Farmers' Union.

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13523, 6 October 1916, Page 5

Farmers' Union.

EXECUTIVE MEETING. A meeting of the Wellington Provincial Executive of the- Farmers' Union was held yesterday. Present: Messrs T. Moss (chairman), Q. L. Marshall and W. J. Birch (Marton), Ewan Campbell (Wanganui), H. Booth and J. H. Perritt A. Nivins (Masterton), W. B.- Matheson (Eketahuna), E. Law (Shannon), J. Balsillie (P.N.), and Sir James Wilson (Bulls).

A circular letter was received from the secretary of the Initiative and Eeferendum League asking the support of the union. The executive considered the time inopportune for any alteration in the matter of elections. The rrime Miidster wrote forwarding copies of the Parliamentary paper in reference to particulars to the sale and,disposal of meat purchased by the Imperial Government. —The letter was received.

Sir James Wilton referred to the meat supply question and said the farmers in New Zealand were not getting as fair a price as other countries supplying to the Imperial Government.

The following resolution carried at a meeting of sheepowners in Christen urch on Wednesday was brought before the meeting:—"That this representative meeting of North Canterbury sheep farmers, while offering no objection to the commandeering of their meat for the purpose of feeding troops, is firmly convinced that its handling opens the way to enormous profits being mfde by speculators. They feel that while the sale of British and foreign meat is untrammelled, New Zealand farmers' interests are being grossly neglected. They fore recommend, in any new contact with the Imperial Governmeat, an advance of at least Id per lb, being paid &i all meat commandeered for Imperial purposes, and the mode of disposal of surplus meat not required for the troops reorganised in such a way that unless the Imperial Government can assure the producers of the Dominion that it is in a position to exercise control of all imported meat the surplus should be placed on the market in open competition They entreat Mr Massey to use his utmost influence while in England in having this resolution carried into effect." The motion was endorsed with the exception of the portion stating that farmers' interests had been grossly neglected. It waa .decided to ask the Dominion executive to confirm the resolution and to send it to the Premier in London.

The question of shipping freights was also considered and the following resolution was carried: "That thia meeting emphatically protests against the unwarranted rise announced in freights on wool, produce etc. The monopoly in shipping matters is a serious menace to the producer. Although farmers are much against Government interference in commercial matters, if such extortion is maintained producers must either urge the Government to deal with the matter or promote a new shipping company and guarantee to ship their wool, produce etc. only by such company's steamers." A circular was received from the Auckland Provincial Executive of the N.Z. Farmers' Uuion urging that all occupiers of rural national endownment land, should be given the right of acquiring the freehold and that the proceeds be devoted to purchasing city lands to form national endowments. The executive decided to sup* port the motion as far as giving occupiers of rural land the right of acquiring the freehold, but objected to the latter part or" the resolution, pointing out that it was against the Farmers' Union platform in urging the acquire ment of leasehold in the city.

The Minister of Munitions replied tj a resolution passed at the previous meeting protesting against the commandeering of 10 per cent, of the best of New Zealand hides at a price less than that obtainable in the open market. He said that he had eviflence that the tanners had no difficulty in coping with the 10 per cent, of hides retained, in addition to those being tanned for domestic and for military work. All the applications for export of heavy hides required his permission. Ee had no hesitation in assuring the union that it was entirely mistaken in its view that tanners participating in the 10 per cent, of hides retained were exporting a quantity thereof. It was resolved: — That this executive considers that there was never any necessity for the embargo on hides for export which resulted in a serious loss to farmers by reducing the price of cattle, and that it should be in all .fairness removed as early as possible. Moreover that a3 the meeting at which Mr Myers states an arrangement was made as to prices was not a representative one; that if any such meeting is called again, the executive considers that the producer upon whom the loss largely falls, should be properly represented. The matter of stock auctioneer's charges was considered and it was resolved to send out a circular to the branches on the question, with a view to obtaining some reduction, especially on the West Coast. z

The President reported that he had attended a largely representative meeting of farmers held at Masterton to consider shearing- rates. The meeting had been unanimous in adhering to the present award with a bonus of 2s <sd per hundred.