FARMERS’ UNION

Grey River Argus, 15 June 1933, Page 6

FARMERS’ UNION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE West Coast Province MR L. DITELY ELECTED PRESIDENT. The annual meeting of the West Coast provincial Farmers’ Union was held in the Grey County Chamber* vesterday. and was attended by Messrs A. J. Bradley (Chairman) AV. T. Beg-. W. Clayton (Grey Valley.. 11. G. Carter. W. Fisher, .1. Mulcare (Ngahere). D- Slmnnahan (Greymouth'). E. I . Paine (Cronadun). -I .J. McKay (Hari ITari). L. Ditely (Arahura). and the Seci-etaiy (Mi. F. W. Baillie).. Apologies were received from Messrs W. Norton, J • Ryan. M. Wallace. T. O’Neil and I), J-’llie. Arising out of the minutes of tlie last annual meeting. .Mr Ditely asked whether anything had come ol th'* di* cushion on the question of the high charges for the renewals of native The Chairman said that tin' Now Zealand (Xinfcrencc had moved that t| ie iTiuil from the West Coast Brandi be •'■nt on to the Minister ol Native Affair*, and that had been the last that he had heard of it. No reply h:ol since come to the local branch as far as he knew. Mr Mulcare: At least we should get a reply, even if there is no result. (in the motion of Mr Mulcare. seconded by Mr Shannahan. it was de <ided to write to headquarters requesting information on the matter. :iml pointing out the dissatisfaction that existed through insufficient in* . formation b«‘in4 received from, the I iNicut i vc The Secretary read ctirrt'spomTem’" liiat he had received from the organ" iscr of the Women’s Division of the Farmers' Union, relative to a AVest Coast visit. Ho reported that he had written f<» the various branches, ami bail then acquainted her that, owing to the strong position of the Women s Institute there would be little chance <d the formation of a branch on the West Coast. The Minister of Industries and C »ni mbive replied to the Union’s rc| tcsentations in connection with the dexc'npmenl of trade with the East. He stated that the Government rea Jised the necessity for such action, but it was within the province of the Government to lake the responsibility of marketing there. Rather was it a matter for the various Boards who had boon constituted for the bene lit of the industry. Mr Ditely stated that no one doubt efl that a vast market existed in the East, and yet the years went by. ami the powers that be did nothing. They had a Dairy Control Board, yet for what end. Australia was collaring the trade, as the figures would show. A few years ago a Japanese firm had offered to [ ick up goods and trade them to the, East, but as il did not suit certain interests the offer had been declined. It was all very well to talk about, the coolies in the East, but it must be remembered that there were millions of wealthy people there also. The only market for the New Zealand produce was saturated, and vet the Control Board did nothing The meeting then went into com mi I tec. to discuss the Dairy Control Board, and the election of represen’ 1a fives to that body. Mr AV. Norton was re-appointed ns the Union’s representative on the Greymouth Chamber of Commerce. Arising out of a letter from the (‘ronadun Branch a discussion took pilace on. the marketing of pigs. Mr Fisher said that if one or two trucks of pigs or nrorc than the factories could deal with arrived on the Addington market then the West Coast pigs were sacrificed. as they could not. be taken back once they were put on the rail. He believed that they should get data regarding the direct export of jiorkers from < irevmouth. and moved that the nee* essarv information be requested from the Hamilton Pig Breeder’s Export Association, with the object of starting a concern to relieve the tension on the local market. The motion was seconded by Mr McKay and carried. On the motion of Messis Mulcare and Ditely it was decided that, should the information thus received b° satisfactory, a general meeting be call efl to discuss them. It. was derided that the Secretary obtain information as to the number <*f pigs sent tu outside markets from the AVest Coast, and furnish Huttons Ltd., bacon manufacturers with the in formation, as requested by them. Dominion headquarters advised that the annual Executive meeting would be held on July IE ami the annual general meeting on July 12. PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. The president read the following address. Prices to-day for our primary produce arc such that it is practical! y impossible for farmers Io carry on'and it behoves us to see what can he done to better tile present conditions. Co-operation will go a long .way to help our present, plight. We nave in New Zealand a large numbe 1 of so called corporation factories. 1 say so called because instead of co (derating. these companies compete against each other in both purchasing and selling and therefore lose a great deal of the benefits that they would otherwise derive. What a difference to Denmark where practically the. whole of the factories arc one big corporative concern. Then 1 has boon a big controversy in many parts of the ; country on Town v. Country. This ’ \< very regret able for especially at a time like the present, we should all lull together. The raising of ex" 1 change rate was mainly the cause of . the arguments, and whether it has been as beneficial to the primary pro (hirers as expected is debatable, but J fool that if the Government of New Zealand had at the same time ad

