FARMERS’ UNION

Evening Star, Issue 21254, 8 November 1932, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION

FUNCTION AT PALMERSTON A combined meeting of the Palmerston men’s and women’s divisions of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held in the Palmerston Hall on Friday evening, when Air Craig presided over an attendance of about sixty members. The principal speaker of the evening, Dr A. M. Begg, of Otago University, who has been engaged in cancer research work for some time, gave an interesting and instructive address on the work which has been done by the principal scientists in England, Germany, and elsewhere, and the lines along which research is being conducted at the present tune. After explaining the action of cancer on the cells of the body Dr Begg, with the limited time at his disposal, concentrated on the bacteriological theory of. the cause of cancer, which, he said, though discounted bv certain scientists, hail never actually been disproved. He traced the history of the study of bacteriology from an old Dutch caretaker whose casual observations led to a closer study by an Italian priest and a famous French chemist—Pasteur —who was the first to discover germs as a cause of disease. The researches of the German doctor Koch, ho said, led to discovery of tubercale bacillus and a proof that it was the cause of consumption. As a direct result of the discoveries cf Pasteur, Lord Lister _ revolutionised the science surgery by introducing the antiseptic treatment of operations. In more recent years Dr Guv, in collaboration with Mr Barnard, had discovered an infecting germ or organism in tumours of fowls, and had proved that while tumours of other animals were not infectious, there was a similar ■ germ present which presumably acted"only on tissues subject to chronic irritation. This theory had so far not been disproved, but scientists throuahont the world wore working on tho problem from different angles and no scientist could yet soy definitely Twiat was tho cause of cancer. _ Mr A. C. Cameron, provincial secretary of the Otago Fanners’ Union, spoke on the problems confronting tho farmer at the present time. In order first to place the present problem of depression and low prices in its proper perspective, ho reviewed briefly the world situation and the means being taken to adjust world depression internationally and then dealt more particularly with tho specific problems confronting the New Zealand fannei and stressed the necessity for combined action to secure lower costs, not only in interest, but also in the subsidiary costs of farming, freight, wan-os etc. The sneaker also emphasised the necessity for trade reciprocity with Great Britain in return for concessions granted at Ottawa, specially taking into consideration Die revision of tlm agreements in th-vc vcni-s’ time. Afr Cameron coivlndf' his speech on an ontinnstic note, and said Omt though prices for wool, meat, and dairy produce weye not likely to improve much for a little while, and

would then not roach anywhere near tho high levels of former years, there were definite signs of a trade revival indicating that the corner had been turned. Air A. B. Struthers. of Christchurch, who has just returned from a trip to England, where ho has been investigating the meat and wool markets, gave "a few impresions of his stay in Bradford, of working conditions, cost of living, etc., of the mill operatives, and coucluded his remarks by paying

a tribute to the work of the Overseas League and the Empire Marketing Board in advertising New Zealand produce, particularly throughout Scotland. , , , Mr S. R. Whyte, sales, manager of Producers Ltd., gave a brief review of the benefits derived by the farmers from the work of his firm. The speakers were accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The speeches were interspersed bv vocal and elocutionary items, which were much appreciated*