NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12555, 22 April 1904, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

("? AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL CON-

FERENCE.

The annual conference of delegates representing the various branches of the Formers' Union in the Auckland provincial district

was opened in the Chamber of Commerce Building, i Swanson-street, yesterday morning, under the presidency of Mr. J. G. Rutherford. The delegates and officers present were as follows;— G. J. Garland (treasurer) and E. Hall (secretary), J. Press

(Kawakawa), H. Wakelin (Kamo), J. S. Wilson, S. A. Browne, C. A. Fawcett, and ,1. Whyte (Southern Wairoa), T. C. Sainsbury (Kaiparo Flat*), 11. E. Wily (Maukn). W. Ruthe (Ruthe's Island), W. Ramsbottom (Puma), C. W. Harris (Waiuku), D. J. o'Carroll (Maungakaramea), R. B. Witten (Leigh), J. Mcntgomerie and M. M. Kirkbride, M.H.R. (Mangere), S. Knight, A. Bell, and Germann (Hamilton), J. Forrest (Cambridge), W. N. Sturgess, and J. Gano (Ohruipo). S. Hodge (Papatoetoe), J. Hudson (Dome Valley), L. R. Phillipps and'R. K. Fenton (Helensvillc), W. F. Balham (Rehja), J. A. Burns (Whangarata), F. Dye (Kaukapakapa), F. M. Allen (Papakura Valley), C. Day (Tarnahere), and G. W. Buckeridge (Kawhia). PRESIDENTS ADDRESS. The President, in the course of his remarks, said such a good attendance of delegates from the Auckland branches present proved beyond a doubt the interest that is taken in the business of the union, that it is still alive, and is not in the dying state eome friends were pleased to represent it to be. 'They would all regret that the vicopresident (Mr. Barugh) was unable to be present on account of failing health, and he had been recommended to take a trip to the Old Country. They were all pleased to welcome back the secretary (Mr. Hall), who had returned full of information, especially in regard to the working of, the mutual fire insurance scheme in Canada and the United States, and they hoped at no distant date to get his notes printed in pamphlet form to circulate amongst members. They would all admit, that great advantages were to be derived by the farmers combining for their mutual protection. Several of the Southern branches had formed successful veterinary clubs. If the union's funds in the North would permit much good might bo done by circulating pamphlets dealing with agricultural matters, information with regard to market quotations, and about, openings for establishing fresh markets for farmers' exports. Mr. Kirkbride successfully carried his Mutual Fire Insurance Bill through the House last session, and steps had been taken by the executive to put the matter in form, so as to start an association under the auspices of the union at an early date. Already farmers had derived a decided advantage from the Act being passed, as the insurance companies had already lowered the premium on country buildings 3s per £100, but premiums on suburban residences in such districts as Remuera, Epsom, Mount Eden, etc., had not been reduced. Another important, matter to farmers brought before the House by Mr. Kirkbride was the question of local bodies electing one assessor to represent them at the Assessment Courts. It appeared only fair that the Government should appoint the chairman and one assessor, and the local bodies one. This motion was defeated by only one vote, several Auckland members voting against it. Occasionally it was stated that the Farmers Union is political organisation, and is run in the interest of a party. This was not true, and win evidently stated with the intention of injuring the union. It did not. matter to the union which party was in power as long as farmers' grievances were considered and rectified when a case was pioved. They might reasonably expect that all legislation affecting farming interests should be submitted to the Farmers' Union Executive in the same manner in which labour legislation is submitted to the Trades and Labour Union. They wanted formers' politics, not party politics, and fair piny and no favour. A "great deal of useful work was got through at the last conference, but it appeared to Mr. Rutherford that too often lifter the different questions discussed had been referred to the Minister, as was done at the close of the last conference, the matters had been allowed to rest and no more heard about them. Mr. Rutherford proceeded to refer to the unsatisfactory condition of matters regarding the Orakei cattle landing, and also pointed out that tip to the present little had been done to prevent the introduction of anthrax into the colony. A site had bee-i procured to erect a sterilising plant, but farmers still had to use bonedust at a considerable risk of an outbreak of anthrax. The sterilising plant was still a thing of the future. Another matter of considerable importance to farmers was representation on the Harbour Board, and also on the Chamber of Commerce. farmers had had better times during the last two years, owing to improved price of wool, the extension of dairy factories and freezing works, and the higher prices for gram, The erection of the Waikato Farmers Freezing Works would no doubt greatly assist in regulating prices of fat stock, and prevent the glut of stock in the local markets. The GiSborne farmers had made a great success of their worts, having made a profit of *M t VW in less than two years on a capital of £26,UUU. They all knew what butter and cheese factories had done for the small farmers, and the Government had greatlf assisted the dairying in#ustry, but they had not done this at a loss, because the value of land suitable for dairying had increased m price from 50 to 100 per cent., which meant acomiderable increase in land tax, as well as general prosperity of the whole colony. Mr. Rutherford said he would like to see a move made to have all cows tested, but did not consider it was necessary To ask government assistance for everything the farmer required. This matter, he thought, might very well be taken up locally. In many cases cows were milked that scarcely pant for the trouble expended, .if not at an actual loss. They consumed the same amount of feed as profitable cows, and propagated the same unprofitable class. Such cows shoulc. be fattened t'lid sold for slaughter. llio question of licensing stallions had been raised several times, but he thought a crusade should also be made against worthless bulls. The Government were alive to tins matter, and have sent an order to England for the purchase of several shorthorn bulls of good milking strains. Mr. Rutherford proceeded to refer to the need for technical education for those interested in farming, and concluded with a reference to the question of land tenure. Some members of Parliament, he said, had been stumping the country, with a view of proving to the farmers that if they handed over their freeholds to the tender mercies of the single-taxers thpir troubles would cease, and they could take h easy for tho rest of their days. lhe Single Tax League Would fix matters up to the entire satisfaction of all parties, but it was not to be supposed that the farmer would part with his freehold without a struggle. (A Voice: "We'll fight foi it.") It was the certainty of obtaining a freehold that induced a large rumber of farmers to come to this country, and when it was considered that the farmers exported over threefourths ot the total amount exported last vear, or £11,708,000 out of a total of £15,174,000, besides producing what is consumed by the residents in the colony, they were entitled to have a big say as to whether their tenure was to bo interfered with, lhe land not only paid land tax, but also country and road board rates, hospital and charitable rates, besides a largo share of Custom duties. The farmers in the Auckland province were fortunate in having returned so many members at the last general election who are in favour of the freehold tenure. It had been stated that the Farmers Union weri opposed to leaseholds, but that was not so The union held that selectors should have the right to choose their tenure according to Government regulations, either cash, occupation with right of purchase, or lease in perpetuity, and they further considered the present ballot system was a most unsatisfactory method of allotting the blocks of land that are thrown open. If a person took up land on the occupation with right of purchase stem, his rental was calculated at the rate of 5 per cent, on the upset price, and, of course, he paid land tax. But it he took it up under lease in perpetuity his rental was calculated at 4 per cent, on the upset price, and he was free from land tax. A lease in perpetuity, if there was no revaluation, was superior to a freehold, it the tenure were secure. It has 999 years to run without any increase of rent, and no land tax. People generally scarcely realised what * 999 years' lease really meant. If land had been leased in England for that term at the time William the Conqueror landed there, that lease would still have about 16C years to run. Land in a district he was acquainted with was valued at IU9 per acre, upset price, some 20 years ago, and was taken up at that price. The unimproved value had quite recently been valued at £10 per acre, and now tho land tax would have to be paid on that valuation, unless appealed against; while. a block adjoining it, if held under lease in perpetuity, although of equal value, would be exempt from land lax. The only reason why the single-taxers appeared to approve of the lease in perpetuity was that they intended to have these leases' revalued at regular intervals. A re«4ution was recently proposed at one of the

