THE MAS ON THE LAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17636, 28 May 1919, Page 6

THE MAS ON THE LAND

3 A SEA. OF TROUBLES. 3 „ J PRODUCERS' POLITICAL ORGAN ISA - 5 , TION. FEAR OF INDUSTRIALISM. ; ANTAGONISING LABOUR. ■ SHORTAGE OF SHIPPING. (Per United Pjjess Assoctiation.) 3 . WELLINGTON, May 27. t Tho Wellington Farmers' Union Provixi |. cial Conference opened to-day. I In his presidential address, Mr G. L. j Marshall said it was wonderful how tho ( ncoassary work had been got through during last season in spit© of the shortago of labour. and tho_ epidomio. The autumn , proved disappointing for farmers, as very r dry weather shortened ths season by nearly a month, and made prospects gloomy. Tho \ chief cause of complaint, however, had been [ the inability of the freezing works to cope with the quantity of fat stock. Insulated 1 tonnage had not arrived in time to save ; th 0 situation. The Board of Trade allotted a certain number of ships for the Austra--1 lasian trade., and farmers were told that Australia got more than half its meat away. Why were ships allowed to go thero first? The American Meat Trust owned a largo proportion of tho Australian output, and it seemed probabl® that inllucnoe had been S u He alluded to further attempts the Government had made to interfere with and oontrol the prices of primary, produaa, and this interference . had reduced production. It was the height of folly for tho Government to put an embargo on tho export of potatoes. Tho Government discouraged the growing of wheat by offering an unpayable price in the previous season. The ccrming election would have an important hearing on the future of tho dominion, and it was high time that the farming community bestirred themselves to exert a greater influence in ths political arena. The union could do nothing unless they were organised, and an organiser had been already appointed. Candidates would l have active support or opposition from a ■ solid body of producers, which would materially affect their chances at the elections. Th© result of the recent by-elections gave them much cause for reflection. "Wo have nothing to fear from members who' aro actuated by a real love of King and country, but I fear there is a largo admixture of people, chiefly in the cities, who will give their votes to. tho loudest-mouthed demjw gogue who iwill give voice to any wild, untried, and lawless opinions which he thinks will appeal to an unreasoning mob." Ths president went on to appeal to members of farmers' unions to go and organise their branches, that they might do their part to preserve our land from the hands of irresponsibles who wished to force upon us a kind of social terrorism which would paralyse. industry and bring ruin on the community. It was perfectly obvious that so long as an increasingly large part of the community persisted in demanding shorter hours and in decreasing tho weekly output or value of their work, so lons would tho conditions of living b,3 increasingly difficult. Until tho people in general were ready-to once more give a fair day's work for a fair day's pay tho prevailing unrest was bound to increase. The appointment of an industrial council might pdssibly have a good effect. ° At the conclusion of the address some members objected to tho pnsajdenfs reference to "loudest-mouthed demagogues," as it was felt that the remarks would antagonise Labour. Mr Marshall stated that he did not wfer to the Labour party. He said this was the first time the president's address had been discussed, and he took full responsibility for his remarks. Finally a vote of thanks to ths president was carried. The conference passed a resolution bringing before the Government the serious position of the farming community owing to the shortage of insulated shipping, and the consequent congestion of meat in the cold stores of the dominion; also that tho dominion conference be asked to call a meeting of th© Shipping Committee, with the object oi formulating a plan to safeguard shipping interests. ( Mr R. Van tier (Whakaxonga) moved— "That in view of the heavy taxation on Land, Parliament be asked to allow all farm produce to be placed on the open market." Mr A. J. Parker (Hukanui) said it would be fatal if tho cheese contract was not adhered to. He knew from influential quarters that the Imperial Government would be very glad to cancel the contract if the New Zealand farmers agreed to it. 110 moved as an amendment —"That the Government be urged to prohibit further meddling with the open market prices in favour of the New Zealand consumers." This was lost on a division. | A further amendment that the Farmers' Union protest against the Government fixing the price of butter at 2-£ d below tho export price was moved by Mr Vile. Mr W. B. Matheson moved that where the Government deliberately reduces the returns for any man's labour for the general good, the cost of such reduction should be recouped to the labourer out of the Consolidated Fund. Tho amendments moved by Messrs Vile and Matheson were pat together, and carried. unanimouely, and referred to tho Dominion Conference. It was resolved:— That an injustice is being done to farmers' wives engaged in actual farm work by refusing to allow deductions for such services, and. the conference urges the Minister of Finance to allow a reasonable deduction to be made in tho assessment of income tax. That tho Railway Department be requested to arrange for tho' fast carriage of cheese and butter from the factories to the cool stores in Wellington. That the attention of the Railway Department be drawn to the fact that the Government. grader had reported to "certain factories that their cheese had arrived in cool stores in Wellington with large pieces cut out of the cheese. That the attention of the Minister of Railways be called to the unsatisfactory regulations exempting the department from responsibility for short delivery of consignments of cheese at harbour boards' grading stores. That the Government be persistently pressed until it takes more active steps to put the Department of Forestry in working order. a That the State Forestry Department be asked to endeavour to establish plantations ' on some of the sand wastes on Crown lands. 1