FARMERS’ LUNCHEON

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8482, 17 July 1913, Page 5

FARMERS’ LUNCHEON

PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. A luncheon was held in the Chamber of Commerce during tho mid-day adjournment of the Farmers' Union Conference yesterday, when among thoso present were the Prime Minister (Hon. W. _F. Massey), Hon. J. Allen (Minister of Defence), and Mr F. S. Pope (Secretary for Agriculture). The Hon. H.' D. Bell, Sir Walter Buchanan, Colonel Heard, gnd Hon. W. Fraser (Minister of 'Public Works) apologised for absence.' DEFENCE. MATTERS.

Responding to the toast of "Army and Navy" by Major Lusk), the Hon. J. Allen said ho was pleased to have it from Major Lusk that the farmers viewed the Defence Act with favour. He honestly believed it was tho best thing that had been done for New Zealand in tho last twenty years. There was growing tip among the youth an unsatisfactory spirit towards discipline that was not for tho good of the country. The defence, system afforded good training morally, physically and mentally, to tho man who was prepared to defend his own hc-mo and prepared to tako his share in defending ttiat larger home —the homo of Empire. We were not so far from tho Motherland that wo could forget what wo were and what our traditions were. "Wo had had difficulties with our national training system, but wo would meet them squarely. They had set up a sound policy and administered the law equitably and fairly, and ho believed the people would come to see that it was good. Ho agreed with Major Lusk that it should bo not only a defence of our own homes, but of the Empi.ro as a whole. If the time came for men to volunteer for service outside 1 the country, thoy would find the same spirit as prevailed at the time of tho South African war. It was the beginning of our traditions. In regard to the navy he could not say very much, except that the time had como when wo must consider what our part should be in the defence of the -pathways of the sea. We could not go on evading responsibility. The countries that were growing up must realise more responsibility than putting their hands in their pockets. Whatever was done here in regard to the navy it would ho as part of tho Imperial Navy. The movement in Australia, unless directed aright, might be a movement of disintegration. If rightly directed it was, to bis mind, a movement to the ideal. All our influence should be brought bo bear to see that, whatever was done elsewhere, our share should be for the Empire as a whole. The toast of "Parliament" was proposed by Mr J. McQueen. WORKERS' HOMES. In responding, Mr Massey said it save him a very great deal of pleasure to meet so many interests of the agricultural community in this country. He would nob say the present Parliament was the best they had had, but speaking for himself, it was the best Parliament of which She had had experience. And from the point of view of the farmers, he thought it was tho best Parliament we had seen for many years past. He knew—and it went without saying—that the farmers had always put the freehold as one of the most important, if not tho most important, planks of their platform. Ho wanted to remind them that early last year he placed a very substantial addition to the provisions for freehold on the statute books, and he hoped an equally substantial portion lpould be placed on the statute books this year. Ever since, ho had been in Parliament ho had contended that tho man on the land should be able to make his farm his own as far as the freehold would permit him. In regard to the Valuation Act, he did not think it was perfect yet. It could still go in the direction, of refraining from levying on the improvements a man placed upon tho land himself. They might go further in that Act this session. He firmly agreed that the worker should become his own landlord. During tho last few weeks ho had had the opportunity of purchasing land in South Canterbury for the purpose of workers' homes. This land was worth about £SO per aero, and on these sections he proposed to erect homes for workers. Up to the present, ten workers had come along and each, in proof of his bona fides, had deposited £lO. A dwelling would bo erected on each fiveacre section, the cost of which would be about £250. The cottages would cost about £350, giving a total of £550. In twenty-five and a half years the worker would pay for his house and section. This worked out at about 7 per cent. The worker would pay for his land and section at the rate of 15s per week. That was not very much for a worker who was in constant employment—and a man on one uf these sections would be in constant employment. With five acres of land it was passible for a man to malre a very good living by intensive farming. That was what the Government was doing, and he expected it would be necessary for him to come to Parlial ment this year and ask for an amend ment to the Act, which at preseft was not elastic enough for his purpose. In regard to agricultural education, he wanted to give credit to Mr Newman, who, at his own expense, had visited Australia and had studied the methods at the Hawkesbnry College. Mr Newman had placed his report in his (the speaker's) hands, and so important did he consider it that ho intended to ask permission to treat it as a Parliamentary report and have it printed and placed on the table of tho House. 'He considered a copy of that report should bo in tho hands of every farmer throughout the country. It had been a revelation to him. He had read a good deal about the college, but he had no idea that it was wbat- is was—probably the most important agricultural college south of the line. In the not far distant fnturo he would ask them for abont £25 000 or sonn>thin<r like that, as an instalment for suoh a college. It wrts pronosed to. set up a board of agriculture. ind in that connection a gentleman well known in tho farming community was preparing a report. He looped before the present session came to an end the board would bo in existence and they would have made a start towards getting the college of agriculture. He wanted to make this confession —he believed that in the way of scientific agriculture. New Zealand was half a century behind Canada and New Sootb__Wales. If we were going to comipete successfully with these countries our farmers would have to be trained as well from an agricul-

tural point of view as the men in these other places. He hoped before his term of office came to a conclusion the agricultural college would have become an accomplished fact. “Lot mo express tho bote,” concluded Mr Massey, “that this conference will be of benefit to the agricultural community, and if it is that it will be of benefit to the people of the Dominion as a whole.” (Applause.) Mr G. W, Leadley proposed the toast of “Agriculture,” and Mr F. S; Pope responded. Mr Talbot proposed “Commerce” (responded to by Messrs A. E. Mabin and A. Leigh Hunt).

In the course of his remarks. Mr Mabin said the export figures for the (nine months. Octobqr to June this year, were twenty and a half millions. If July,' August and September were equal to last year (three millions), it would bring the total up to twentvthree and a half millions for the twelve months, or an increase of three millions on the figures last year. It would be one and three-quarter millions better than any previous year in the history of New Zealand. Mr E. Newman, M.P., proposed the toast of the Farmers’ Union, to which Mr J. G. Wilson responded.