Farmers’ Affairs

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 260, 2 November 1937, Page 2

Farmers’ Affairs

MR. HAMMOND’S SURVEY. Mr. Lloyd Hammond, the group representative of the Dominion Executive of the Farmers' Union, attended the monthly meeting of the Southern Hawke's Bay Provincial Executive, when he gave an interesting resume of matters which had been discussed since he was last in Dannevirke. Tho chairman (Mr. J. W. Murray) extended a cordial welcome to Mr. Hammond. Mr. Hammond, who was received with applause, stated that it was his duty to be present at the meetings of tho Provincial Executive as often as possible. Members of the union were keen and were entitled to know what the Dominion office and executive were doing. He paid particular stress to the reports which were going in the Press and said that definitely all the leading newspapers were concerned in securing the concrete opinion of the body controlling the activities of the major industry in the Dominion —tho farming and producing industry. The Dominion Executive, he said, was doing their utmost to bring about amal- : gamation between the Farmers' Union and the Sheepowners Federation. The Farmers’ Union was recognised as tho only body at the present time working in the interest of the farming community. There was no need for the two bodies. Mr. Hammond spoke of the shearers’ award, stating that there were certainly many unsatisfactory features in it and it had another year to go. All could feel certain that the Farmers' Union could make its weight felt and see that a satisfactory agreement was made in the future. National Health. Another matter that had been engaging the attention of the executive—a matter which would be of extreme importance in the future—was that of a national health insurance scheme. The British Medical Association were rather concerned about the resolution passed at the Dominion Conference in connection with a cpmpul3ory b<*alth insurance scheme. The provincial secretary (Mr. H. S. M. Quigley); It shows the strength of the Farmers' Union. Mr. Lloyd Hammond: Yes, it does. The B.M.A. had asked the Farmers’ Union to meet a committee from their ranks, and a conference between representatives of the B.M.A. and the executive was held. As the outcome a great deal of misunderstanding was cleared up. The B.M.A. were under the impression that the Farmers' Union were trying to socialise the medical profession—■ that was what they thought the Dominion Conference resolution meant. Representatives of the B.M.A. made it quite plain that they were not going to submit to the socialisation of their profession. The conference with the their scheme the executive could not dis-, cuss a national health scheme because no scheme had as yet been submitted by the Government. The Government had set up an investigation committee to go into the matter, but so far as any particular scheme was concerned it had not yet been formulated by the Government. Until the Government had propounded their scheme the exccutiv could not discuss or criticise it, and neither could the B.M.A. The Dominion Conference resolution supported a universal health scheme financed by direct contributions, all moneys collected to be divorced from Government control. Benefits under the universal scheme favoured by the Farmers' Union should be free to all who contributed. He admitted that it would be impossible to formulate a scheme that was going to please everyone. But they as farmers, producers- of the national wealth, were naturally particu larly interested in the financial aspect of any scheme propounded. The committee of the Farmers' Union, however, was watching the position very carefully, and the B.M.A. also were doing likewise and were very anxious to place their point of view before the farmers, through tho respective branches of the Fanners’ Union. The B.M.A. were anxious to co-operate with the Farmers Union in the matter, just as the Farmers' Union was as anxious to co-operate with the B.M.A. It had been said that the Government scheme was to come into operation as from April 1 next, but a well-known authority, Sir Henry Brackenbury, had clearly stated that it would be absolutely impossible to launch such a gigantic scheme by then. It was pointed out by the farmers' representatives at the conference with the B.MA that the present system of hospital taxation was unjust so far as the farming community was concerned. This point was greatly stressed and as the result of the conference the representatives of the B.M.A. had a much better understanding of the position so far as the viewpoint of the Fanners' Union was concerned. Mr. Lloyd Hammond dealt with in committee the position in regard to the B broadcasting stations. Dealing with the suggestion that farmers requiring superphosphates should be able to obtain concessions from the works, Mr. Hammond said that owing to the large number of companies operating it would be impossible to get any concessions that would be of any value. Representations had been made to the Minister in reference to dairy companies handing super being allowed to retain the commission. A good case had been made out, and he hoped theii representations would be successful. A committee of the Farmers' Union

had met a committee of the Sharemilkers' Union in conference, but the conference broke down and no agreement waa reached, the stumbling block being tho compulsory unionism clause, which the sharemilkers insisted upon. Propaganda Work. Mr. Lloyd Hammond mentioned that the Dominion secretary, Mr. O'Shea, had been given wider scope in his activities, which would enable him t<s give more attention to field and propaganda work in connection with policy matters. Mr. O'Shea would be able to get into closer touch with provincial executives and secretaries, and so in this way the work of the union would be developed to a greater degree of efficiency. The executive could formulate a policy, but they must have someone who was in a position to carry it out. It was too much to expect the Dominion president to engage in field work, as Mr. Mulholland was an exceedingly busy man. He was a farmer, like the tho rest of the members, and had to look after his own farm as well as the interests of the Farmers' Union. Assuming that they were 100 per cent, perfect—they were not—unless they carried out thoroughly propaganda work in connection with their organisation, ho did not think that as a union they would be worthwhile. They had to let the farmer know what was being done; if the farmer did not know what was going on then tho union could not get his support. After dealing with policy matters in committee, Mr. Hammond said the executive had asked the Government for their land policy, but so far they had been unable to get the Government to tell them what it was. The union had sent several resolutions to tho Government bearing on laud matters, and if the Government would only say what was their land policy, then tho Farmers’ Union would be able to assist them.; Until the executive know what the Government's land policy was they would not be able to get anywhere. "We have put definite proposals before tho Government and would like to be able to get on with the job," added Mr. Hammond. Stock Embargo. "What is the position in regard to the restrictions on tho importation of stock?" asked Mr. H. T. Ellingham. Mr. Hammond: I understand the Minister himself is not prepared to do anything unless the fanners are prepared to do something—that was to come to some decision one way or another by a fairly substantial majority. Some farmers were asking for a referendum on tho question of the removal of the embargo, but he was of tho opinion that unless the breeders themselves formulated some proposal which would please the rank and file of the farmers, then they would "stay put" and would not be able to get away from the present stalemate, so far as the removal or otherwise of the embargo was concerned. The breeders would certainly have to propound some scheme which would fit tho 4 4 other man." If tho breeders formulated a scheme which would be acceptable to the conference and the farmers generally, then he was sure it would be adopted. Replying to Mr,, Gray, Mr. Hammond said the Dominion Executive had not discussed tho position taken up by the waterside workers in refusing to load Japanese ships with scrap iron, but it had had a wordy warfare with the Minister regarding tho very high cost of working the boats on the Dominion waterfronts. The co-operative system of control was at present being tried, but ho could not say whether it was going to be successful. The acting-chairman (Mr. J. W. Murray) moved a vote of appreciation to Mr. Hammond, which was carried by acclamation.