FARMERS' INTERESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 14

FARMERS' INTERESTS

CONFERENCE CONCLUDED SOUTH AUCKLAND REMITS CURRENCY REFORM QUESTION [from our own correspondent] , HAMILTON, Friday The South Auckland Conference of the Farmers' Union, which opened in Hamilton yesterday, was concluded today. The business at to-day's session was mainly concerned with remits from the various branches. Those carried will l;e referred to the Auckland Provincial Conference at Whangarei next month. A remit from the Te Awamutu branch was passed urging that a reduction bo made in the interest rates charged returned soldiers and Crown settlers. x The desirability of farm hands forming a union was urged by Mr. R. White, of Tahuna. They would bo able to improve their status, he said, and closer co-operation with their employers would be possible. It was decided to request the Auckland executive to consider a scheme whereby farm hands and farmers' sons could be admitted to the union at a reduced fee.

The conference passed a remit that the time had arrived when it was essential that some definite forward move should be made regarding unifying the efforts of those striving for currency reform, and that the executive should be requested to convene a meeting of all organisations interested to plan a Dominion-wide crusade. Another remit carried stated that the conference was of opinion that rates of interest on rural mortgages should be reduced to not more than 3 per cent while the crisis in the primary industries lasted. A remit that the time was overduo for a revaluation of all farm lands consistent with present prices of produco was lost on a show of hands.

Other remits carried were: —"Thpt legislation should be introduced limiting the time that land may be held out of cultivation. After a stated period the Government should take over such neglected lands and dispose of them by ballot or other means.

"That the suggestion that the prerogative of Parliament be usurped by 'Order-in-Council Governments' be opposed as an unwarranted abrogation of the rights of electors." The following were elected delegates to the Auckland Provincial Conference at Whangarei next month: —Messrs. G. T. Crawley, M. E. Marples, F. C. Roberts, A. H. Watkins, A. 0. Haycock and W. B. Cumming. "TIRED OP CONFERENCES" UNION MEMBERS' VIEWS [fbom our own correspondent] HAMILTON', Friday A note of criticism was struck at the South Auckland conference of the Farmers' Union to-day when Mr. J. E. Martin, of Rotorua, said, "I am tired of these conferences. We get the same old remits year after year. The union needs reorganising. When I return home I iutend to form an independent settlers' association in my district. We got more good work done before we joined the Farmers' Union." The chairman, Mr. J. H. Furniss, replied that settlers' associations were only g;ood for building halls and laying out tennis courts. National action was needed. Mr. D. W. Norman: Wo must have .co-operation. The meeting then went on to discuss other subjects. TE AWAMUTU AFFAIRS ELECTION OF OFFICERS [from our own correspondent] TE AWAMUTU, Friday There was a large attendance at the annual meeting of the To Awamutu branch of the yarmers , union, lnc president, Mr. G. T. Crawley, pre-, sided. Among the visitors present were Mr. A. E. Robinson, Auckland provincial secretary and organiser, and Mr. C. J. Pierce, president of the Ohaupo branch. The balance-sheet showed a credit balance of £6 3s 6d. ■ Opportunity was taken by the chair-man-to present the secretary, Mr. W. J. Hodgson, with a memento from the executive in appreciation of his services. The following officers were elected: — President, Mr. G. T. Crawley (Puahue); vice-presidents, Messrs. E. Wilson (Te

Rore) and J. P. Craig (Oliaupo Road); secretary, Mr. W. J. Hodgson; assis-tant-secretary, Mr. C. Flay; treasurer, Mr. A. S. Wyllie; delegates to Waikato sub-provincial, Messrs. Crawley, A. Hanna and Wilson; executive committee, Messrs. W. Taylor (Puahuo), A. Hanna (Te Mawhai), E. Krippner (Te Rore), Bryant (Orakau), J. Millen (Parawera), C. G. Andrews (Ngahape), F. J. Rybnrn (Paterangi), Johnston (Ngaroto), Bethune and Perrott (Pukeatua), J. E. Duncan (Wharepuhunga), Onion (Waikeria), S. H. West (Pokuru). The appointment of a representative on the Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce was left to the executive. The policy of the Auckland executive was unanimously endorsed.