FARMERS’ UNION

Evening Star, Issue 22974, 3 June 1938, Page 15

FARMERS’ UNION

ANNUAL OTAGO REPORT The annual report of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, to be presented at the conference on Tuesday, states as follows: — The past year has been one of difficulty in some , respects and of encouragement in others. The sudden collapse of the wool market has had a depressing effect on the outlook in Otago, which depends so largely on the returns from Us wool, and the continued dry weather throughout the summer months culminated in one of the severest droughts the province has known in recent years. The dairy farmers have also had their troubles. These arose from the fixation of the guaranteed price at a level which did not allow of sufficient margin to cover the ever-increasing tide of costs. Mention was made in last year’s report of the renewed interest in Farmers’ Union affairs, and it was predicted that that interest was increasing and would continue to do so owing to the fact that farmers were realising more fully than ever before the necessity of supporting the organisation which safeguarded their welfare and their very existence. This prediction has been amply borne out and is indicated in the large increase in membership. which is now at a level higher than that of many years past. Your executive realises that continued effort in this direction is required, as, although what has been accomplished is most gratifying, the ultimate object of having every farmer in the union is far from being realised. FINANCIAL POSITION

For some years the executive has been concerned over the financial position. which has gradually grown weaker, owing largely to the low membership over the depression years, with a consequent drop in revenue and with a more or less constant rate of expenditure to be faced. The small reserves were gradually exhausted, and it was realised that a special effort was necessary to place the finances on a sound basis if the work was to be carried on efficiently. A committee was set up to go into the position thoroughly, and its recommendations were put into effect, with the result that the funds have benefited considerably.

While this has been a temporary relief, your executive is of opinion that an effort to place the finances on a sound footing should not be lost sight of, and that some permanent method should be devised whereby concern in regard to finance could be entirely eliminated. COMPENSATING PRICE CAMPAIGN This campaign, the objective of which is contained in its slogan, “justice for the farmer; prosperity for all,” has advanced a further stage, and the management is now the concern of a body entirely independent of the Farmers' Union. It was considered that this step was advisable when the sponsors of the movement set out to publish a newspaper of their own and to incur liabilities which your council considered should be the responsibility of those running the compensated price campaign as distinct from the council. It is interesting to note that the National Party has adopted the underlying principles of the compensating price as part of its platform, and recent public statements made by Mr Adam Hamilton indicate that he is

fully alive to all that support to this policy entails. GUARANTEED PRICE FOR DAIRY PRODUCE Protests were made to the Government in regard to the figure at which the guaranteed price was fixed for the current season. The matter was taken up by your executive, and a largelyattended meeting was convened in conjunction with the South Island Dairy Association to discuss the matter fully, and it was clearly demonstrated that the increase in price over that fixed for the previous season did not cover the additional costs which had to be faced. The Dominion Executive also lodged a protest and set up a sub-committee which went exhaustively into costs, and this inquiry again proved that the price did not provide for the known increases in the cost of production. This committee very ably put up the case of the dairy farmer to the Government, which, however, refused to reconsider its decision. GATLINS DISTRICT SURVEY The rapid spread of second growth in the Gatlins district has caused members in that area very real concern, and the executive was asked to take the matter up with the Government. Representations were made to the Department of Agriculture and to the Minister, who, after particulars of the problem had been supplied to him per medium of a questionnaire sent out to farmers affected, agreed to authorise officers of his department to undertake a survey of the whole district. This survey has now been completed, but so far no report has been released and this will not be done until a conference of the various Government departments which may be affected has taken place, when it is hoped that some concrete recommendations may be made.

In explanation, it may be said that the trouble arose in the first place during the depression years when the land-holders were unable to finance the sowing down of the cleared areas, which rapidly reverted to second growth. The trouble became progressively worse until it has assumed proportions beyond the limits of private enterprise to deal with.

