COAST FARMERS’ CONFERENCE AT HOKITIKA

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 June 1946, Page 2

COAST FARMERS’ CONFERENCE AT HOKITIKA

INCREASED MEMBERSHIP MANY CONTENTIOUS REMITS DISCUSSED HOSPITAL RATING PROBLEM [SPECIAL REPORTER] HOKITIKA, May 31. ■. With. approximately 500 members, in 20 branches, the West Coast provincial section of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand is now the largest body of its kind ever established in the district, the membership exceeding the peak reached by the Farmers’ Union. This was reported at the annual conference in Hokitika to-day by the secretary, Mr. J. Mulcare (Ngahere). Thirty-two delegates, representing almost all the branches, from Karamea to Fox Glacier, were present at the conference, Mr H. D. Beckett (Hohonu) presiding. The deliberations occupied almost eight hours. In his annual report Mr Beckett referred to the fact that great steps had been taken since the last conference of the Farmers’ Union and they now had only one body representing farming interests. The greatest difficulty facing the world to-day was the food problem and farmers throughout the world had a serious obligation to mankind, to produce as much food as they could. There were a lot of factors' retarding production but if they did not get food for the world they would get disease and faming, which knew no boundaries. The saving of coupons was a bagatelle—merely a token gesture. What was wanted was much more production. If the Government co-operated, the farmers would co-operate with them in producing more food,. Referring to the 40-hour week', Mr Beckett said it seemed unfortunate that it should have been brought in holus-bolus at present, and it must have a retarding effect. The cost to New Zealand in some respects was going to be very serious. There was a decrease of 25 per cent, in the wheat acreage sown and even last year there had to be big importations of wheat. Another serious factor was the drought in the North Island and. Canterbury, the full effects of which would not be known until this time next year. Mr Beckett added that he wound like to see closer co-operation between the farmers’ federation and other unions because there was no doubt that they did not understand each other’s problems. At present, the farmers had delegates attending the international food conference. They had a heavy responsibility in trying to do away with surpluses in one country and famine in another. If they could create an international food organisation, free from political influence, they would be establishing something which would go further towards making a lasting peace than organisations like UNO. The one hopeful thing for farmers to-day was this international co-operative movement. Costs showed little sign of decreasing and yet prices might fall in the next four or five years. The only hope of farmers catching the difference was co-operation. Referring to hospital rating, Mr Beckett said it. was a big problem. For many years the farmer had been a voice crying in the wilderness but now people were beginning to realise that the farmers were on to something iniquitous. Early in July, the federation’s officers would join with representatives of local bodies in taking the question up with the Prime Minister. Another rating authority farmers would do well to keep an eye on was the catchment board. No doubt they would do a good job but farmers had to see that they did not get to the same state as hospitals to-day. He thought farmers should pay a share of the cost of saving the soil of New Zealand, but the burden should be spread over the whole community. The report was adopted and Mr Beckett was accorded a vote of thanks.

The Weheka branch proposed the following remit: —That the branch emphatically protest against the increased rates due to the increase in hospital expenditure and suggest the Government undertake the maintenance of hospital institutions Mr Sullivan said the whole question of rating was becoming intolerable and local bodies did not seem to have any finance left for their normal functions The remit was carried.

Mr L. H. Currie (Karamea) said differences had arisen, in his branch over' politics being introduced Mr Beckett said it had always been 1 the policy of the Federated Farmers to remain aloof from politics and it was decided to advise Karamea accordingly. The Kokatahi-Koiterangi branch proposed:—That the Government be urged to implement immediately the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee set up to report on the cost of hospital maintenance, namely: That 7d in the £ on the capital value be the maximum leviable .upon any local body for that purpose. Mr Wallace referred to the serious position in -which the Westland County found itself in having only £1374 left for maintenance after paying the hospital levy of £Bl6B. If the committee’s recommendation was given effect to, the levy would be reduced to £2672, or a relief of £5496 for the county. The remit was carried. A remit from the Mokihinui branch on the same subject, suggesting that hospital rating on farm lands should be confined to the house and half an acre only, to put the farmer on the same basis as urban ratepayers, was held over until the result of present representations is known.

