FARMERS' UNION.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 779, 28 July 1909, Page 8

FARMERS' UNION.

Continued from page 5,

"Is it not therefore our duty to cell the people of the Domiuiou that we are developing tho country at a greater rate than the population can take advantage of? Should members of the House not be urged by the electors to stay their bauds on the demands they make ou tlie public puKe? Surely it is time to cousider all this when the sadden fall in wool aud other New Zealand produce has hail suoh a marked effect, despite all this borrowed money being Bpent for the employment of workers iu the oities. Have uot the cities oveigrwou the needs of the country? 00-OPBRATIYE EXPERIMENTS. It was gratifying to note the advances made in the consideration given to military training. He spoke of the co-operative experiments started by the Government. He still hoped that Mr Aston (chief chemist to the department), who had done a great deal in working out the experi ments, aud who had recently been transferred to another branch, would still be retained iu the Agricultural Department. THE MINISTER OP AGRICULTURE. "The change of personality in the Minister of Agrioulturo, which has taken place since we last met," he oontinned, "has not been, I think, to our disadvantage. We should probably be hotter pleased if the general policy of the Government were based on his views of the land question, aud we may yet see this encompassed. I think, without consideration to party in politics, the farming olasß would wolcome his appointment to that of Lands" THE PAST SEASON. Wheat growers had obtained even prices, and there was a prospect of paying prices for next season. It was disqnieting to think that the accuracy of the expert figures had been challenged. It was important that they should be able to have coniidenoe in the statistics. There was no likelihood of a scaroity of oats this season. He spoke of the need of dairy farmers properly testing and selecting their cows, and concluded:—"Frozen meat has been a great disappointment. This is one of the causes of more wheat growing in the Sooth Island, and it is a disquieting thing that the trade we had specially made our own should have so slumped. The remedy, if there is one, lies in turning out the best artiole aud in combination iu selling.

A SUGGESTION. "The continued low prices have caused a. movement in London amongst; agents and sellers, to hold for better prices. The remedy should begin at this end, aud the market fed according to its requirements, Altogether the season lias been a good one, aud prospects are good as far as can be foreseen. THE FREEHOLD. "If Parliament again refuses to grant the power to the Grown tenant to oonvert his leashold into freehold, there will be a good many political graves to be dug. The question is certain to come up in the coming session in some form or other, and I hope members of the union will, everywhere, see that whon it does so, their members of Parliament receive aotive reminders that they are expocted to keep their pledges. One important lever will assist that we have not previously had, and that is the want of pence which vexes publiomen. Money to purchase more properties is extremely difficult to procure, yet we have millions invested in land which, if this right wero given, would supply all that is required to continue the purchase and partition .of estates suitable for small farm settlement. By refusing tho right of purchase to Grown tenants, the Government is leaving a splendid source from whioli its bugcossors will bo able to supply money, both fnr continuing the land for settlement policy, and for public works.

The sale of the land to Grown touants would probably bring in a sufficient sum of money to open up and tcUle the balance of our Urowu lands. It is extiaordinary in this matter how business principles are entirely over-riddon by theory. Wo pile up a debt apon what aro called reproductive works, That is, they meot souip portion of the interest on their cost; for few of the Government investments pay their own interest. We borrow money, buy laud, sell it or loaso it, aud tieat the mouey as income. Were a private individual to do the name he would be iu tho Bankruptcy Court iu a very short while. If our affairs wero couduoted on business principles, there would bo no need to borrow moooy for many a long day, and the increased settlement i'osteied by suoh a polioy would absorb all the unemployed,