MACLENNAN RIVER FLOODING Another matter of interest to the Gatlins district is the recurring floods in the Maclennan River, due in a large measure to the blockage caused by logs and other debris. Your executive took this matter up. with the result that the Public Works Department did part of the work which was considered urgent. There is still another important section to be completed, and, although this has been provided for in the estimates, the actual work has not yet commenced. EXPERIMENTAL FARMS

During the year it became known that it was the intention of the Government to extend its activities in the establishment of experimental farms, and opportunity was taken of a visit to Dunedin by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr W. Lee Martin) to voice the claims of the southern end of the South Island in this respect. The deputation received a most favourable hearing from the Minister, who undertook to set up an Advisory Committee to go into the whole position. This committee was appointed, and is now in operation. The result of its investigations. and its recommendations will be looked forward to with the greatest interest. DISTRICT PIG COUNCIL

At the instigation of the Department of Agriculture, the Farmers’ Union was asked to take the initial steps in the formation of a Pig Council, embracing the Otago and Southland area, on lines similar to councils which were

already operating in the North Island. The inaugural meeting was held in September last, and the preliminary work was immediately put in hand. The objects of the councils are to foster the pig industry, to form pig clubs, and to supply advice and service in every possible direction to pig breeders. The project is financed by the funds collected as a result of the levy of 2d per pig made on all pigs slaughtered in export meat works or registersd abattoirs. The effects of the initial work are now being felt, and every encouragement should be extended to the undertaking, as it will mean eventually a very valuable adjunct to dairy farming and to the exports FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

Fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in England have drawn attention again to this subject. Schemes for the lifting of the embargo on the importation of live stock from England, providing that reasonable safeguards against the introduction of the disease be taken, have been discussed, and, although the majority of veterinary surgeons agree that there is no danger of such introduction through the live animal, there is still considerable opposition to altering the present regulations. The matter has been frequently discussed during the year, but, owing to divergence of opinion. your executive refrained from making any definite recommendations. FACIAL ECZEMA This outbreak in the North Island has also caused alarm, and represen-

tations were made to the Government to prohibit the shipping of stock from the affected area. The Department of Agriculture is fully aware of the causes of the disease, and, from experiments carried out at the Wallaceville Experimental Station over a long period, it is convinced that the disease is- neither infectious nor contagious. Acting under the advice of its experts, the Government therefore replied that it did not consider the suggested restrictions or any alterations to the present regulations were necessary. This considered opinion should allay the fears entertained when the outbreak became known. DROUGHT CONDITIONS Following on an exceptionally hot summer, the weather continued hot' and dry well into the autumn and many districts developed serious drought conditions. This became so acute that it was found imperative, either to move stock or to bring in fodder from more favoured districts to save farmers from ruin. Some assistance was obviously necessary to cope with the unprecedented conditions and urgent representations were made to the Minister. In reply to those, he granted a concession of half railage on stock, and the full railage on fodder into the districts affected, provided that the farmers concerned were not in a position financially to bear the expense themselves, each individual case to be judged on its merits. The concession was not as far-reaching as it appeared, but nevertheless was a welcome relief to those who could take advantage of it, ,

PRIMARY PRODUCERS’ CONFERENCE The conference held in. Sydney in April last was one of the outstanding events of the year, and although na very definite results seem to have been achieved, the fact that a better understanding of each other’s problems will make a vast improvement in the relation between the sister dominions and Great Britain. It is pleasing to note the prominent position taken at the conference by the New Zealand delegation, and the co-operation between the Farmers' Union delegates an those from the Dairy Board. FARMERS’ TOUR A successful tour of Otago was arranged for a party of South Canterbury farmers and their wives by way of a return for the tour through Canterbury made by Otago farmers last year. The tour was an outstanding success and helped further to cement the bonds of friendship between the two provinces. Your executive looks forward to the coming year in anticipation of accomplishing as much as has been done in past years, and with the continued cooperation of branches, this can ba done. It recommends that the effort! to place the council on a sound financial basis shall not be relaxed and leaves this work in the hands of tha new executive with every confidence that the desired result will be brought about in the very near future.