District Organisation Considerable discussion took place on the organisation of the province, and the following recommendations were adopted:—(l) That the Dominion office be requested to make-six-monthly remittances of membership fee proportions in order to simplify the issue of the federation’s publication and to prevent loss on its distribution; (2) that the payment of expenses of delegates to the conference and executive meetings be limited to one delegate from each branch, the respective branches to pay the first £2 and the executive the balance, any additional delegates to attend at the branches’ expense; (3) that the financial year for membership end on December 31, and that paid memberships be adjusted accordingly. Officers Elected The election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr W H. Martin

junr. (Westport); vice-president, Mr W. M. Wallace; treasurer, Mr A. McDonnell (re-elected); auditor, Mr H. G. Carter (re-elected); delegate to Dominion conference, Mr W. M. Wallace; . emergency committee, Messrs W. Fisher, W .Clayton, H. G. Carter, president, vice-president and secretary; executive committee, branches to nominate their own delegates. Further remits were dealt with as follows:—

West port: That this branch views with alarm the inroads being made into the funds of the Federated Farmers by sending the farmers’ delegation to England at the expense of the union, this branch being of the opinion that the expenses incurred should be borne by all those who benefit thereby—the Government and people as a whole, and not the farmers only; we ask that steps be taken to have the costs paid by the Government.

Mr-L. Mockett, moving the adoption of ’■ the remit, said it was the opinion of the Westport branch that the whole of New Zealand benefitted from the journeys overseas. In the days when the farmers handled their own produce there, might have been some justification for farmers paying the expenses, but the situation was now different.

Mr M. E. L. Golding (Mokihinui), seconding the remit, said he agreed that such conferences were national matters.

The remit was opposed by Mr Beckett, who said they were endeavouring to set up a food organisation totally independent of the Government and yet the remit proposed asking the Government to pay the expenses. The remit was lost.

Westport: That representations be made to the Government to have water closets installed in all country schools, irrespective of roll numbers. ■—The remit was adopted. Westport: That the minimum roll number to permit the appointment of an assistant to sole-charge schools be reduced from 36 to 26. Mr Mockett said it was an injustice to parents, pupils and the teacher for one Teacher to have charge of over 30 children in all classes. —The remit was adopted. Inangahua: That the Government be asked to reduce the price of .303 ammunition for deer destruction. Mr O’Regan said that with the depletion in the numbers of deer since the skins became valuable deer-stalking was a less profitable pastime and the cost of ammunition had increased 300 per cent, on the pre-war level of 7/6 a 100.—The remit was adopted. Social Security Anomalies Hohonu: That farmers be eligible to draw sick benefits- from social security as other classes of the community. Mr Beckett said there were quite a number of anomalies affecting farmers. They had to prove monetary loss and must put a man on in their place which were often impossible. It simply meant that a farmer could not avail himself of the benefit.

