FARMERS' INTERESTS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 3 October 1927, Page 3

FARMERS' INTERESTS.

MANAWATU EXECUTIVE OF THE UNION. The monthly meeting of the Manawatu provincial executive of the N.Z. Farmer's Union was held in the Band Room, Levin, on Saturday, there being present: Messrs O. P. Lynch (chairman), J. Balsillie, F. Maul, J. A. McLcavey, B. O. Gower, J. T. Kent. TT. McLeavey, H. Denton, T. Clifford, H. Lethbridge, and E. M. Budden (secretary) . A letter was received from the Dominion secretary asking that remits be sent in without delay for discussion at the next meeting of the New Zealand executive of the Union, to be held on October 12th. WHAT IS RECIPROCITY?

As it is the intention of the Dominion executive to place important matters of inter-Empire and Dominion interest before the Right Hon. L. S Amery, Colonial Secretary, when he visits N'jw Zealand next month, the Dominion secretary wrote asking the provincial executive to forward to him as soon as possible any matters it would like presented for discussion. This communication opened up a discussion on the mutual obligations of the Mother Country and the Dominion.

Mr. Kent pointed out that the Army contracts for meat were let in America, and Britain obtained most of its butter from Europe.

Mv. Lethbridge explained that most of the Argentine meat was owned by British capital, and most of that capital was represented in the Home Parliament.

Mr. Maul remarked that the dairy industry in Siberia was started with British capital, which also started the meat industry in the Argentine. Men in high positions did not look kindly on losses of capital invested in foreign countries; so the New Zealand producers were faced with a stiff hurdle. With regard to Army meat contracts, the Chairman stated that the Argentine people under-tendered all the Briish suppliers. Mr Kent, mentioned that Auckland had accepted a British tender in preference to "others for electric light works, and he wanted to know why England could not pursue a similar policy with reference to the colonies, when buying produce. The Chairman stated that Britain was getting actual preference now, but was not reciprocating. IDENTITY OF NEW ZEALAND BUTTEE. Mr. Denton called attention to the practice which was known to exist at Home of selling other butter, as the New Zealand article. The Chairman: They say a fiightful lot of our butter is snapped up for blending purposes, and it is a quick way of clearing the market. In order to sell it as New Zealand butter there would be a certain amount of overhead expense for packing and delivery. There is leas expense this way. We would not envil at it if they would pay us a decent price. Mr. Lethbridge: The whole thing rests in our hands. In a Manchester shop I asked for New Zealand butter, and they laughed and said, 'We could get 50 boxes of it this week, but we should not be able to get it again for 32 months afterwards.' It r-ists with us to find our customers at Home and keep them supplied with a regular consignment. That was what rlie Control Board should have done. Mr. Kent: A:id what the Control Board would have done, only for the Prime Minister.

Mr Lethbridge stated that there was a firm in Wellington acting on this systen-., and handling all the cheese from the Te Horo factory. Mr. Maul said that in the early days the Tcoley Street merchants helped New Zealand remarkably well with finance, and if it were not for- these merchants the Dominion would not have advanced to its present position. No doubt they had made money out of it but in doing so they had put New Zealand on its feet.

On the motion of Mr Maul, seconded by Mr Kent, it was resolved that Mr Poison (Dominion president) and Colonel Pow (Dominion secretary) be asked to place before Mr Amery the provincial executive's views respecting the cJistribtitioiL of dairy produce exports and the placing of Army meat contracts. TARIFF QUESTION REVIEWED. Messrs P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., Christchurch, forwarded a statement showing how the Australian manufacturers, who on account of the tariff had captured the Australian implement market from the importer*, were selling implements to farmers in the Commonwealth at prices much below those which the Americans were charging in New Zealand, where there was practically free trade in this respect, the Australian manufacturers' policy being attributed to increased output. Mr Lethbridge stated that he had brought up this communication at a meeting under the auspices of the Tariff Reform League, and an explanation was giveii by Mr Jenkins from the platform. That gentleman stated that in one year the Victorian Government was trying to encourage the growth of wheat, and when the fight was on the Australian manufacturers did put their machinery on the market cheaper than the imported implements, 'but when the tariff was imposed their prices went up.

The secretary stated that no dates were given in relation to the prices quoted in the circular. The chairman said he presumed that both tables were for 1927. "I know we are long-suffering," he added, "but I don't know how we are going to get over it."

-Mr Lethbridge paid that the Farmers' Union had been battling away at the tariff for a good many years, and the Hon. Downie Stewart had made some effort to meet their wishes. They should express their appreciation and support him, because the Manufacturers' Association was trying to persuade him to increase certain tariffs. The move that had been made in taking the duty off of certain British goods would reduce the cost of living to some extent, and preferer.ee to British goods was the right policy. Mr Lethbridge moved that the executive write to the

Minister expressing appreciation of his efforts in regard to the tariff. The motion was seconded by Mr J. A. McLeavey. "There ace too many farmers with shares in.wool companies and so on," Mr Lethbridge remarked. "They are interested in secondary industries, but are in the Farmers' Union." Mr Maul, referring to the motion, said that if the Dominion executive held a different opinion, then this executive was doing something which it had no right to do. The chairman stated that the only influence brought before the Tariff Commission was brought by the Auckland executive. They gave evidence before the Commission, but whether they were satisfied he did not know. He thought that Mr Lethridge's motion should be made a recommendation to the Dominion executive. As the mover did not agree to this course, an amendment was moved by Mr Kent and seconded by Mr Denton, that it be a recommendation to the Dominion executive to forward a letter of appreciation to, the Minister of Customs. Mr Lethbridge said that this move by the Hon. Stewart was going to stimulate British trade, and if New Zealand could sell its produce in the Old Country it would do more for the Dominion than protective tariffs would. The amendment was carried on the voices GENERAL. The secretary reported that the number of orders collected for (he year, for members' subscriptions, was s!>(>. It was agreed to pay an extra Is (id to tlie branches on each subscription paid up. It was decided that in future the meerings of the executive lie held at 11 a.m. in Levin and 10.30 a.m. in i'almerston North. Owing to the show intervening, the next meeting will be held on November 12th, instead of November sth, the venue being Palme rst on.