FARMERS’ INTERESTS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8187, 31 July 1912, Page 2

FARMERS’ INTERESTS

SOME PROBLEMS. UNION PRESIDENT REVIEWS THE POSITION. ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENED. The eleventh annual Dominion Conference of the Now Zealand i armors Union opened in Wellington yesterday, hut owing to the absence of all the South Island delegates through a steamer breakdown only formal business was transacted. Those present were:-—Advi-sory committee, Messrs E. Campbell (Wanganui), W. B. Matheson (Ekctaliuna), and H. J, Richards (Levin); treasurer, Mr W. J. Birch (MartonJ; provincial president-8, Messrs Lusk (Auckland), J. E. Lane (Hawke's Bay), J. Tunnichffc (Nelson), A. Mackay (Blenheim), and A. W. Nesbet (Pelorue Sound); delegates. Messrs Colbeck (Auckland). E. Maxwell (Taranaki), S. Chambers (Hawke's Bay), H. A. Kevins. and T. Moss (Wellington), G. Dodson (Nelson), and H. D. Vavasons (Marlborough), A letter was received from the president, Mr J. G. Wilson, stating that through a temporary indisposition (which was not of a serious nature) ho had been forbidden to travel by his doctor, but ho lioped to be present on Wednesday or Thursday. .Mr Wilson mentioned that this was tho first conference at which he had not bevn present Mr B. Campbell (Wanganui) was elected to act as chairman In the interim, and it was decided to send to Mr Wilson a telegram expressing sympathy in Ids indisposition, and great regret at his temporary absence. Copies of the presidential address which was to have been delivered by Mr Wilson having been circulated among delegates, it was decided to tako it as read. PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS MR WILSON’S REVIEW OF THE PAST YEAR. CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE. In Ha prudential address Mr Wilson said that there was much to congratulate farmers and New Zealand on during the twelve months since the last conference. All classes of those who make a living upon the land had prospered. How could it bo else, seeing that prices had been good, though the output had not been equal to last year ? Probably the portion of the industry they were connected with, which affected beneficially the greatest number, was dairying. This portion had been benefited by high prices beyond the wildest dreams of a few years ago. That butter factories should he able to pay out Is and cheese factories Is 3d for but-ter-fat was little short of the miraculous. A few years ago, cows giving small yields on indifferent pastures, and the made article, butter, selling for 4ld at the stores, would not bring in more than .£3 per head per annum, at the outside, including everything —whereas, now there were oows which returned as much as £35 per annum, and last year’s average was probably £8 or £3 for milk alone. Great strides had been made in this industry, particularly by the introduction of the milking machine, which had improved the conditions under which farmers worked. "FISHY" BUTTER. The investigation as to tho - cause of "fishiness," conducted by Mr Reakes and Mr Cuddie, seemed to have found the cause in. a very simple fault, over-acidity of cream. Although they did not claim definitely thatfthis urns tho cause, until further investigation, there was not a doubt that in the case of their experiments over-acidity was the cause. The pasteurising of cream had been found to be adistinct benefit, though, at first, it sometimes had a "cooked" flavour. It was now so much beyond doubt that a'-'better butter could be made by heating the cream and then cooling it, that after this year there would be very few dairy factories that had not installed a pasteuriser for this purpose. Mr Reakes’ figures made it unquestionable that the pasteurising of skim-milk and whey was also a necessity, so as to stamp out tuberculosis in calves and pigs. The development in cheese factories, encouraged by the high prices, had been considerable; lot only in numbers and output, but ilso in advanced treatment. IN A TRANSITION STAGE.

The dairy farmer, however, was in his transition stage. Most of those who had lone well in the business had taken the •artiest opportunity to go out of it. cither sell or lease their farms, or had adopted the share system of dealing with heir land. It was the most wonderful nstance of a successful industry he had i.ny knowledge of. It had been quite n common practice for a company to start a factory, borrowing almost the wholecapital from the bank, and for the farmer to purchase land and pay nothing flown (that was, to lease the farm with a purchasing clause); to borrow money to pay for his cows, or to have them purchased for him and pay interest, and a weekly sum to pay off the cost; and even to get assistance to put up the house and yards, perhaps from the nearest storekeeper. Yet, with all these disadvantages, both companies and suppliers had been able, not only to carry this load, but to prosper under it, and to pay off their debts. It was small wonder that a man with eucb a load to carry would, if the opportunity occurred, sell out for a email profit to another man who was prepared to carry perhaps the additional load. It was not conducive to good farming, but It was human nature. IN A WORSE PLIGHT, If the dairy farmer had mud and mammitis to contend against, the agricultural farmer was in a much worse plight. Although on the -whole he had done fairly well, it was doubtful whether wheat paid him for all his trouble, risk, anxiety and doubt. It was an exhausting crop, suitable only for a limited area of lands and in proximity to a railway in a good cln mate. Nearly all the wheat lands of New Zealand were in Canterbury. The worst blight that growers there complained about was the want of suitable labor at harvest time, and this was certain to limit in coming years the area devoted to this cereal. Generally speaking, however, the agricultural farmer held his own and difl well.