The remit was adopted. Wataroa: That the Public Works Department should have the responsibility of controlling streams for five chains below bridges. Messrs T. Nolan and T. O’Neill, sponsors of the remit, stressed that trouble, was frequently caused by bridge diversions and blockages below bridges, and at the present time the department had no power to carry otu necessary work. —The remit was adopted. A .similar remit from .urging that where, the Public Works Department disclaimed responsibility for erosion following the carrying out of works, farmers should be given recourse to law to obtain redress was also adopted. Wataroa: That lime be carted fiee by New Zealand Road Services tor 100 miles, as on the railways, and Kokatahi, that to enable farmers in areas remote from railways to receive some benefit from the concession granted on the cartage of lime by rail a small levy per ton be charged and utilised to subsidise the cartage of lime by road to such remote areas.% . • Both remits were withdrawn and it was decided to press for implementation of the Lime Commission s report. Wataroa: That conference press for the extension of the CanterburyWest Coast railway to Hari Hari.— Moving the adoption of the remit, Mr Nolan stressed "the productivity of South Westland. It would be an easy I line to put in and he was sure it would be a paying proposition.—± he remit was adopted. Hari Hari: That a qualified veterinary surgeon be appointed for the 'West Coast; and Ngaliere: That m view of the return of some 12 veterinary. surgeon trainees from Australia the Government be asked . to place one on the West Coast during his final training term. Mr W. M. Wallace (Kqkatahi) said he thought the. whole matter hinged on the formation or an association. If one was formed he had no doubt that they v. ould obtain the sei - vices of a veterinary surgeon.. The remits were adopted, with a suggestion that they be placed before the Government at the appropriate tir weheka: That the Government be approached requesting the release Cor import) of English barbed wne because of the inferiority and seal - city of the New Zealand-made product. , , . Mr. Sullivan said the barbed win being received at present was of very poor quality. If New Zealand was going to trade with Britain, barbed wire was one, thing they should get. The remit was adopted. Wataroa: That the Public Works Department be approached regarding the fencing and maintaining 01 approaches to all bridges on the iWain Highways.—The remit was adopted. Weheka: That the attention of the Forestry Department be drawn to me rapid depletion through export from the district of suitable fencing material, (posts and rails) with a resuit that in the near future difficulty win be experienced in procuring it foi local requirements. The remit was supported by Messrs Sullivan and C. Jamieson (Kokatahi) who suggested that areas of. timber adjacent to various areas might be reserved. ' Mr. G. Cook (Arahura) said he thought the day of the silver pine post was gone. With all the alluvial gravel on the West Coast concrete posts would replace them. ' . Mr. A. Richards (Barrytown) said he was afraid the passing of the remit might penalise farmers in areas not so favourably situated. The remit was lost.

Grey Valley: That we support representations to have the power line extended to Ross to supply power to

the farmers’ lime works to enable the new plant now on the job to function, thus helping the company to fill the substantial increase in orders and assist the much-needed increase in production. —The remit was carried, without discussion:

Federation of Labour.

Ngahere: That this branch considers that the Federated Farmers is entitled to representation on the Federation of Labour and urges the provincial executive to further the matter.

Formally moving the remit, Mr. H. G. Carter said he did not think there was any chance of the Farmers’ Federation joining the Federation of'Labour. At the same time, he thought it highly desirable that the two organisations should get together and. hammer out their differences of opinion.

Mr. J. Mulcare junr., said the branch had brought the remit forward to obtain an expression of opinion. It was felt that, as a union, the farmers should not stand aloof from every other union. Mr. Cook: After what the Federation of Labour has brought us to I don’t think we should have anything to do with it.

Mr. Jamieson said he''objected to Mr. Cook’s remark. He did not think that the labour people had got so bad that farmers could not associate with them. He supported the remit. Mr. O’Regan pointed out that cooperation between the two bodies already existed and relations were not as antagonistic as some people were led to believe.

Mr. Wallace said he thought the remit was wrongly worded. He agreed with the speakers who desired greater understanding' between the two bodies.

After further discussion the remit was withdrawn.

Kokatahi: That-in the interest of national health, this union favours the introduction at the earliest date, consistent with the present vital need for maintaining- the present level of production, a system of compulsory universal testing of dairy herds for tuberculosis, the cost to be provided from national funds and full compensation paid on all cattle destroyed. —The remit was carried.

Prices for Products.

Kokatahi - Koiterangi: That as the universal introduction of the 40-hour week has created an enormous disparity between the labour reward of the dairy farm owner and farm labourer as compared with that of other workers this conference pledges its wholehearted support to any efforts that may be made by the executive of the Federated Farmers to induce the Government to - have this disparity allowed for when the new season’s prices for primary products are being determined. Moving the adoption of the remit Mr. Jamieson said it needed little elaboration and was in line with the remit to the recent dairy board conference.

