Pahiatua Farmers’ Union

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 180, 2 August 1938, Page 2

Pahiatua Farmers’ Union

MR. HUGH MORRISON HONOURED With an outstanding record as president of the Wairarapa executive of the Farmers’ Union, nine years as a Harbour Board representative, the farmers’ representative on the Bureau of Industries and a life member of the Dominion executive of the Farmers* Union, Mr. Hugh Morrison’s public spirited service was recognised on Saturday night when tributes were paid by the local branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union at a smoke concert. Mr. T. F. Anderson, president of the Pahiatua branch, introduced Mr. Morrison and welcomed him to the district. Mr. Morrison, in opening his address, mentioned that he had joined the Farmers* Union 35 years ago. Even in those days party politics were a cause of dissension and the strife between Liberal and Conservative had resulted in the breaking up of the Farmers’ Union. He thought that party politics should be debarred from the union. In reminiscent mood, Mr. Morrison told of the early days of the union. The war, he said, had been responsible for the lack of leaders in the Farmers’ Union. New Zealand exported more per head than any country in the world. This, he said, was the reason why the Dominion had the highest standard of living in the world. Her exports alone enabled her to maintain that standard. The world at present had a war complex. This war complex naturally had repercussions on the export trade and was responsible for ‘ ‘ bumps, slumps and booms.” At present, according to reports from Geneva, a slump was looming as a reaction from armament making. In the next decade, according to these reports, prices would gradually rise, but, with intermittent depressions, so long as there was no war. But at the end of the decade it seemed likely that stability would be reached. Each swing of the pendulum towards low prices and consequent depression during the next 10 years would be smaller at each occasion. Prosperity and stability would be almost certain at the end of that period. Mr. Morrison said that the future of New Zealand lay in the land. No matter what temporary depressions may come along the youth of the country must stick to the land. He felt sure that the market for produce from the land was widening day by day. Speaking of the quota system, Mr, Morrison went on to say that there was very little likelihood of our quotas to Britain being restricted. Restrictions against our exports to Britain had proved to bo damaging not only to British industry but also to the British agricultural community. If butter to Britain was restricted the consumer would not buy British butter, but margarine. Mr. Chamberlain was of opinion that restriction of quotas would rum the Empire. Speaking on the compensated price scheme, Mr. Morrison said that he favoured the principle but was not sure of the method of operation. Farmers were responsible for our prosperity and should have a decent standard of living. In case of a slump the farmer should be compensated against this. The sheepfarmer had been hit by the fall in wool and by-products and loss of sheep. Deterioration in the quality of hill land was a big factor. The sheep farmer was having a ‘ ‘ champagne tax ’ ’ laid on his land where he was only in a position to pay 4 * beer tax. * ’ Second and third-class land, under present high costs and taxation, was being farmed by sheep farmers at a loss. Mr. Morrison concluded by saying that no matter what slumps came along he felt sure that New Zealand would pull through. He had been very pleased to address such a gathering and hoped to be able to do so again.

Before the smoke concert portion of the function the president (Mr. T. F. Anderson) thanked Mr. Morrison for his address and welcomed Messrs. W. J. Thomas, C. T. Richardson and James Watson, who were all connected with the Farmers’ Union in the Wairarapa, and Mr. A. G. Dawson, the Dominion organiser.

The first toast of the evening was that of the Farmers’ Union, proposed by Mr. G. O. C. Oxley. He traced back the union to its inception in 1908 and mentioned the yeoman work which it had -done. Its first secretary was Mr. J. A. Walsh, who is the present secretary. Mr. Oxley contended that though was still room for more.

Responding, the ijresident (Mr. t. F. Anderson) said that this branch was One of the biggest in the Wairarapa. He also complimented Mr. Walsh and ’Mr. JJremner on the work they had done for the union.

Following on, Mr. Bremner, past president, associated himself with MrAnderson’s welcome to Mr. Morrison and his colleagues. The Farmers’ Union, he said, represented the most important industry in this country. The Farmers’ Union got few- bouquets but did .excellent work for the farmer.

Proposing the toast of the young Farmers’ Clubs, Mr. W. J. Thomas referred to the phenomenal growth of this organisation. Young farmers were getting a new line of thought and knowledge in farming methods which would