FARMERS’ UNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 143, 19 May 1932, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION

MEETING OF DOMINION EXECUTIVE. WELLINGTON, May 19. Several important matters concerning primary producers were under consideration at yesterday’s meeting of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Some of these wore briefly reviwed at the opening session by the president, Mr W. J. Poison, M.P. There were 25 members present. The president referred to tho alterations in the Arbitration Act, the effect of which would be to bring down costs. Parliament had brought down the costs of salaries of Public Servants, and also of interest and rents in conformity with those reductions in order to level the sacrifices made by the whole community. It was a wretched thing to have to broak down conditions, but there was nothing else which could be done if the country was to find the enormous deficit with which it was faced. He thought that as a result of the Ottawa Conference there would be a revival, for already foreign capital wns flowing back to Great Britain ns a result of the restored confidence. It would probably be another year before an appreciable improvement would bo seen in New Zealand. It had beon necessary to shorten sail. “You can’t get more out of a pint pot than a pint,” added the president, who also referred to exchange matters and said inflation would have hit tho workers harder than any other section of the community. Concerning the development of new markets close at hand for New Zealand produce, tho president said that the New Zealand Trades Expansion League had been formed for tho purpose of helping in the movement to establish trade relations with the East, China, South America, and other countries within a reasonable radius. Australia had built up a trade of 19 millions sterling with the East and China, and New Zealand should do something on tho same lines. It was intended to get tho assistance of the Meat Board and the Dairy Board, who would be asked to appoint delegates to the league. The president also spoke of the Meat Export Bill introduced into the House by Mr Lysnar, and which was thrown out. There was one clause which deserved consideration, and that was flip one compelling large overseas companies monopolising freezing works to afford facilities nt reasonable charges to farmers desiring to handle their own stock. Such a clause would give the Meat Board power to say to the companies that they must give certain service to tho farmers on reasonable term. He (Mr Poison) proposed to bring down a short Bill next session embodying that clause. Regarding tho rest of Mr Lysnar’s Bill it probably met the fate it deserved.