Mr. Beckett said that under the Statutes Amendment Act of last session sharemilkers and farm workers were given the right to state a case before the Arbitration Court and the result had been an increase for them. Surely, then, it was good enough for the farmers to have the opportunity of stating a case to the court for the fixing of the guaranteed price. The remit was adopted. Kokatahi: That this conference of primary producers unanimously favours the proposal that the retail supply of electricity be under the control and administration'of one supply authority throughout the whole district.

Mr. Mockett pointed out that the whole of the Buller district had already made a protest against coming under Greymouth but Mr. Jamieson said it was not intended to include Buller in the remit.

Mr. L. H. Currie (Karamea): We support it. We believe that Westport will never give us power and that Grey will. The remit was carried, with the addition of a clause inviting Buller to participate. Kokatahi: That this conference believing as it does that our moral right to hold and inherit this country is dependent upon utilisation to the maximum degree of its natural resources by a greatly expanded population, urges the Government to carry out a thorough actuarial survey of the Dominion’s resources with the object of determining what population can be actually sustained, having regard to.the maintenance of our standard of living, and having reached a conclusion, institute a definitely constructive policy aimed at expanding our population to the determined figure in the shortest possible time.

Mr. Wallace said the remit was in the nature of a “trial balloon” to see how-the conference felt on immigration. He stressed that New Zealand had little hope of getting relief from the taxation burden until the population was stepped up and also pointed out that all industries were experiencing difficulty in obtaining labour. - The idea was organised, not haphazard, immigration. The remit wa sseconded by Mr, Vallance and carried.

Ngahere: That the Catchment Board be requested' to consider the position of erosion in the Grey Valley, where all main streams are defined as sludge channels with a view to removing the district from the jurisdiction of the Mining Act.—The remit was carried, without discussion. Ngahere: That in view of the serious position in which the farmers find themselves with respect to tyres, practically none now being available for the industry, the conference make representations to thp Government to have the position improved. Mr. Mulcare said farmers had gone' down a step on the priorities list and members of Parliament had gone up a step. ’ | The remit was adopted. West Coast Power.

Ngahere: That the conference urge that a major power scheme be built on the West Coast thus making the Westland-Grey-Buller area independent of East Coast supply. The remit was adopted, several delegates commenting that it seemed absurd to carry power over the alps when there were abundant sources on the West Coast. .

Ngahere: That we ask for an alteration in the composition of the Acclimatisation Society and suggest the council be elected by the people of the rating authorities in the area, with representation given to interested bodies. ■

Mr. Beckett referred to trouble caused by opossums and deer and said the farmer fed and generally kept the “pests” from which the acclimatisation societies derived their revenue. The result was that when someone suggested an open season, the societies objected. It was certainly time the societies were constituted in a different* manner.

Mr. Wallace said any farmer could become a member of an acclimatisa-

tion society and he was sure that any who were interested would be welcomed. The remit suggested the setting up of another costly local body and surely there were enough such bodies.

The remit was lost, on a show of hands.

Karamea: That when the consolidation of schools., is undertaken, all buses should run to the ends of all roads in the area.

The remit was carried, following a short discussion on the disabilities facing country school children. Kokatahi: That the District Traffic Manager of the Railways Depaxment have his attention drawn to the serious bruising of stock that are railed from the West Coast to meat works in Canterbury, due it is contended to careless shunting of stock wagons.— The remit was carried. Mr. G. H. McKenzie, assistant Railways Engineer, Greymouth, waited on the conference and discussed the provision of a leading bank at the Reeftoh station and the maintenance of fences alongside railway lines. He said labour shortages made it impossible for the department to carry out fencing, but it was the department’s policy to supply any farmer who could do the work, with the materials. - Several delegates mentioned small requirements for their districts to Mr. McKenzie and he undertook to investigate them. , A protest was entered by Mr. Cook at the length of the conference, which did not end until 7.15 p.m. He said he felt the' latter remits had not received due consideration and he sug-

gested that in future the conference might extend over two day's. Some discussion took place on his suggestion and another that a remit committee should be appointed to condense the order paper, but no action was taken.