meetings of the Trades and Labour Council that these leasee should be revalued every five years. The best way out of the diffiGrrirty would bo to let the tenants acquire the freehold on fair and reasonable terms. FINANCE. The balance-sheet, presented by Mr. G. .T. Garland, treasurer, showed the income for the year £161 4s Id and expenditure £143 Us 3d, leaving a credit balance of £2S Is 9d. The main item on the income side was members' fees, £157 17s 7d. The only liability was a sum of £38 18s 9d, due to the Colonial Executive. Mr. Garland reported that since the balance-sheet had been prepared: he had received sufficient money to meet the existing liabilities. At the present time the financial position was stronger than it had ever been since he bad been treasurer. SPEECH BY MR. M. M. KIRKBRIDE. Mr. M. M. Kirkbride. M.H.R., in moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, urged the necessity of increasing the membership fee previously fixed in order to secure funds so as to be in a position to adequately remunerate the secretary of the conference. He referred to the importance of securing representation for farmers on the Harbour Board, and deprecated the dilatory action in regard to the erection of a sterilising plant by the Government. Mr. Kirkbride strongly advocated the teaching of technical agriculture in country schools, and referred to the growing influence the union was wielding in the colony. He affirmed the claim of local bodies to bo given power to elect a representative on the Assessment Court.

