DAIRY FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 July 1924, Page 11

DAIRY FARMERS’ UNION.

CONFERENCE OPENS. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRES? ASSOCIATIONS PALMERSTON N., July 1. The second annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union opened here this morning, the Dominion president;, Air. C. Parker, presiding. Addressing the delegates, the president said the union could claim to have been responsible for carrying the - referendum regarding the ; Dairy Control. Bill. During the past year the union had done a great deal in establishing the bacon industry, and the union Had made progress _in organisation and the membership had increased in various districts. Efforts were now being made in Taranaki, where organisation work wms being proceed with. He hoped Taranaki would be organised into a separate district. Air. Parker said'they hoped to link up with the union of suppliers, t,o Auckland city. That would greatly strengthen the union. ' Comparing the position of farmers to-day with that before the war, lie said it was very much worse now. The . disabilities' under which they ■were labouring were due to the financial position of the farmers. He did not think farmers were reaping the benefit they should from improving their lands and herds. The reason for the farmers’ position was not, in his opinion, due wholly to high land values, and they should aim at bringing productive value up to capital value. Some scheme must be de.viMl whereby cheaper money could be obtained. Some system also was needed that would distribute taxation among the whole of the population on a more equitable basis than at present. In reference to the moratorium, the Government should find sufficient money to provide for the purpose of lifting'the moratorium. The speech, which took the form of an annual report, was adopted.