Union had been misinformed with regard to the lifting of the embargo on the importation of stock from Great Britain. The Board of Agriculture had passed a resolution in favour of the proposal, but it had not been considered by the 'Government., The Union could rest assured that nothing would be done until the whole question had been fully considered. . On the motion of Messrs W, R. Hammond and G. A. Franks (Lauriston) it was decided to ask the Prime Minister for his assurance that the representative bodies of farmers w.ould be asked for their opinion before anything was done. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Tait for his work in the interest of the Union during the year. Election of Officers. The following officers were elected:— President, Mr G. H. B. Lill (Willowby); senior vice-president, Mr W. R. Hammond (Lauriston); junior viete-presi-* dent, Mr A; P. Bruce (Pendarves); treasurer, Mr F. Frampton (Wakanui); secretary^-Mr W. H. Amos; Mr J. W. Bdwden. The president (Mr LiU) and Mr W. R. Hammond were appointed to represent the Union at the annual conference of the Farmers' Union in Wellington in July. Mr Carr brought up the matter of representation of farming interests on the new Railway Board of Control and it was decided to telegraph to the Dominion secretary of the Farmers' Union asking if any steps had been taken in this direction. ;