PROBLEMS OF FARMERS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23349, 7 June 1941, Page 8

PROBLEMS OF FARMERS

“TOO MUCH APATHY IN HIGH CIRCLES” PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS TO CONFERENCE * “There is too much apathy in high circles in regard to vital matters concerning the primary industries of New Zealand, and seasons simply will not wait on Ministerial announcements,” said Mr R. G. Bishop in his presidential address to the annual conference of the North Canterbury Division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at the Chamber of Commerce Hall yesterday. Mr Bishop made these remarks in discussion of the National Council of Primary Production and the district councils. "Sad to relate," he said, “in time of crisis the parent body fell down on the job, and all districts were, until a week ago, without a plan for future policy, and farmers who had come to rely on the advice and assistance m their production programme find themselves groping in the dark’ without any help whatever and the season fast advancing. "Surely, in such a crisis as this, the Minister for Agriculture should have used every endeavour to avoid this blunder, and have drawn up early a plan that could be followed with confidence, giving first and second preference, etc., of the various 'commodities that the land produces.” Mr Bishop said that the time had arrived at which the best and most able men must get together, irrespective of political colour or calling, to sift every -particle of evidertce, examine every avenue of transport, every method df preserving and packing, and every possibility of new markets if this couiftry was to be saved from disaster and the possible depletion and deterioration of its herds and flocks as a consequence of the export restrictions. It was essential for farmers to avoid panic and to avoid hasry decisions. Officers Re-elected The conference re-elected Mr Bishop president and Messrs A. M. Carpenter and K. W. J. Hall vice-presidents. Mr Carpenter was elected delegate to the Dominion conference, of which Mr Bishop as president is also a member. The conference spent a full day, principally in dealing with more than 30 remits from branches. An address was given at luncheon at Ballantynes by Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon, president of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Mr Mac Gibbon congratulated the country people on the energy with which they were making their contribution to the war effort, and said that to-day more than ever co-opera-tion between town and country was a vital essential. Referring to the comment of a party of visiting American experts that some New-Zealand farmers seemed to have mined the land rather than farmed it, Mr Mac Gibbon appealed to farmers to see that even though there was an urgent need for production to-day they should take

care to preserve their soil in good 60 dition. _ Among the remits adopted following;—“ That every avenue b® plored to see that something o e . to relieve the meat position W next season: that objection be » to the method of fixing ■ ma«fflJJ prides for produce while the rec mendations of the Economic Staoui , tion Committee have not been in*P . mented; that the Government be unt to adopt the recommendations oi Lime Commission; and that in y . of the practice of magistrates in ».jjj ing undesirables into the coun Hf’iit»r - matter be taken up with the Mini for Justice in order that such may be under supervision by the Pv of the district.” “DORMEYER” ELECTRIC FOOD MIXER. ~ „ * The “Dormeyer” makes pleasure and is a big labour sa v the kitchen. It is suitable for WJ frothy egg flips, malted milk, candies, pastries, waffles, nut » desserts, salad dressings, mayon j, etc. Can be used with two di sized mixing bowl'-. Price, f[), MASON. STRUTHERS, and C©*^