Virile Producers’ Organisation

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 108, 8 May 1941, Page 3

Virile Producers’ Organisation

TOSITION OF FARMERS’ UNION TO-DAY ‘‘Under the leadership of Mr. Mulholland I believe that the New Zealand Farmers’ Union is the most active and virile producers’ organisation in New Zealand to-day,” said Mr. D. G. Gordon (Taihape) in his annual report to the Wellington Central Provincial Executive meeting at ,Martou on Monday. Mr. Gordon recalled that the address given by Mr. Mulholland at the interprovincial conference at Wanganui last year on the causes and spirit behind German aggression was, up to that time, an outstanding statement and largely as a result of that statement conference unamimously decided to join with the R.S.A. in demanding conscription and the formation of a war cabinet. To a great extent the agitation was successful although the war cabinet was not what was wanted. The Union was responsible for another public demonstration in the agitation against the Small Farms Amendment Bill and although not successful iu preventing its enactment, the publicity given to its worst features was such that any gross injustice under its powers was not likely to occur. The provincial executive, he said, had continued to function throughout the year and Mr. Lloyd Hammond as group representative, had kept members informed ou all main topics considered by the Do-minion executive of which marketing under war conditions had been paramount. Perhaps the most important local activity has been the appointment of Mr. K. M. Little to negotiate on ally transport questions for our own and surrounding provinces. This had already proved a very wise move and had resulted in more workable agreements and a considerable saving to users of transport. “By far the most important and far reaching threat to our industrial weiboing during the year has been the recent curtailment of shipping which so vitally effects both the meat and dairy farmers and through them the Whole Dominion,” he confined. “Although a measure of relief has been promised during the last few days the position is still serious because unless immediate and active steps are taken to deal with meat that will not 'be shipped a very serious congestion at works is likely next season. Already the Government by restricting the killing of certain classes of meat has failed to redeem its unqualified promise to purchase all moat produced and it cauiiot be too strongly impressed on the Government tliaJt any restriction of killing stock when ready must have serious consequences on farms and lead to loss and restricted production in the future. “One delegate to the Dominion executive mentioned that during the recent period when ewes were not accepted for killing at South Island works a number of white face ewe lambs had been slaughtered. This is just a sample of the repercussions likely to follow in the wake of restricted killings of auy class of meat. It is infinitely better that stock should be processed in works although yielding a smaller return than that they should die through overstocking of farms. The increased summer carrying capacity of many farms as a result of topdressing and more scientific management increases the liability to disaster if stock cannot be handled at works when ready. The present situation offers the Government a unique apportunity to demonstrate the value, or otherwise, of the guaranteed price theories in regard to primary produce, but it cannot be too strongly stressed that even more important than prince is the need to see that neither works or farms become congested with unsaleable meat or stock. “Although, no doubt, the Government is well aware of the situation, the normal output of the canning and boiling down plants in New Zealand is so limited that unless the maximum effort is made to deal with the meat in store and on farms a very serious congestion is certain next season, too much optimism may prove the forerunner of disaster,” ho continued. The cost of processing meat iu New Zealand is a very serious consideration but we farmefs are not responsible for the high costs which in other industries arc being met with subsidies. In our case any loss involved is definitely owing to the war situation and should be borne by the country as a whole rather than by the individual farmer. The Government, by sponsoring, or permitting the drive for increased production, has increased its liabilities, but until that policy is renounced and the necessary time-factor has materialised we are justified in expecting the whole of our produce to. be purchased a t . schedule rates. “It seems to me,” said Mr. Gordon, ‘ ‘ that the time is rapidly approaching when our •Government must implement its policy to the full or bring costs into lino with primary production income. Any attempt to use the primary producers as a buffer for the rest of the community would have immediate and general repercussions. Although wo as farmers are concerned about space and price, and rightly so, I bolieve that in this favoured land we have also a responsibility, exceeding our immediate returns, to produce not only the maximum amount of goods and foodstuffs required for our war effort, but also to see that our farm practice and ecouoiny is such that when peaco comes wo will be able to rapidly produce the maximum amount of foodstuff and goods required by a war devas-ted world. lam sure that if our Government will only take long views of.the situation as it exists to-day and plan accordingly they will have the full help and co-operation of the farming coinnftiuity, not only in any required war effort, but in economic production of increased quantities of goods for the days of peace to which we look forward with faith and confidence,” lie concluded (applause).