LAMB FATTENING. The season, on tho whole, had not beeg a bad one for lamb fatteners, except that they had not the quantity of lambs to fatten, and they were short by some 400.000 in tho exports of this class of frozen produce. Good lambings generally followed green autumns, so they could fx peot a better lambing this year if there were favourable weather. They.had increased the mutton export by about 400.000 carcases, so that the two equalised w r other, but he was afraid the large bulk of these must be ewt mutton, for wethers were difficult to procure since the lamb trade bad assumed such dimensions. One pleasing feature was that the price had kept up under decidedly adverse circumstances. They would have to wait and see what the result of the accumulation of carcases in store had as soon as ordinary trade had resumed. It was fortunate that prices so far had not receded, and that freezing companies and other purchasers would do well. NEED FOR COMBINED EFFORT. Considerable activity had been displayed both by freezing companies and others

in securing from tho Port of London Authority Ixiiter menus of unloading and Boring frozen produce at the docks. If tho producers could only make a combined effort, there was no reason why they should not bo able to concentrate the whole of the produce in warehouses at tlio docks and distribute it all over Groat Britain with only one handling. London agents were generally content, however, ,to allow things to remain as they were, and tho difficulty of getting all the interests together in tho Dominion was so great that no one had yc-t boon able to accomplish it. It was not too late yet to rnako a beginning, and an active High Commissioner in London might do much in this direction. If oven a beginning were made of cold stores for frozen produce. butter, cheese and fruit, and warehouses for wool on even a small scale, it would servo as a first step. WOOL OF LESS IMPORTANCE. The wool-grower also had fair prospects, but though wool still represented moie than one-third of the total export it was, in the large majority of flocks, of secondary imx»rtance. The total sheep in the Dominion, had increased, and the number of flocks also, showing that they were getting more and more into the hands of farmers who kept a flock of sheep no* bo much for their wool as lor their Lambs. Naturally with the expansion of dairying, which takes the best fattening laud for this purpose, the supply of fat cattle was decreasing. Neither the quality nor the quantity was likely to bo maintained in tho future, and they were not likely to be able to export beef much longer, unless a change in the system of farming took place. EXPORT FIGURES CAUSE CONSTERNATION. "When we turn to our exports wo find to our consternation that they are decreasing," said Mr Wilson, "and this seems attributable" to a less quantity of pioduce, rather than to a fall in price. In 1&10, wo put our house in. order by increasing our output and decreasing our imports, and the largo margin of £5,000,ObO left ua with plenty of money for expansion of trade, if Labor would encourage it. Tho year following, however, our exports fell by three millions, and our imports rose three millions, so we had a small margin. Up to the end of March of this year, our exports had again fallen considerably, but this was some-, what accounted for by the lateness of tho season. On June 30th. the quarter -bowed such an increase over tho same; quarter of the previous year that at that date we had nearly equalled tho total exports of the previous year. There was a distinct feeling three months ago that credit would be curtailed, but this seems, for the present, to have passed. The returns coming in for wool have been somewhat better than was anticipated, and the increase' in exports has renew«l confidence. ... . What does all this point to? Its significance is that it is not governments nor members of Houses of Parliament which can pull a country out of financial stringency, but the fanmere ‘and pasteralists.