justed the Tariff Rales with the Old Country as agreed upon at the Ottawa Conference, the controversy would not have started, and all in New Zealand would have received benefits. I he Farmers Union have repeatedly urged the ia duct ion of Tariffs as agreed upon at ’Ottawa and brought the matter before the Minister whenever possible. ISo far we. have, found no I resli markets for our dairy i roduce. and Great Britain is being, overloaded with supplies from all butter producing countries. We have made re peated efforts to get the Control Board to open up new markets in th- 1 East where we believe there is a good opi‘ortiinily to develop :i trade, but so far the Board has done n\>» U ing in the mallei'. I nb'ss action is taken immediately io find new niaikets the dairy industry will havu u little chance of recovering from its piostut unsatisfactory state Ln a memorandum published by Hon. G. J. Coates on a quota or a tree .market for our butter, he set* cut (he case as he secs it for ami against the proposals. In il he argues for the quota —(1) The alternati\e is ruin. Not merely a price decline but a <lebacle is the immediate dan ■Jer. This -will enforce h’ s s production quota or no quota. 12) Raising of price levels especially for farm produce. (3) Proposals are in line with the efforts that are being made, the world over to bring order out of chaos. (4) If the bal' ancc of organised control in argriciii' turc and 'other industries is to be restored, this can be brought about, by bringing more organisation into agri (ulture. The quota is in keeping with that requirement (•’)) Qualitative regulation will expire in little over two years’ time. .1 utelligcnY. and reas'in able organisation is therefore necessary of declining to meet (.treat Britain. Mr Coates’ object":;.- Io quota as he sees them ( ' 1 'I he quota will in valve reduction of exports to Great Britain, hence, unless other markets •ire found, restriction on production is threatened. (2) This runs counfei to the whole accepted policy ol New Zealand which rests vn expansion or production from the land. (3) The quota would be difficult to apply; ;t would involve more control ami in terference in private enterprise. (4) Control of exports would lead tu control and forward planning in pro duction. and this would raise novo, and difficult problems. Bii| Mr Coates does not tell ns what will happen to the country if production is limited i.istea«l of developed in the greatest indusli'v in New Zealand. What pos itiou will the country be in il we are. compelled to reduce production. It will cause stagnation to our in dustry. reduce credits to our country and will eventually mean utter ruin. Then Mr Coates does not seem to rea ]ise the difference between quotas on old and fully developed countries, and new and partially developed country. New Zealand is increasing her pro duction every year, and has u,» rival as the world’s dairy farm, ami sure. |y wo are not going fo agree Io strangle our main industry. Foreign ex ports into Great Britain have de creased by 2,550 tons the last two years while Empire countries have, in creased by 5.600 tons mostly New Zealand and Australia. Surely a quota, on the average exports for the last, two years would fie quite iiti fair to New Zealand. There is the

