FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10962, 26 July 1921, Page 8

FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

LABOUR- -AND UNIONISM. BENEFIT OF CO-OPERATION. - (Special to ''Times.”) Mr W. J. Poison (Wanganui) gave an address at Palmerston North, to members of the Manawatu sub-provincial district. There was only a moderate attendance. Mr A. Buchanan, president, occupied the chair. In speaking of unionism among farmers, he said it was necessary also to say something about labour unionism and explain why he disapproved of certain phases of labour unionism. In this connection he referred to the agitation which had been going on to do away with preference to unionists. The difference, he claimed, between the Farmers’ Union policy and the labour unioois* policy was that the farmers did not approve of the government of all by a section for the exclusive benefit of that section. The aims of the Farmers’ Union could be classified under four heads:—(l) To increase production; (2) to encourage population; (3) to foster closer settlement; and (4) to bring about prosperity to all. , Those were not selfish 7 objects. '• -The farmers did not' countenance go-slow methods, and they were emphatically loyal. He wanted to contrast those objects with the avowed arms of sections of the labour unionists, particularly those with whom the farmers came into contact. Farmers were faced with the attempt to secure a farm labourers’ award. In this connection. he pointed out that farmers throughout New Zealand were working at present at a loss. In spite of that they were continuing to employ the labourers. This was principally because in the past the relations between the farmers and their employees had always been harmonious. If the union were formed, the result would be disastrous, not only to the farmers, but also to the labourers, as many man kept in employment would be dismissed. The farmer in a New Zealand had never held up the price of Ms product in the way the labour unions had held"- up the coet of their labour.

Mr Poison aleo spoke at length upon co-operaition. a means of furthering their interests. It was urged that the farmers should use the forces of co-opera-tion much more extensively than they did at present Other subjects touched upon were a. co-operative marketing scheme and the co-operative land bank similar to that..*® existence in Denmark and Germany. With regard to the latter the speaker •sakl-the subject had been investigated by the .Farmers’ Union, but it had been reported- that if was only good for the bfg man. He contended that the investigations ‘ could not have been very thorough. PRUNING FRUIT TRE^S AN INTERESTING DEMONSTRATION. ■ (Special to "Times.”) The art of pruning fruit tzrees was do. monstrated in Palmerston North by Mr J* W. Whelan, Government orchardist There, was an attendance of about 100 fruitgrowers, and among those present were.- a number of boys from the High School. Mr Whelan explained that the old method of pruning the lateral growth at the ends only resulted in the growths of useless wood, . which sapped the strength of the tree instead of developing fruit buds. The latest method was to cut back the lateral wood in order to promote the development of fruit, and develop a strong healthy free.