The motion adopting the report and bal ance-shoet was carried.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

The following officers were elected for tho ensuing year:—President. Mr. L. R. Phillipps, of Woodhill (president of the Helensville branch); vice-presidents. Messrs. F. Dye (Kaukapakapa) and IL E. Wily (Mauku); auditor, Mr. R. E. Isaacs; Executive Committee, . Messrs. T. C. Saiushury (Kaipara Flats), Scruby (Wade), M. M. Kirkbride (Mangere), Rutherford (Remuera). Wilson (South Wairoa), Montgomerie (Mangere), Sturgesn (Ohaupo). T. Coates (Orak&iJ, Westney (Mungore), Harris (Waiuku), T. W. P. Smith (Kaitaia), Hodge (Papatootoe), and G. Masy (Whangarei).

DELEGATESTpCOLONIAL COX-

FERENOE.

The president (Mr. Phillipns) and the secretary (Mr. Hall) were appointed to represent the district at the Colonial Conference.

MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE.

The question of establishing a mutual fire insurance society in the Auckland province, recommended by the Auckland executive, was brought forward by Mr. K. Hall. He gave th? result of his observations while in Canada and the States recently, and also of interviews with Dr. Hunter (Government Inspector of Mutual Insurance Societies in Canada), who had the oversight of over 80 societies. The executive had, Mr. Hall said, recommended, after carefully considering the matter, that a mutual company be formed, with its headquarters at Auckland, and later bo extended to such centres as Waikato, Whangarei, Taunt Napier, etc. However, the Act provided that before a company can bo started 100 owners of farms or isolated property, who arc prepared to effect insurance to the aggregate amount of £40,000, must sign a declaration that they form such an association. The executive considered that a portion of every risk should be taken by the insurer, and that the fixed payment may be.safely made lower than the charges made by joint stock companies sufficient to meet all expenses and losses. It had been publicly stated, without contradiction, that the fire insurance losses on farmers' property valued at over £4,000,000 had not exceeded £3000 per annum during the last three years, and mutual societies in Canada had been equally as successful. Mr. Kirkbride, M.H.R., moved the adoption of the recommendation. In .urging forward the proposal, the speaker said it being a mutual company the business could be carried on more cheaply than a joint stock concern. It would not be advisable to start operations on too low a premium, but he concurred with Mr. Hall that a sum equivalent to two-thirds the existing premium of joint stork comnnnios would be sufficient.

Mr. Hall said it was intended to restrict tho insurance to two-thirds of the value of the property bein"- covered, and as the farmer would thus be carrying a-third of his own risk ho would tako extreme precautions with his property. The matter of excessive valuation cropped up in the discussion, and it was pointed out that all members, being shareholders, would act in the capacity of a vigilance committee. Mr. Dye stated that it was contemplated Mr. Hall should resign the position of secretary to the Farmers' Union and devote the whole of his time in promoting the scheme, providing the directors, when appointed, approve engaging Mr. Hall's services. Mr. Sturges3 inquired if a risk could he obtained from the proposed company on dairies, creameries, or buildings in which steam chaffcutters, etc., are worked.

Mr. Kirkbride stated that the Act distinctly limited the business of the company to non-hazardous risks, but it would be for the directors to decide what risks should be accepted. Ho further explained, in reply to questions asked, that risks would be accepted on furniture on the same scale as the farmer's house. In regard to farmers who.have obtained a loan under the Advances to Settlers Act, he thought it possible that they may be compelled to insure in the New Zealand office, although he had Hot yet met anyone who has been tied down to a certain company. An amendment in the Act would be required to include occupiers as members. The motion was put to the meeting and unanimously carried. Mr. Hudson (Dome Valley) moved, "That the operations of the mutual insurance company be confined to members of the Auckland Farmers' Union."

An amendment was moved by Mr. Montgomerie (Mangere), "That the" nuestion be deferred for the consideration of the directors elected."

Messrs. Press, Dye, Rutherford, Ramsbottom, Garland, and others supported the motion to confine the company to members of the union.

The amendment was defeated, and the motion, to confine membership to members of the Farmers' Union, was carried.

ORAKEI CATTLE LANDING. Mr.* Witheford (Auckland) moved, " That the Minister for Public Works be requested to authorise the expenditure of the grant voted by Parliament for the formation of the road to the Orakei cattle landing at an early date."

