FARMERS’ UNION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 21 May 1936, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION

NELSON PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE j OPENED ~Y auAYOR OF NELSON PRESIDENT’S REVIEW OF PAST YEAR The annual conference of the Nelson Provincial Farmers’ Union was held in the Waimea County Council building to-dav when delegates were present from all the branches. The president, Mr K. J. Ilolyoake, M.l’., who occupied the chair, extended a welcome to the delegates and expressed the hope that the conference would be profitable to themselves, to the branches they represented, and to the Dominion organisation. In addition he welcomed the Mayor of Nelson (Mr G. L. Page) who had been invited to officially open the conference, and Colonel Closey who was at present occupied oil a tour of the district for the purpose of giving lectures to the brandies.

In introducing the Mayor. Mr Holyoake said it was felt that by tiie attendance of the Mayor the bond of friendship between the town and country people would be cemented. The president extended a warm welcome to Mr Page and the delegates endorsed Mr Holyoake’s remarks with applause.

After thanking tiie president for his welcome, Mr Page said lie believed tiie outlook for the farmer to-day was brighter than when he addressed the last Provincial Conference of the Union. Since then there had ueen a change in Government and an effort- was being made to give tiie farmers a more stable return for their produce. W lietlier the Government’s guaranteed price scheme would he successful or not only experience could tell. However, in all events, if the Dominion was to prosper it was necessary to have the closest co-operation between town and country for each depended on the other. At the present time every country was trying to improve its agriculture and so New Zealand would have to concentrate on improving the local market for the consumption of the goods produced in the country, it was his opinion that the only way to increase consumption in New Zealand was to increase tin* population, and it appeared that that would be necessary if the Dominion was to be held against the expansion of other nations. One of tiie chief factors to-day Tn making farming profitable was the reduction of production costs, and at the present time the use of science appeared to offer the greatest help in obtaining that objective. The speaker drew attention to the valuable work being carried out in the interests of the farming community by the Cawthron Institute. In officially opening the conference the Mayor expressed tiie hope that tiie result of their deliberations would be of value to the industry.

A vote of thanks to Mr Page was carried by acclamation. , PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT UNION’S INTEREST IN POLITICS The retiring president, Mr K. J. Ilolyoake, M.P., presented the following annual report:— “It is the custom for retiring presidents to give a summary of the problems confronting the primary producer and to outline any action taken or contemplated by the Union to improve the position of those engaged in primary production, and of the people of this Dominion generally,” said Mr Ilolyoake. “In following this precedent, I intend firstly, to outline the results of the reorganisation of the Farmers’ Union which took effect as from the last annual Dominion Conference. You will remember that the Dominion was divided up into 10 groups. This Province is a constituent part of group 4, which also comprises the Provinces of Golden Bay, Pelorus and Marlborough. This reorganisation led to a considerable reduction in the number of the Dominion executive and I think I can say quite definitely that this has led to more expeditious handling of affairs at headquarters, and naturally to a reduction in the cost of lidding those meetings. “In group 4 the new form of organisation is not yet completed. One group conference—attended by two delegates from each constituent Province—has been held. This meeting approved of the reorganisation proposals and decided that a group conference be field each year. The function and powers of . this conference will be decided at a further meeting to he held within tiie next two weeks. I sincerely hope and fully expect that the results of such conferences will be the more effective weld- ; ing together of Farmers’ Union thought and action in this northern portion of the South Island. If this result is achieved, then it must lead to the ! greater prestige and value of the Farmers’ Union. Our motto must always be, ‘United we stand, divided we , fall.’ i

“One has heard and read a great deal of criticism recently directed against the Farmers’ Union for its action in connection with political matters. The trend of these utterances and newspaper articles has been that the Farmers’ Union should keep out of political matters. Have we then lost sight of the reason for which the Farmers’ Union was set up, and its aims and objects as determined by its annual conferences from year to year? Is it forgotten that in our handbook it is set out that one of ‘The objects of the Union is to keep and maintain a vigilant watch on all legislative measures brought before Parliament and to protest against such measures as are deemed injurious to farmers’ interests’? I believe it is important, however, that we must never allow the Farmers’ Union to become party political. So long as the platform of a political party is in conformity with the platform and objects of the Farmers’ Union then we can give it general support, though always guarding against any sign of merging or losing our identity. If the platform of any political party is inconsistent with that of the Farmers’ Union then the Union must always take such action as it deems best to bring about the modification of such a platform or policy, "This discussion of the farmers’ place in politics has arisen very naturally through the change of Government made in this Dominion as the result of the General Election held last year. With the advent to power of a new