question of surplus butter if exports arc rest rid ml. Our local t-uiisum pt.ioxi is about 25.0(10 tons. If w--have 2< , JHH) tons extra j laced on the local market the position would pro" • luce absolute chaos. not (•■minting 12.(d0 increase annually. It behoves us to do e\eryl hi ng possible to op" poso a qirotu, which will go tar to strangle our main imlnstry ami con" sider what* possibly can be done to relieve the oversupj ly on tin* Loml’.in market. I have tou-n cd mostly on tho dairying imlnstry for J feel that this problem is the most vital question to the community to’day. A motion of thanks lo the pres? dent f-or his address was carried. The balance shed, showing a credit balance of £G4/’J 6. was read ami ado| ted. Some discussion took place on a loan of £.lO from the N.Z. Univ.' to assist flu' local branches. Tl ’ members resented the grant being made in the form of a loan, although the ('hairman assured the>m it had been made with -the understanding that they m'ed not pay back unless they could without difficulty. T’he Secretary was instructed lo v. rite to the New Zealand Union poin‘‘ ing out the attitude of the memberlo the loan, ami suggesting that b-» uimlo a straight out grant ELECTION Oi OFFICERS. The ('ha i rtiiaii, prior to vacatin'-: the (hair. said that he wished t » thank the Secretary ami Treasurer, ami the Ex<‘cutivi‘ for the assis’am'• tlicy had given him durin'2 the year, also the press, ami the Oaunty Couiic'.; ior the use of their rooms for II mootings. lie trusted that tho members would '-live the same support ’ • th,, incoming Chairman as they h - ' • : one t.» him. The nomination of Mr L. Ditely, moved bv Mr Mulcare ami seionded by Mr McKay, was the only one received. for the I'osil.ion .if Chairman, and ho was duly elected. Mr Ditely thanked the memberfor the honour conferred on him. il. said that hp considered the i nt cred s of farmers were of paramount impoi tauce, and he would do his best to further them, '[’here was one or two things that. they should do. Ti. ■ Farmer’s Union was getting a bi’ lax. ami they should put their should ers to the wheel in an endeavour to increase the membership, also tticv sliouhl see that there was some film’* itv reached with resolutions sen| to Wellington. He would like to see au informal gathering of the SecreidTies and Executive members of th branches and thought that such a meeting would be for the general good of the Union. The remainder of the officers were elected as follows: —Vice President: Mr A. J. Bradley; Treasurer: Mr A. McDonnell, (reelected): Auditor: Mr J Mulcare, (re-elected) Committee. Messrs J. Ryan. P. O’Reo - *” 1 E. 1Paine. J. J. McKay, D. Shannuhau XV. Nort’on, T. O’Neil. D. Jellie. AV. Clayton AV., Fisher and 11. G. Carter. Sec ret a ry: M. r l p . AV. Bail lie ( re" elected). Advisory Committee: Messrs \V. Clayton, J. Mulcare. G. Dalziel. H. G. Carter President and VicePresident (re-elected). The sending of the delegate to tho Conference of tin* New Zealand Lnion was the next matter to come under discussion. Mr Carter said that, in accordance with the attitude taken up

bv him on other bodies. h,« was against incuring any expense in sending a ciele-atc to the (.'unfereuce. The ' hairman could attend to (he business and he would go lo the Confer* euce as a member of the National o.vecutive. H ( > was therefore agains. tiip sending of an additional d< egate and would move in thai direction In reply to Mr Mulcare the ('hairman said that they paid naif the ex[»ens(s of the President to the C.»n’ ferem-c. ami the whole of the exl cnses ol an additional delegate. Mr Muh-are seconded Mr Carter’s resolution. He said that he thought that too much had been spent in that direction before. Air Fisher said that he would sup port the motion. He also considered that too much had been spent oxer lh ( . lust, few years. Tb ( > Chairman said that unless they hail something special to press for. he was in favour of cutting out repre senlation altogether this year. Mr .McKay pointed ’out the educative value of th.e Conference. Those who went had a better knowledge of Farmers’ Union affairs, ami were thus able to help their local branches. Ur. Carter’s moti'.ni was carried on 1 ho voices, ami accordingly onl\' the I’resident will attend the Conference this yea** Mr Bradley moved that the Pro \ incial retain 7/G of the lex y this year, and 7/6 be handed back to the b ra aches. Mr Clayton said that he thou'-ht that they, should make a cut in the total levy. The Grey Valley branch had cut it to 15/-, ami were thus cuirying on xxith their present funds. Mr Bradley said that the order system provided that the lex y should be £]. but then' was nothing to pre* xenf the branches foregoing their share. Mr Bradley's ’motion was It xvas decided to protest to head quarters against the delay in receivin'.: the money from the orders. Air Bradley drew attention to the fact that Westland had not been or ganised. It had cost Nelson £5(), am l xvas the Coast going to expend that, or were they going to do their oxx’n organising? He moved that the branches be approached bo do their o-x n organising. Tn reply to Mr Mulcare Mr Brad ley said that they -would get no grants for the organising', and if they got a man thex- xvouhl have to pay |.>r him. His salary would be paid from head quarters, ami part oi his traxdling I expenses, but. the local Union xvould have to pay the rest. Air Mulcare: If we do our organ i«ing and save expense, why don’t, w i» gel some! hi ng ? Air ('layton moved that they ap proach headquarters for a lump sum or £3O for the organising of the Vest Const. This was seconded by hl r Paine. Hr Bradley withdrew his motion, and Ur Clayton's motion was REMITS. The. tfolliowiiitfi r-cmils write dealt with:— The Cronadun Branch (1) —“Tha 1 , a protest again be made to the Gov emment against the inclusion of the {Shareholding danse in the central reserve Bank Act.’’ This remit was formally m*;>ved by Mr Paine ami soc-omled by Mr Carter. Mr Paine said that the Farmers’

