THE FUTURE?

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 23, 27 July 1920, Page 4

THE FUTURE?

OUTLOOK FOR FARMERS

MARKET POSSIBILITIES

NEED TO PREPARE FOR LOWER

VALUES.

"The position in which the New Zealand farmer finds himself to-day," stated Sir James Wilson, President of the Farmers' Union, in the course of a review of the future, "is that after having been well treated by "the Imperial Government, we have Our stores full of meat and a good deal of last year's wool clip still in the Dominion. And at the beginning of the new season we will still have several million carcases in the freezing chambers, and many bales of wool vet to clear.

"When we are thrown on our own resources, what are we to do?. With a huge debt and the prospect of heavy taxation, everyone knows that the only way to pay our way and prepare for lower values, which everyone expects to be soon upon us, is to increase production; and if everyone would buckle to —and as far as the land and the farmer is concerned this can be done— production could be increased j but the attitude of some of the leaders of Labour is not very encouraging. From recent events, it seems that the brake is put on every industry by the want of coal and the high price of fuel. Some say the whole is planned so that the nnnes will be nationalised. It will be a sorry day for. New Zealand if. thai ever comes about. We have not so much to complain of as far as the farm worker is concerned, but before we can increase output we must have more assistance. I look forward and think that the soldiers who have settled on the land will be of great assistance in swelling the exports, but before we can get ( properly into- our swing we must clear the" decks ready for action and induce the Home authorities to get rid of our present stored meat and wool, How is this to be done? Can Great Britain absorb aill this surplus? No doubt Britain could after a while; but we do not want to wait, if it can be avoided, till this* is doae, or our new season's produce, would be competing against our own produce.

"The most feasible suggestion is to find fresh markets for our new season's products, and give time for absorption. The owner of the produce cannot afford to sell it to countries which cannot pay." The A. and P.. Conference had . discussed a, motion proposing to appoint a commissioner or commissioners to make full inquiries as to the possibilities of trade in wool and meat in America or in other markets. The Board of Agriculture, however,- considered it preferable that the farmers should make the selection themselves and pay for the service, in the same way that the dairy people had done; but thu Board wanted & lead from the conference as to how this would be best done.

"A cornmitee was set up," added the President, "and it was suggested . that some form of sheep tax should be imposed to provide the funds for expenses, and that a committee should be appointed, consisting of two representatives of the Council of Agriculture, two from the Dominion Conference of the Farmers' Union, and two froni the Sheepowners.' Federation, to act with i_ the Board of Agriculture in the--matter-. The Council of Agriculture appointed Sir Walter Buchanan and Mr. I. D. Hall as 1 their representatives, and this Farmers' Union Conference will be asked to appoint two representatives later. As it might ta-ko some time to get the necessary, power for this (and time is .of '■ great consequence, for the new season will bo upon us in about four months), I suggest that we might ask the Government in the meantime to- get Sir Thomas Mackenzie to return to New Zealand through Canadaand the States, and to make inquiries as to the possibilities of trade with these countries. There are many opportunities, we understand, of successful business being opened up, especially in the way of lamb. "If, then, we could dispose of our earlier-killed lamb in America, the old meat would have a better chance of being disposed of in Britain, and we should soon be getting back to normal. It was understood that already two million carcases of lamb had been sold to be delivered in New York, and direct shipments from here had already been made. Sir Thomas has shown commendable activity in dealing with our trade in London, and he would be well up in the tricks of the trade and be able to gauge accurately the possible demand .for our produce there, This would mean that if the shipping continued to be controlled some vessels would require to be diverted from London to some port or ports in America; but as we are told that already there are more vessels available with refrigerated space than there were before the war, the Board of Agriculture has asked that inquiries should be made of the authorities at Home whether, if such 'markete can be secured, vessels could be relied upon to take the produce to its destination.

"Butter and cheese stand well as to shipment. There will be scarcely any in store when the new seaeon opens, and there is such a demand for daily produce in the world that there is no need to fear any delay in shipment. It is meat and wool that ai'e in a somewhat precarious position. It is expected that there will be carcases to the number of about half-a-season's output in store when our new season's killing begins. "There is one matter of importance, in regard to the stock killed after the 31st of July. All stock in store at that date belongs to the Imperial Government, and it is responsible for storage. Every hoof which goes into store.after that date is stored at the expense of the owner, and as it might be six months before shipment is possible, it is going to reduce the net return very considerably. The Board of Agriculture therefore made a recommendation that the Imperial authorities should be asked to allow carcase for carcase to be shipped—if available— of the new season's meat with the stored carcases belonging to the Imperial Government, and further, that / the., meat frozen after 31st July should be considered to be that .of the new season and have priority 6{ shipment. Information in June showed that about a million carcases had yet to reach the works, owing to the lateness of the season and the congestion at the works. Once the old meat is disposed of, there is no fear but that our meat, especially our lamb, will find a ready market at good prices, and that Britain will still bo our principal customer, though with the new line of steamers coming from the States they may take some meat and help to keep down the enormous exchange rate at present ruling."