political party our whole outlook is changed. We” must take careful stock of our position and must give the most minute consideration to any proposals affecting the welfare of those engaged in the primary industries and of the people generally. “The Dominion executive took an early opportunity of placing a statement before the- new Government showing the position and general outlook of the farmer. This received full publicity in the main press of New Zealand it was published in full in our local press so there is no need for me to elaborate upon it here. Suffice it to say that no favours were asked. The basis of the statement was that we merely asked ‘the social justice of being able to obtain the exchange value of our produce in goods, as expressed in New Zealand currency,’ and again, ‘that we claim that the true reward of the exporter should be commensurate with the value of the wealth lie has procured for the Dominion in foreign trade.’ Surely the justice of these claims cannot be refuted, and it can he easily proven that we are not receiving that to-day.

“When presenting this statement the Dominion executive offered the new Government every assistance in coming to decisions oil questions regarding the welfare of the farmers of New Zealand. Later the Farmers’ Union was invited to confer with the Minister of Ealiour, who" was anxious to bring in ail award or agreement governing the wages and working conditions of farm employees. This question was discussed by all Provincial executives and later, as the result of a conference between a committee set up by the Farmers 5 Union and the Minister and his Departmental heads, an agreement was come to so far as the dairying industry is concerned. It is understood that the Minister intends to introduce legislation ratifying this agreement, blit whether this legislation will override the possibility of farm labour coming under the provisions of the Arbitration Court awards we are not yet aware. “In any ease I do not think that this agreement will have much bearing or influence upon the question as the farmer will, in any case, have to seek labour, the price of which will he influenced very largely by the award rates granted in other industries and also by a much expanded Public Works programme which makes provision for much higher wages and conditions. “It is with all these factors in mind that we must examine the ‘guaranteed price’ schemes. We must endeavour to ensure that whatever price is fixed, provision is made for rising costs and that ‘social justice’ in the terms of the above mentioned statement, is assured to the primary producer. Other questions such as mortgage adjustment, transport, etc., will soon he calling for the consideration of the Union.

“I believe "that there is a great work ahead of the Union. Its policy should be to point out to, and convince the people of this Dominion that owing to our geographical and climatic advantages our destiny lies more along the line of primary production than of establishing such secondary industries as will be unable to withstand the fierce competition of the more highly industrialised countries of the world; countries where the population permits of mass production. \ “At this point of our economic development we cannot afford to make such mistakes or take such steps that future generations of New Zealanders will suffer from and have to retrace. .In spite of the spirit of economic nationalism which pervades the world to-day we must hear in mind that sea freight is lower than land freight and that, because of this, we are not cut off, but rather are joined to the other countries of the world. Furthermore, we must bear in mind that if we aie prepared to buy there will always he a market for our produce. “Consideration of thes,e questions will, I believe, bring to those engaged in primary production a unity of thought and action never experienced or possessed before. We must build our organisation then upon such lines as will enable it to take its rightful place. It has often been said that the farmer is the backbone of the country. I subscribe to this view, not simply because the farmer is the provider of our primary wants, but because I believe that owing to the fact that the exporting primary producer is more directly up against the real problems of the world markets, he is able to gain a wider view and so give wider eonsiderafmn to the solution of the problems confronting this Dominion. “I urge upon farmers a greater,- a wider and more vital interest in the Farmers’ Union and its activities. “During the period under review, the executive lias held eight meetings. In addition to handling many matters of purely local interest, several major matters have been considered and suitable action taken. “Since the appointment of a new secretary to the Dominion executive, a new, and I hope, better, method of handling subscriptions payable by orders has been put into operation, Orders are now to be presented locally. “With the exception of the Tasman branch the Province has been worked by the Dominion organiser. A total of 253 members lias been enrolled, many of these being old members retained. As part of the organiser’s tour was done during March and April, 93 of these orders have not yet been presented, and a fair number of cash subscriptions have yet to be paid to branch secretaries. “Assistance has been given to the establishment of a local branch of- the Rig Marketing Association. In conclusion I wish to thank the press for the publicity given to the deliberations and activities of the Farmers’ Union throughout this Province.”