I nions throughout New Zealand were ; taking action regarding tho question raised in the remit. It seemed lo be reco_nised that \>nce the Bank wa> instituted the banking interest.xvould gel control of it. ami that would not. be in the iutrre>t> of the farmers. The object Kin was that the . hareimldiiig clause was going to make it a privately oxvned concern. The Government proposed to issue 150.1'U'i £1 shares, xxhich xxould even tuaily fall into the hands of the trail ing banks. He. the speaker, thought that the Bank should be solely a State oxx ned concern. They had had enough of financial power. In his opinion the depression was the result of it. The fumti'.'ii of the Centril the different countries. The Chairman said that he would advise a little caution in the matter until thev knew more about it. Mr r ’arter was in accord xxith the Chairman. He pointed out that even their oxx n (’ouncils xvcrv divided over the question. ■On the remit being put to the mcc’ ing it was lost only Ab’ssrs Paine ami Fisher voting for it. (2) “That the ( ;.,\ernim‘nt he again urged th set up a coin«niission 1 > enquire into the monetary question. . In moving this remit Mr I‘aim’l said that the majority of the local bodies in New Zealaml had asked fo ’ something similar. The present Government had become notorious tor setting up commissions, but had steadfastly refused to set one up lo go into this all important qucstioi). The money power must be taken out of the hands of the few and given f>.» the Govern.ment. Mr Paine then continued with a lengthy quotation of authorities on this question. T’he Chairman said that a similar remit had not onlv been discussed, bu! carried at the last Dominion Confei" The remit was carried. subject to the substitution of (he xvords ‘‘Parlia mentarv Committee’’ for (Jonimission. The Grey A T alley Remits xvere :ts folloxvs: — (1) ‘‘That Dominion Ex" ecutive oppose the restrictions being placed on our butter exports to the United Kingdom, and also urge the Dairy Control Board to develop tra<ic with the East.’’ Mr Bradley, in movin'-!.' the remit said that the first part of it had been covered in his report, ami the sevomi portion had been discussed bet or”. Mr Begg seconded the motion which xx as carried. (2) ‘ ‘ T'hat the (lOvern nienl be urged to cancel regulations proclaiming certain i”.vcrs ami creeks on the West Coast as slud-'e chan Mr Clayton, in moving this remit said that it was fairly xvell’knowii to the people on the Coast that most ot the rivers were sludge channels. Thir’x years ago, when they had been proclaimed as such, there had been very little farming done, and thus the farmers now had this legacy. Noxv the position was totally diilcrent. ami some of the best land xvas in flangeof being flooded. The land on tho West'Coast was now rated as some o’* the best in New Zealand.' and they could not afford to have it covered with tailings. It would not matter il some of the rivers wore blocked, but if would mean with others that thou sands of rounds worth of property would lie destroyed, and they did not want any of the good river fiats ruin

I cd. If the Jami were destroyed tl -’ Imai bodies xvouhl loose revenue The remit xvas seconded by AI» - Be.g, Mi McKay asked whether it was the intention to speciiy certain rivMr Clayton said that he thought that this could not be done by a rommissi'On. They di'S-iiot want to stop harmless gold-.nining. but only on good land. There were cases xvher ‘ slow-flowing rivers had been perman ently affected by tailings being put into them. The Chairman said that personally he would like lo see something so that the Warden could hold up a| plications unie.-> the rivers were approved. Mr Bra.lley said that years ago sma'l coniprnsat ion had been paid for Juda 1 channels. and now there was no further claim. The remit xvas carried. (3> Thai Highway Board pay a subsidy uh ;1 1l county roods other than main oi socondary highxvays. such subsidy t« be assessc-d on amount of motor traf tic using their mails. Air Clayton, in moving this remit said that it was hard tor the loc-a bodies lo get rates them times, am I there were hardly any othor s but m"t'v ■ vehicles using the roads, ami the xvh<*ie of the motor revenue should be spent on the- roads. The subsidy for the . main roads was quite satisfactory, but thev got nothing at all tor thr back block roads Air Carter seconded the motion. He sftid thaf he xvas quite in :i< eor<h‘ with it. The year before last the Government haff given a 124 per cent, rebate off roads, but they had not done so this year, rather ha.l they taken anotlvr 124 per cent, for the ('onsoliffate.l Fund. Air Fisher considered that the users the roads should pay for them Tim of the road tax should lie spent on the roa*l T’he remit was ,- ari !'•<!.