ECONOMY AND ORGANISATION IS WHAT NEW ZEALAND NEEDS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6670, 25 July 1928, Page 8

ECONOMY AND ORGANISATION IS WHAT NEW ZEALAND NEEDS

Farmers Union President Outlines Political Policy Says Will Enormously Assist Country As Whole " That the New Zealand Farmers’ Union should adopt a political policy Was the opinion expressed by Mr. W. J. Poison, in his presidential address to the Dominion conference which opened in Wellington yesterday. He outlined sis planks adopted hy the committee set up to formulate same, and said he considered that their adoption hy the union would enormously assist not only the primary producers hut the community as a whole. “We believe,” he said, “that what New Zealand needs is economy, a tapering down of our borrowing policy. In a word, what is wanted is greater self reliance and more appreciation of the fact that good government is a matter of business, not politics; that we cannot apply the methods of yesterday to to-day; that the world is organising production and indus-. try, and we must also do so; that progress lies along new lines which must be laid on solid foundations; and that efficiency, progress and fraternity are the stepping stones to that high place in prosperity these fortunate islesshould hold.” ' ,

Question of Politics. ‘“lt ia possible that a mistake was made ia deciding many years ago thal the union should take ho part in poli- • tics. If our predecessors had followed the plan adopted by farmers 5 organisations in Australia and Canada, and framed a political constitution ,it may be that similar results would have been obtained, but I for one am by no means, satisfied that the Dominion as a whole ,can be-best served by class legislation from whatever party it emanates. It is desirable that every class shall be represented-in Parliament and that in a country like New Zealand, so largely dependent on primary production, tho farmer should bo largely represented if his interests are not to be v neglected, but that is quite a different thing from government by one class in tho interests of that class which is, to a certain extent tho case ia some nf the States in' Canada. '‘We have seen the disastrous effects of another form of class government nearer homo in Australia. Indeed, wa 'have always opposed*, such a form of government, and if we are consistent Wo cannot endorse it here. It seems to me that instead of attempting to carry on an independent political campaign of our own, we ■ should continue to keep tho interests of the country as a whole in the forefront, while at the same time bringing all the pressure wo are capable of to bear upon Parliament and upon parties in Parliament; to obtain sound legislation tor the benefit of, our industry and the country at largo. This can bo better done by,cooperating with which ever of the existing parties is prepared and best able! to servo our needs and support pur platform. Such a plan has the additional advantage, that it will not increase the electors confusion by : adding another to the parties already,in-the field. In any case I, believe that/in spite oi the differences 'between them, the interests of town arid country in this Dominion arc largely the same. Townsfolk are beginning to realise' that their pros-, perity depends entirely' upon thb "prosperity of the primary industries, and that whatever tends to increase the prosperity of the farmer shows an immediate reaction in increased prosperity, higher wages and less unemployment in the towns. - “During the past year, by means of Well organised meetings in many of the towns - and cities, a great deal has been done to make our fellow citizens under- . stand the problems of the primary producer and appreciate the necessity for . united effort on the part of producer and distributor who, with the worker, contribute .essential,service to the community and the State. I hope that work will bo continued in the future. I atn sure it is a. valuable factor in creating that good understanding which is so much desired. “Your political committee, with these objects in view, has thought it advisable to set out plainly the main planks of our political platform as hammered out at our various conferences during the past years, in order to focus attention upon them, and so that they may bo better understood. State and Finance. “I do not think it will bo necessary to adduce arguments to convince producers that a system which has followed tho largely foreign controlled banking interests in this country to make profits and create reserves such as have been made in New Zealand, while keeping up the interest rate on overdrafts to tho figure we have had to pay, is not in the best interests of tho country. That the State should be associated with such a system is paradoxical when we consider the true function of the State. • “It is questionable if it is the function of the State to associate itself with any privileged section of the community in maintaining any rate of profit which is prejudicially affecting the production, trade and commerce. If it is recognised to bo tho duty of the State to protect the public even to the extent of guaranteeing an institution when the interests of the shareholders are imperilled, conversely, it is surely equally its function to intervene when the operations of the institution unduly oppress the public. Wo do not require a State bank in this country'if the existing banks will continue their useful service to the State at not too great a cost. But it is the duty of tho State which conrols the most important of them to exercise a watchful supervision and not merely maintain an attitude of benignant acquiescence under all circumstances. Co-ordination of the lending and land settlement departments of the State is necessary if wo are to reduce public expenditure and provide sound finance for those who nccd.it. Tho leg-