A TASK FOR TELE FARMERS. Can, then, the farmers, by their enterprise, foresight and toil, again, by increasing tho output, bring the experts up to the high water mark? I think they can and will. One thing is essential for this, and that is encouragement—not the kind of encouragement which consists in adding fresh burdens for them td bear upon their shoulders, nor that kind which demands taxation of what the townspeople are pleased to call 'unearned increment/ hut of . which I venture the opinion that it is the farmers’ very hard earned ‘increment/ not that which seeks to set one set •of farmers against another, but rather that which will give every farmer security of tenure and security for his earnings: which will say to him 'go on with your work and prosper/ If you are prosperous, the country is the gainer, and the people are employed and prosperous. Some politicians are fond of saying the unimproved value of the land has increased in twenty years from £75.000.00" to £184,000,000, and stating that this is 'unearned' increment. During that time probably 10 millions of acres of new settlement has taken place and in ali probability from 30 to 40 million poundworth of unimproved value bns been created by the settlers, besides tho new townships which have sprung up in that time, and another enormous sum which tho State adds to tho unimproved value at each successive valuation hut which is really value created by the settler himself. Under tho best conditions of mutual goodwill, I see no reason why the farmers should not double our exports." CAPABLE OF EXPANSION. . New Zealand was capable of great expansion in her exports, but it would need united effort. Further lands must lie brought into cultivation. The land at present in use must bo made to put out more and more produce by intelligent farming, aided by - experiment and assisted by science. They must have good labor, for w-hich they could afford no pay good wages. Adi paiticipai ed in the prosperity which must bo tin outcome of such expansion. They could not expect the agitator to look on without piotrst, but they could pass him b,' aiid appeal to the intelligent workmai, to areist in nccoraplishing "this consummation devoutly to be wished for ’’ He iiioue could call a truce. The politician who sought to 1«-Ip and represent the working man could do much if he would oen=e to try and secure votes by raising up animosity. A NECESSARY THING. Cno of the things which was necessary to bring about tins exclusion was a Proper system of education. Slen were slowly learning, with tho assistance of science, truths in connection with tho management and working of land. Much , had already been done, but much more research aud experiment was necessary before the whole truth was known, life in the country under the best system of farming—practice with science—would have many more interests. To ensure this development they must have the best brains, properly trained, they must have confidence in the future, and industrial peace, but if they could accomplish it. all would gain, especially the worker. THE PRICE OF LAND.

The rapid development .of the dairy industry and the continual rise in prices had had a marked effect upon the price qf land suitable for dairying. There had been a boom, which was a state of things not conducive to good farming, under the best conditions. It was inevitable, however, and would continue until prices found ‘ their own _ level, which must be upon the basis of income derived. But if prices fell there would be a very serious time. Therefore, if they were wise they would not base prices of land upon the capitalisation of their utmost income, but leave a very ample margin so that in the event of a setback their income would still be sufficient for their wants, though curtailed. RECLASSIFICATION IN PROGRESS. There had been an adjustment going on in dairying land, and also that suitable for lamb fattening. In fact, they were reclassifying lands according to a new state of' trade. It would easily be seen that during the process ho had been talking about, there was no mention of population affecting prices and output. The human factor did not come in, except the country producer and the distributor, Yet New Zealand had enormously profited by it. The railways had become profitable, the question of unemployment had scarcely been mentioned; in fact, the cry for more labor had been general. Did this not dispose of the cry of "unearned" increment? Did it noif show more and more need of the encouragement of fanners and land owners, rather than the constant threat of increased taxation? SIGNS OF AWAKENING.

In spite of many discouragements in some places, he believed that they stood in a stronger position to-day than they had ever don© before. There were signs

that the farmer was now thinking:, and once they could influence the pressure o: public opinion they had done a great ideal. “We see it," lie said," in the ■increased number of farmers 1 representatives in Parliament. You know that I do not desire to speak of party politics, but to me it was most significant that Mr Mackenzie waa chosen as leader o; the Government in February last in ■preference to Messrs Millar and Laurenson —both leaseholders. He was a pronounced freeholder and has attended most of our conferences, has even spoken on the freehold question under our auspices, and, again, at last election, ho pledged himself to it. He has been defeated in the House and again a Farmers' Union man is in the lead, a pronounced freeholder; one who has pledged limself up to the hilt (and we know aim as a man of his word), and a majority of the House are pledged to the freehold —nay, more, four men have given their support on this very ground, who were not previously Mr Massey s supporters. Is it not fair to assume that our freehold campaign has been successful, although it still requires an Act of Parliament to make it completely so, but this X fully hope will be one, of the first measures passed by the new 1 Parliament.” AN INFLUENCE FOE GOOD. He thought it could be claimed that the Farmers' Union had had some influence for good on public opinion. “Wo have,” he declared, "never wavered from presenting the advantages of the freehold to the individual and to the nation, nor to expose the dangers of Socialism, and other nostrums, which wo_ believe would endanger the body politic. We believe we have done the farmers some good by securing for them educational advantages, which have lightened * their load, and helped to make farming more profitable. We may have failed to do many things, but we have done our beet, and hope that our efforts have been in the interests of the whole community. and that we will at all times deal fairly with all sections of the people, and do our best to live at peace with our fellows, and help towards the general goodwill, which alone can make our islands prosperous." AN ADJOURNMENT.

On the suggestion of the acting chairman, it was decided to postpone consideration of the remits and all other important business, and the conference adjourned until 9.30 this morning.