SOUTHLAND FARMERS' CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 7

SOUTHLAND FARMERS' CONFERENCE.

"PROSPECTS BY NO MEANS GLOOMY." ' IDI imattipii—rntsa A6SOOUTION.I '■•:■■' , ; Inuercarglll, May 28. Tlio eighth annual conferonoo of delegates to the Southland Provincial Conference of tho New Zealand Tanners' Union opened to-day. ....; . .■ ■ , Tho president (Mr. M'Queon), in his opening address, said that the community had been suffering from depression, and farmers had suffered to some extent; ■ He put down tho depreciation in the value of sheop in Nevr Zealand at about 4s. a head,'and,- as there were 20,000,000 sheep in New Zealand, that meant that the stock had depreciated to tho amount of £4,000,000. He considered however, that the depression was only temporary, and had not the least doubt that when, a year or two had elapsed—probably next year—prices would be up to Gomowherb about their proper level. . . . : Speaking of tho causo' of tho depression with special referenco to stock, Mr. M'Queon pointed out that, in tho sheep carrvinc countries/the past year had been a very hno rattening year, all over tho world Tho result was that the-English market had been flooded with mutton; and New Zealand exportors had suffered a littlo by that. Ihere' had also been a depression in wool which,, strango to eay, had recovered. Hβ to tho fact that peoplo oconomisod last; in their food, and wore their clothes a little longer,' but wore forced to .start buying clothing some months later, with tho result that wool wont-up. -V The prospects of farmers, in his opinion wore, by _no .means gloomy.-.: Things tvoultl recover, in a Bhort time,- for the reason that, with a gradual reduction in stools, and tho ordinary increase in pooplo, higher rate of valuos must come about.