FARMERS’ AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 June 1928, Page 10

FARMERS’ AFFAIRS.

U LSTRICT MEETING AT OTAKEHO.] interesting SUBJECTS DISCUSSED. At a meeting of farmers called by the Otukeho and District Farmers Association last night, members welcomed Mr. E. J. Betts (president of the South Taranaki Executive of the- New Zealand Farmers’ Union), Mr. E. tv. Cameron (provincial secretary), ana Mr. B. Billies (organiser lor the union). , ... „ Mr. K. Burke, who presided, gaw a cordial welcome to the officials of the union, and said they would be very pleased to get an address from Air. Billies on the work he had been doing in the district. He said the farmers in the district had realised they wanted more than they had been getring, and felt they could do more ?ood j >v forming an association of their own. ‘ Mr. .Betts thanked the president lor the- hearty welcome, and said they were more than sorry that the break had happened. He stressed the- need for all farmers to pull together, and recalled that Otakeho had been one ot the- strongest branches of the union and had done excellent work in the past He emphasised that- to get together and to pull together was best for all. Mr. Cameron said it had shown a spirit- of good sport for Otakeho to ask the ofhicals out to a meeting. He appreciated- the fact that there was no “o-rouse” with t-lie provincial executive and that the branch had always been Fair and indeed kind, to himself. He referred briefly to the difficulties against- which -he, in common with (Hakeho. bad had to fight, and’ stressed the fact that South Taranaki, one ■of the- most closely settled districts of the Dominion, was destined to become one- of the strongest sections of the union and that, it was necessary for farmers to come together for the- general good of the union. He showed how local matters were- dealt- with by the branches, provincial questions by the executive, and the most important b>' the Dominion executive. He showed how that executive carefully -scrutinised all proposoed legislation affecting farmers before it became law, and liow farmers, by close union, could help to prevent the drift to the cities. Politicians-, he said, were swayed- by It he voting power of any institution, and if the fanners were one big union or federation they would really carry weight with the ‘"‘powers that- be.” He referred to the Otakeho and Mokoia Settlers’ Associations, and said they existed for certain functions; but that the members were needed in the 11 n ion and could still have their sepaarte entity. He referred to the. appointment of Mr. Gillies, and said ho was -directly under the control of the executive, and added that the cost- per member for organiser was very drastically reduced. He briefly alluded to the savings' that could lie effected to members of the union by concessions given on articles they used 1 , such as horse and cow covers, in which line for different qualities the saving varied from 2s 6d to 6s. He suggested, therefore, that the farmers of the- district .should join up on'e more, but added that the organiser would not think of canvassing in the district until the sanction of members had- been granted, such as had been given at Mokoia. “Your interests,” he said, are the interests of t-lie union, and we want your support, because your help is needed in the common cause throughout the Dominion, and if it is to be effective we must have behind the union the solid weight of the farmers d£-t-he Dominion.”

“Brother cookie's,” said Mr. Gillies, greeting members—“for I have been, like you a working farmer, and am better guiding a plough than making a speech—l wish to give you some idea of the origin and work of the' union, and to show you how you ought to work for the organisation that is looking after your interests'. I want to tell you its origin, what it is and what' it is doing.” He referred back to the early days of the union, when Mr. Glass, of Whangarei, took up the work of organising and of the extension of the union’s interests, which soread gradually hilt surely all over the Dominion. He said' it was good to know that so many men wore able and willing to give their time and their money to further the cause of the union.

Recapitulating some of the savings effected, he mentioned insurance, which, through the work and enterprise of the union, had been reduced no in Ids to 6s 8d and even less, while other risks had been reduced from Ss 8d to os. “You are all,” he added, “getting the benefit of what has been done.” He referred also to compensation for stock slaughtered, Fertilisers’ Act, abolition of sheep, tax, appointment of the union president to the Boa id of Agriculture. The Prime Minister at the last conference, he added, attended and arranged for the various Ministers to attend when .subjects dealing with their departments had been discussed. He had told them too that if they represented 75 per cent, of the farmers, their requests must be seiriously considered. The strike of 1913, too, he added, showed the strength of the farmers and lie stated also that if farmers had stood behind the union solidly they would have got the hank they needed.

Co-operative buying was anot-ei question referred t<> by him and he derailed the enormous amounts secuieu n concessions in the South Island and : t; essed what could be secured here it oilmens would pool their orders, as haci en suggested by a leader in the Federation of Co-operative Societies recently in Haweia. But, he added, these concessions were for members, oi the union alone and lie emphasised teat though it was easy to get . members it was hard to hold them unless they could be shown savings in hard cash. He stressed the need of countering group buying by group selling. He instanced the wheat industry as a case in point where the union had secured a benefit of a sliding scale of prices to prevent clumping from Aus-

tralia, which country at tne time was

landing wheat in New Zealand cheaper than they could sell it in Australia, itself. 'lhey only wished, he said, to stabilise the price at about 5s to 6s. He instanced the enormous discrepancy

between the output of the farms and what the farmer was getting. He concluded by urging the association to carry on in the splendid work set before members but “to come in and help us, because if you can stand behind us we could do so much.” “If you could,” .he added, “see the very impoitant work done by the provincial and Dominion executive, you would would come back at once and join us. ’ Mr Betts emphasised the fact that concessions were coming in from all directions and fanners- here should come in and get some of them. nt reply to a question, Mr Gillies said he did not know that the increase in bank rate had been approved by the

union in the South Island, but that they were all out for an Agricultural Bank. There were, he added, thirtynine farmer members in Parliament, and if the union was strong, it could

get them to promise what was needed. One idea of the union was, he said to force politicians to carry out the wishes of the farmers. In reply to a question regarding wheat, he said it was largely the cost of labour and of supplies that added, so tremendously to the cost of production of wheat. . Jn moving hearty votes or thsiDKS the the chairman said, he was very pleased to see the spirit in which they had spoken. He wished to emphasise the fact that the local fanners did not pull away because they believed the union was wrong, for they considered the principle quite -right, but the union had been lagging behind, tie said lie wished to emphasise the great help given to the branches by Mr Cameron. Tn regal'd to canvassing the district, the union had a perfect right to do so, hut the question rested with the members, and they wbuld discuss the question and decide. . Referring to tho Agricultural iiauk, Mr Burke said the members: had discussed the question years ago and .if they were united they would get the bank they desired. He added that the Binral Credits system was all right but it would not, in his opinion, be able to help the needy men as they deserved. The kindly and cordial welcome was briefly acknowledged by the three visitOTS MEETING OF COMMITTEE. After the general meeting the members discussed ordinary business and the question of the union’s organiser visiting tli€ district. This will be deeided later.-