FARMERS' UNION.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14009, 13 March 1920, Page 5

FARMERS' UNION.

A meeting of *&« Farmers* union ws» nc&l this morning, the President Sir •'- 6- Macdonald. in the chair. There* was a larste attendance. 3l«w» •'• A- Macpnerson and D. Cameron reported, upon the recent conference in regard to wheat; On the motion of the President a heartv vote of thank* was puwed to the delegates. On the motion ot Mr .1. A- Macpher--on. it was decided to suggest that representative* to Wheat Conferences he composed solely of members of Farmers' I'nton* or A. and I*. Association*, and that a copy of the resolution He sent to the Minister. Mr Milne thanked the I'nion for railing ;t special meeting to discuss ! London representation, a more direct ! form of which was needed now that the commandeer was to be lifted. Aii knew that machinery once stopped rusted, and that was the rase with the •jistrthutinjc machinery at Home. He hud named Sir Thomas Mackenzie as fhe most suitable man in whom to deposit contUknee as their representative. , Sir Thomas was fully in mipiithy with the farmers of New Zealand, who. in comparison with farmers in other countries, had not received as much (or their products. He had never li«-cti in favor of Government representation, hut thotlsthf that fanners should have thetr own representative. Sir Thomas Mackenzie had indeed e.\prrwd the wi*h that he might tonr.iiinc in office to complete the work he had curried on for years. He welcomed Vtr Mauley's appointment of another oHii-er, as it left Sir Thos. Mackenzie

f'rw fir be the- farmers.' own repre»en~. tutive. .Mr Massvy disapproved of the farmers' def«]£ute». hut he might well approve of Sir Thos*. M;uke*rje. .Mr Jfassey had done a great deal for farmers, I'Ht thev "-'> c*> e.ipeeting too much front him They »«xperted him to run their hnmness instead of rtinniiiU 11: themselvett. In the past they had built up their businesses and established their shipping and markets, iind coittd do it again. He had no idea that Sir T. AJackenzie woutd accept the position. Another reason; tor his appointment in this way was that the tw.hange rate »«» completely out-of gear. Some farm«rs had ;i dread or sending produce to America, hrrt he thought it wotttd dear the freecine chambers i»nd remnrp any danger of stale meat. The Horn*" Government was now compelled to send frozen nio)ib ti> America.. Here we were pay. itift ''through the nose" for everything from America., whereat* I* w<~ could pay in our own products the exchange would regulate itself. (treat Britain Was thus paying its debts with the produce of New Zealand. The value of present shipments to England was OT.OIMUJQO, rjpon which, say .} per ; cent, for salary and cost of rnnmng , the office-, would not he miswed.' Sir "fhonias Mackenzie would he under the control of the parent branch of the Farmers' Tnion. He moved: "That the parent hrunch of the Tnion be reSDfctfully requested to use the ntmoflt. tndi'iivo'r hv ruble to obtan the services of Sir Thoma.* Mackenzie, as Commissioner in London, for the primary producer* of the Dominion, on Bis retirement from the position of High Commissioner r that he he permitted to define his own duties. select his own assistants, and name bis <wn remuneration ttt be paid, in the first instance, out of half profits on wool, until a scheme for payment out of proceeds of exports can he promulgated." 'Mr Geo. Livingstone seconded the motion. If Sir Tho*. Mackenzie ac«pted the posrtion he would do their dhmje credit.

;Mr $. A. Maepherson *a» quite in with the aim* of the resolution, lint, they rnnst loots at things from the view of the stood of the country u» ii. whote in thp- unprecedented world condition*. He thought the timeM come for better representatives at Homo, and that thf Government iSobW be asked to appoint Sir .lame* Altuw a» thf Jlrnisteri.it representative iff London, apart from the High CVimmisiiibnership altogether. It would tnke y»»r» for a new man to find his way unif to gaigi the Konfidenee of the b«st~ mm firm.*. Relieved of his High ComBWBibnershfp', Sir Thomas Maekenwe [Willi give hi.* whole time as a business IjMreHentatiK'e' of >few Zealand in LonHir. His salary contd nog at present ■pout legislation be levied on proHr Kingaa thought that Sir Thomas ■Benzie's consent to sn<:b an apKllmeiit _ should first he obtitin«-d. ■Mover it was not only rommercial illtters that needed supervision, but iii) fiandfmg of meat. rXr I>. Cameron at*o thought that Stlhoma* Mackenzie's consent should jNt be Attained. He wotild be an ffljal man for the position and was iowover or the spot, which would »v* valuable time. The President said that if thf presmt body approved of the suggestion Rb Would at once cable to Sir Thomas %fcmzie. $Sk JtiTne said that of coarse the ife might be officially representative tfjlli farmers. MrT. Little said that alt were agreed iOTtbe urgency of representation. He win favor of the appointment they wlerf being made by the Government, I mh crroM ft.t the salary. I Hr'R. Cameron said that as the idea I

ntf originated with farmers for their BMftft the- Farmers' Unions should p»y. Mir Milne pofnt«d otit that hi*,ehief Bir»was to hive Sir Thgrtntis Marfcen- * free to «t:rve the farmers, without ■a' shackles of nnv Government. Reirator Liberal. That. Be bdfcrrd. wsj fiat he would desire himself. Qhi the suggestion nF Mr J. A. >!ucBerson it wn.< derided to ;wicl to the otion that the President Of the frv BWtt Fnion on asked to cable wSir |nu» Mackenzie- whether h«* would prater the appointment »nd at what Wnneration-. also to supply, if he Hud accept, the approximate co.st of "joffirp and stuff. Jfle President surd thiit he was' ir» en*sjmpn.thy with the : resolution. Im>™jn« dwtuils* w»-re whether Sir Thomas* P»-B!tve ;t frtf? bund and the matter who should puy. Ine motion was carried tmanimoirdv. n.wiis decided to dmw the attention "wp .Minister of Aeric-ttltnre to the PBM of importing poppy seeds.