islation of last session for rural intermediate credit requires'to be purged of the clauses providing' for the 20 per cent, guarantee of stock and station firms to enable individuals to DOrrqw without joining an association and in order that sound co-operative principles witnout which the scheme cannot be a success, shall be firmly established. The l whole' fabric of the rural credit system is based on tho co-operative group. Who is better able to know the suitability of an applicant for such a.loan, his ability as a farmer, his status, tho productivity of his farm, than his neighbours? The Public Debt., “The need for both Government and local body economy is self-evident to all who examine the figures. Both our public debt and ouf taxation are steadily increasing. It is true that nearly half of our public debt is reproductive, but as has been more than once pointed put. It is doubtful if tho figures cOuld be sustained if some of the State soil vices were capitalised at their aetivl burden of public debt'in tho shape of cafeh value to-day. In any case, tho interest payable abroad,* and this includes local body interest payable abroad, plus the cost 'of bur imports, without taking any of the other factors info consideration ,is sufficient to affjet the soundness of our trade position, aW, unless the-strict beonomy wo ask for hero is carried into effect, it will disastrously affect cur future development. “ The incidence of hospital and charitable aid taxation has long been a sera point'with farmers who bear too great a share of tho burden without receiving .an adequate share of the-benefits. The necessity for redirecting .the stream of finance to securities needs no elaboration by me. ' V The Arbitration Act. ’V '' . “The recent Industrial. Conference which spent so much time upon a, discussion , of the Industrial Arbitration, and iponeiliation Act,-while it .did not lead to a settlement, of the ihbst|' ; important question before it—how best ri amend the Act—threw a great deal oi light.on the working of tho whole, system. It is an open secret that the workers 1 representatives themselves were considerably impressed by . the employers 5 proposals, based on what has been called ‘the optional system.'.

‘‘The most remarkable result discernible as the result of the, conference’ from the point of view of the employers was the unanimity, which prevailed among all sections, both primary and secondary,, and tho better and moire friendly relations established with many of'the representatives of labour, which ■will 1 undoubtedly result in tho settlement cf many disputes without tho intervention of any tribunal at all, if only it .can be maintained in the future. The optional system briefly provides that all unions 'of employers or workers must register, and take their dispute to tho Conciliation Council. If it is not settled by that tribunal, then only on the agreement of a substantial majority of the assessors can it proceed to the Arbitration Court. The. Judge of tho Court, may, however, convene a compulsory conference of the parties, if he has reason to fear a strike or a lock-out as the result of failure of the assessors to agree to this course; at this conference, however, he merely possesses the power of a mediator. In exchange-for the loss of compulsion, tho workers'are given the protection of a minimum wago to the lowest paid group of workers in an industry, as well as maximum hours; while unions of which 60 per cent, are wcaen, will still remain within thp pro-* tection of the Court as at present. “Another important point is that the machinery of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act is retained intact. The Court continues to function when disputes aro referred to it by a majority of the Conciliation'-- Council, as it has hitherto done. If the optional system fails, then the arbitration system may continue to operate, and vice versa, if the optional system succeeds, the arbitration system will fade into tho background and ultimately disappear. Tariffs,' *

“The. most important plank of this platform in the eyes of; many producers will be that relating to tariffs upon which many arc unable to compromise, Whdo we arc agreed that there are industries which cannot be established without assistance, and others that can neither be, established nor maintained without substantial help, rve are ■ not agreed as to the form that assistance or help should take, or whether in every case it is desirable to provide assistance at all. The form in which this important plank is set out is designed to provide that the question shall be discussed from the economic and not from fha political standpoint by such an author'.

ity as has been created in Australia, in order that the best interests of tho country may be served, instead of tbc interests of any section however influential, and in .order that these industries which, are natural and essential to the Dominion may receive the assistance to which they are entitled. Land Problems. “What is necessary in New Zealand is not merely more production, but more production |jcr acre, ’fine area of lanu suit a ole for settlement in this Uominfon is unrortunately limited. Much is un settled that can. still be settled, anu will\bc settled-sooner or later, in spite of whatever obstacles uear-signted gov ernments" may interpose. rSut muen more has been settled by the hardship and sweat of men and the hardship ano endurance of women in New Zealand which, through no fault of theirs, -is being allowed to go out of production almost entirely. ■ “It goes without saying that we want closer settlement and more extensive settlement, m tins country, bur more particularly aha urgently we want relief and assistance to those people who are the victims of our deteriorated lands, nny new land settlement policy should Include plans for the rehaoiiitation or our deteriorated lands, a seneme for the cany settlement of our second class lands upon a group system under government supervision, a plan for thecloser settlement of "such estates as will carry more population, a method of providing workers' villages where married men can secure accommodation for theii wives and families, as well as regular work, and, last, but not least, a sound system of farm schools were young men from the towns can receive a reasonable remuneration for their work, learn to become farmers, and ultimately be assisted to take their place on the land Social Problems. “The last plank of this platform deals \jdth social legislation, a subject as important to farmers as to the rest of the community. We want unemployment- dealt with on comjuonsense business linos; we want a system that will investigate and deal with tho causes of unemployment and reduce it to a minimum. Similarly, wc want immigration administered on business principles. When wc can absorb population, lot us bring in all tho immigrants wc can, but when conditions render it impossible to do so without displacing our own workers, then immigration should at once cease. In any case tho whole question, must not be the subject of tho caprice of any party in power, but should be tackled on a sound and scientific plan. ‘ ‘ Finally, every farmer will welcome compulsory insurance. We practically all insure our employees already and a compulsory scheme will entail no hardship and certainly not increase tho cost. Also, if the suggestions of tho Industrial Conference are adopted, it will provide for the rehabilitation of the injured so that they will cease to be a burden on others, or themselves, and be able in very many instances to resume thgir places as workers, producers of wealth, and assets to the community. “There arc many questions also, which other sections of the community may consider important, upon which wc have not touched. It does not follow that we have no opinions upon such questions. While the six planks of the policy adopted by the committee which I have endeavoured to expound to you do not cover all those questions which concern the primary producers, wc have considered it desirable to confine our- ■ selves to the main subjects rather than to let diffusion mean confusion,”