SUBURBAN FARMERS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 153, 25 March 1926, Page 8

SUBURBAN FARMERS

ANNUAL DINNER NEARBY FARMERS’ PROBLEMS The annual dinner of the Wellington Dairy Farmers was held last night, when thosejiresent included: The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Prime Minister), the Hon. O. J. Haw ken (Minister oi Agriculture), the Hon. J. A. Young (Minister of Health), Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., Dr. Reakes (Director-General of Agriculture), and Mr. T. Taylor (Combined Buyers). Mr. J. Purchase presided. In responding to the toast, " The Empire,” coupled with the name of the Prime Minister, proposed by the chairman, Mr. J. G. Coates said they must all be proud of the way they could respond to tlie toast. New Zealanders were proud of a race they had all sprung from. Their whole consideration was to make a success of the Dominion and • thus maintain the Empire.. New Zealand' recognised that Great Britain was the heart of the Empire, and it was there they looked for guidance, and the people here recognised that they were heart and soul to the very last ditch with the nation. It was the only logical course they could .follow. The trade of Great Britain was vital to New Zealand. Today one was proud to know that one belonged to a race with a high standard of integrity in connection with their manufactures. They could not do better than follow the great example of pioneers of trade at Home, and see that the Dominion maintained the example thus set them. Great Britain had the highest standard of honour of any country, and gave adopted citizens equal rights;w*ith their own people. If they believed in Empire and the place the Mother Country held in the world, it was their duty to assist her in the hour of need. He understood there was to be. a further visit of Parliamentarians from Great Britain, Canada, and other places to Australia. Whether they were coming to New Zealand or not he could not yet say, but he did think it was wise for them to get a first-hand knowledge of our aspirations and our atmosphere by visiting the different countries within the Empire. After the toast of "The Prime Minister,’’ Mr. Coates thanked the gathering for the heartiness of their reception. Mr. J. Maher proposed, The Government,” coupled with the Hon. 0. J. Hawken’s name. He said he fully realised that the Government had to do 'their dutv to all parts of the community, and he believed they were doing the’-r best to hold the balance evenly between all sections. The farmers had real difficulties in their way, but recognised that theii best method was to frankly put the position before the Ministry. He recognised what the officers of the Agricultural Department did to help the farmers, ana believed that the present Government represented all sections of the community. In response, the Minister or Agriculture said that every Government had its difficulties, but everything it did wrong seemed to be blamed-on tne Minister ’’of Agriculture. His Department was greatly concerned with the dairy i farmers. When the people read Sir Frank Heath’s report they would recognise how important it was to follow his advice. While it was generally thought a Government should not interfere in business, those who talked that way did not know how few of them the Government did not try to help. He believed they could help the. farmer still more than bad been done in the past. He believed New Zealand was an ideal land for the small farmer, and the Government should do what it could to that end If thev could induce those who left the land’to go back on the land and make it more attractive than town hie, a ”reat work would be accomplished. He" had been told that the standard of comfort on • the farms. in Denmark was greater than in New Zealand, notwithstanding the - drawbacks they had to ..contend with. The ideal of the Government was that everybody should own : their own home. It was neither in favour of large holdings nor big men, but wanted wealth distributed right down to ihe poorest grade of the people. Such movements as Socialism could not be stemmed, but must be combated with an alternative. The profits should not be in tne hands of a few, but should go to the producer. .'h hoped that his Department would be able to help the farmer more ana more as time went on. He thought a solution of the difficulty facing the nearby farmers could be found, and lie would do his best before the session to find a remedy for .existing grievances. Mr. E. Lew ar proposed : "1 he Healtn of the Community,” coupled with the name of the Hon. J. A. A oung. In responding, Mr. Young said the whole community had these problems to meet of which 'the farmers had their share. One of his officers had assured him that the milk supply of Wellington was excellent while he was glad to hear from a farmer that night that the dispute whxh had occurred in tins district had spurred them on to produce the best qualitv in milk. Touching on his Department's activities, he -remembered that it had mote to <Jn with the prevention of disease even than in curing it. He believed that there should be greater co-ordination betivecn the Agricultural and the Health Department. He not only believed in producing the best for export, but for home consumption as well. Mr F. Kettlewell proposed: The Member for Otaki,’’ courded with the name of Mr. W. H. Foeld, M.P. Mr. Field, in responding, was greeted with loud applause. He expressed his appreciation of his very pleasant reception and what has been said of his work. He had endeavoured, as his Parliamentary dutv, to get for every man his dues. He believed that If the milk supply question had stopped at the agreement that the City Council was to be the milk vendor m th© city, but the legislation proposed included a clause preventing anyone erecting a dairy factory or a dried milk factory within 30 miles of the city. That clause was struck out, but the legislation left a loophole, under which the council could purchase milk at any price it liked. In 1922 legislation was passed under which a tribunal was set up to fix the price of milk. Then, for one year, there was peace, but the council objected to the arbitration. Legislation was proposed, but was thrown out by the House. From what he knew of the Minister of Agriculture he believed a solution of the trouble would £>e found. The trouble shou d be mended or ended, and personally he thought it should be ended by the abolition of the legislation. He did not believe pasteurised milk was better than pure, fresh milk from the farmer; yet there was enormous expense involved in the system at present adopted, and the consumer bad to pay the cost His idea was that the council should only be the distributors of milk. He was not looking for any further fight tn the matter. but believed the Government ought and could finally settle it. He believed thev were wasting their money in paying high salaries, using expensive machinery and obsolete methods, raising the price of milk unnecessarily, and dobm what they should not all round, Whether he was a member of Parliament or not, he would always be only too glad to give the farmer all the assistance in his power. The toast of " The Primary Producers was proposed by Mr. A. E. Lambert ana responded to by Mr. E. Beavis.