Air. Scruby took exception to the action of the Government in continually withholding Parliamentary grants on different important works, and advocated strong representations be made. Mr. Kirkbride said the Minister for Public Works seemed to try and get out of the expenditure of as many grants as he possibly could. The motion was carried. DAIRY V. MILLED BUTTER. The Southern Wairoa delegates introduced the question erf the low quotation in market reports of first grade butter, made in districts remote from factories, and asked the Conference to recommend the Executive Committee to obtain data from all brandies in the province as early as possible as to the quantity of milled butter produced, with a view to the ultimate object of milling and grading on co-operative or company linos by members of the union making such butter. Tho delegates pointed out that the butter account, no matter how small, was always of importance to the back blocks. The separator butter was equal in quality to tho factory mado, yet it did not fetch within a few pence of the price. It was thought that a. distributing centre, established on co-operative lines, would tend to improve the pries hitherto obtained. Mr. Townsend (Government grader) referred to the difficulties experienced by back blocks settlers in regard to conveying milk or cream to a factory. However, to go in for milling butter was making a retrograde movement, and the farmers could not do better than register as a dairy and transport the manufactured article straight off to tho grader. The prices realised recently for shipments of dairy and milled butter were in favour of tho former, indicating that milling was decreasing in popularity. The dairy butter was more profitable than tho separator butter.

Mr. Kirkbride asked who fixed the market price for first grade butter, and gave it to the local papers for publication. A few storekeepers were responsible for the weekly quotations, and it was not likely that they were going to work against their own interests by fixing too high a price. The? prices quoted were generally below those obtained by farmers who were able to personally attend to the sales.

In the discussion that ensued various delegates dwelt on the inadequate prices paid for produce generally in the local markets, and all agreed thai something should be done. Finally tho proposition was replaced by an amendment that the question be referred to a committee to make inquiries, and confer with Government experts and the union executive, with a view to taking steps to have the evils complained of removed. The amendment was agreed to, and the committee is to be elected at to-day's sitting.

TEACHING AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE.

The delegates of the South Wairoa branch asked the union to strongly urge the teaching of agricultural science as p. chief subject in country schools. Mr. Wilson thought, the

school boys should bo taught practical farming on the plots of ground generally found attached to country, schools, "and the girls should receive teaching in dairying. Mr. Balham (Tokatoka) objected to the proposal, if it was going to interfere with the school syllabus. . Mr. Kirkbride asked the movers of the motion to allow the following to bo substituted ; "That it is the opinion of the union the Government should make more adequate provision for tile teaching of agriculture and agricultural science in country schools." He believed the time would come when teachers would have to be specially trained for rural districts. Mr. Dye pointed out that an endeavour was being made to get the Auckland Education Board to increase the capitation to small schools and districts in order 10 give primary education to children not now receiving it. Mr. Garland remarked on the large expenditure incurred • in providing technical education in the city of Auckland, and expressed the opinion that the children in the country were deserving of more consideration than at present accorded them. Mr. Rutherford advocated that the Auckland Education Board authorities should travel into the back settlements and try to promote suitable technical education. Mr. Kirkhride's suggestion was unanimously agreed to.

PROVINCIAL TRAVELLING OFFICER. The appointment of a provincial travelling officer to keep branches more in touch with one another was recommended by the South Wairoa branch. After a brief discussion further consideration of the proposal was eventually adjourned till to-day.

CONCESSIONS TO FARMERS' UNION

MEMBERS.

Mr. Burns brought forward a suggestion by the Whangarata branch, "That the interests of the farming community should bo advanced by tho formulation of a scheme whereby members of the Farmers' Union can obtain some concessions in purchasing farmers' requisites." Mi. Burns pointed out that with kindred institutions in other districts preference discounts were granted to members of the union by merchants. Ho maintained that the thing could be arranged, and believed that such arrangements had the effect of inducing farmers to join the union. Mi. Dye considered that the branches individually should take the matter in hand, and that the Executive Committee should not appear in such an arrangement. Mr. kirkbride concurred with the opinion of Mr. Dye. The motion was carried. ASSESSMENT COURT. On (he motion of Mr. Wily (Mauku branch) it was decided, "That steps be taken by the Farmers' Union to endeavour to obtain such an alteration of tho Government Valuation of Land Act, 1896, as will provide that one of tho two assessors sitting with the stipendiary magistrate to hear objections to valuations" be appointed by local bodies." PREFERENTIAL TARIFF. It was moved by Mr. Press, on behalf of the Kaitaia branch, "That preference on British goods should be in the form of a reduction of duties, and that the colonial executive be asked to use every means in thenpower to have duties amended accordingly." Mr. Garland and the president strongly supported the proposition, which was opposed by Mr. Browne. The motion was carried. AUCKLAND TO AWANUI. It was decided, on the motion of Mr. Carland, to ask the Government to take over and metal the main North Road from Auckland to Awanui. .

~ LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES. The Kaitaia branch recommended, "That the colonial conference be asked to urge upon the Government the necessity for making a considerable reduction in legislative expenses. . " In what direction is the reduction to be made ?" inquired a delegate. "Why. the Island trips and such like luxuries," replied another delegate. Mr. Garland, in speaking to the motion, said it was time New Zealand followed the example of New South Wales in reducing tho number of members of tho Council and the Assembly. The motion was agreed to. The Conference adjourned till nine clock this morning.