The Farmer’s Year in Retrospect

Northland Age, Volume 6, Issue 30, 16 April 1937, Page 3

The Farmer’s Year in Retrospect

Address by Farmers’ Union President “The farmers’ position has alteil>d very materially for the better during the past year,” said Mr. J. W. Jones in his annual address to the Bay of Islands Sub-Provincial Farmers’ Union conference at Ohaeawai on Mondal. Woo! Prices “Prices for his produce are better, especially for wool, but I do not clunk that the sensational rise in wool values is built on a sound foundation, and the prices will probably drop when the huge expenditure on armaments is exhausted. Meantime in behoves farmers to use this extra revenue on their farms, to enable them to produce more, at a lower cost. Butter Prices “The guaranteed price for butter, although, in its general effect, has placed the dairy farmer on a better footing than last year, does not take iaco account the raise in costs as do,; the compensating price for which the Union is fighting. The zoning of dairy suppliers would also, if carried out fairly, be an advantage to the industry in the lowering of cartage costs and road wear. The Union Itself During the year under review, continued Mr. Jones, the Union itself had gone from strength to strength. It had increased its membership, there being now 560 financial members in the Bay Sub-Province. He believed that there was a great future before the Union, the farmers all being now willing to join together. -“We in New Zealand have reason to be deeply thankful, when we compare our lot with that of other countries, and we should strive to m ■-.intain our position,” concluded Mr. Jones.