FARMERS MEET

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 March 1930, Page 2

FARMERS MEET

BRITISH, SOUTH AFRICAN, CANADIAN AND NEW ZEALAND

GATHERING AT WELLINGTON

EMPIRE CONFERENCE FAVOURED

(My Telegraph—Press Association)

WELLINGTON, This Day

Representative fanners from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada and New Zealand are meeting in conference at Wellington to-day to discuss common problems. The Dominion president, Mr Poison, presided, and with him on the platform during the preliminary proceedings were Lord Bledisloe, the lion. G. W. Forbes, the Right Hon. J. G. Coates and the Mayor, Mr Troup. Mr Poison extended a welcome to Lord Bledisloe. His he said, was known as one of the Empire's most thoughtful statesman. At the present time New Zealand was suffering from a small depression, but they were satisfied it was a temporary depression. They delieved in their destiny and they would overcome their difficulties. They would receive additional encouragement from the fact that one who was so intimately connected with the major problems of primary producers was living amongst them and would be able to give them his help and counsel. Mr Forbes asked the visitors to givo their candid opinions on what they had seen 1 in New Zealand—what were our faults and what could we do to bring about improvements? Mr Poison moved—" That this conference of farmers from different parts of the British Empire recommends that a convention of farmers representing all parts of the Empire should be held, say once every two years, to discuss the problems of the farming industry throughout the Empire with a view to co-operative action where such a course is possible. - ' Mr Poison said it was not possible for the conference to lay down any definite policy, but what it could do was to create an atmosphere of imperial sentiment. It was untrue that the New Zealand farmer was anxious to get a better price for produce at the expense of the English farmer. The present was an age of combination. They wanted to eliminate waste and to ascertain the demands of customers throughout the world. , . Mr A V. Allen (South Africa), seconding the motion, said if a conference was held the South African Union would do everything possible to make it a success Mr S 1R Whitley (Great Britain) said delegates from the Old Country could not speak for any of their organisations, but generally they were in agreement with the terms of the motion and on return would do everything possible to advance the proposal. The motion was carried unanimously.