FARMING INTERESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19397, 4 August 1926, Page 15

FARMING INTERESTS.

THE DOMINION CONFERENCE. DISCUSSION OF PROBLEMS. KNOWLEDGE AND PRODUCTION. [BV TELEGRAFH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. The Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was opened by the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, to day. Mr. W. J. Poison, president of the union, presided. Mr. Coates said lie hoped the conference would be a success, and that in many of their discussions they would do their utmost to solve some of the problems of the producers. The Government was anxious in every way to assist., It seemed to him that the greater knowledge possessed by the farming community the better it would be for the whole nation. I:i about 30 centres information was given by oflicors of the Department of Agriculture, and those meetings were attended by some 5000 farmers. The department was finding it very difficult to keep pace with the demand for instruction. Referring to the Agricultural College, the Prime Minister said a site had been secured and money would be available, so that the college would be brought up to date. To begin with, the dairy industry would have primary attention. Only by having the highest knowledge, coupled with practical knowledge, was it possible to compete with competitors overseas. The largest proportion of our agricultural production was derived from 17,000,000 acres of grass land, and it was on the permanence and increasing production of herbage turned into butter-fat, wool and meat, that our prosperity mainly depended.

Necessity for Top-dressing. The Government was thoroughly convinced that in extension of pasture topdressing on a far greater scale was a most urgent necessity in Now Zealand farm management. It was essential to secure that extension at the earliest possible moment. The price of fertilisers had been investigated arul important negotiations were being conducted, which it was hoped would appreciably lessen the cost to tho farmer. At present 120,000 tons of phosphate were being used for top-dressing. Tho quantity should be at least four times that. Mr. Coates said during the past season there had been a butter-fat decrease of 5.6 per cent, compared with the previous season. England received two and a-half times as much cheese as in 1913 from Canada. She received in 1925 barely as much as in 1913. Our sheep returns showed a further increase of 200,000, and the wool clip was somewhat affected by unfavourable weather conditions. Prospects for the coming season were generally good. With a fulfilment of more stable market conditions the position was fairly promising. A satisfactory increase of 250,000 carcases of lamb took place last season, but there had been a reduction in beef, pork and eggs. Increased Area in Wheat. The Prime Minister drew attention to the fact that a market was ready for practically unlimited quantities of pork and eggs. It was interesting to note that., an increased acreage had been put down in wheat, and, with anything like a good season, we should have an abundance to see the country through, and possibly some for export. After a reference to the increasing importance of seed production, he went on to say we were rapidly approaching the stage when it became essential that the study of economic conditions as they affected production should be made by a department that had added an economic research branch to its activities.

"Control is one thing—dictation is another," said Mr. Poison, in concluding his presidential address. They had control m the Meat Board—a very good system of control—ana they could have efficient control in the Dairy Control Board. Members of the commission Kvent to a great deal of trouble to get information to assist the farmers of New Zealand. They went abroad independently and travelled thousands of miles, visiting merchants, grocers and people who were handling New Zealand butter. They formed independent opinions, and on reaching London found that they had arrived at an identical opinion. He was anxious to see control a success.

Anxiety of English Merchants. Every merchant who handled New Zealand butter was in a state of anxiety regarding what was going to happen for they had the impression that New Zealand was going | to fix prices. Members of the commission did their utmost to remove that impression. "New Zealand butter is only a small proportion of the amount imported to Britain," said Mr. Poison. "If the merchant fears he is going to be dictated to by ourselves he is going to look for fresh sources of supply, and that is precisely what they are doing." At this stage several delegates questioned the wisdom of dealing with dairy control at that' moment, as there were remits on the order paper dealing with the subject. Mr. H. M. Rushworth, in proposing a vote of thanks to the chairman, also moved that the conference strongly supported the action of the Dairy Control Board, Delegates Support Control.

Another delegate urged that they should be careful not to give away any more information which would provide ammunition with which to fight the Dairy Control Board, The motion of thanks having been carried it was decided to proceed with two remits dealing with dairy control, in view of the fact that it was to be considered in the House of Representatives that evening. The first was an Auckland remit that the conference approves of the Dairy Control Board having full control of all dairy products for export. The other remit was that this conference supports the election nf the Dairy Produce Control Board on the single seat ward system, with voting on the export tonnage basis by dairy company directors. Both were sharply and brieflv discussed. The remits were carried and were forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture.