MID-CANTERBURY FARMERS’ UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18876, 31 May 1923, Page 8

MID-CANTERBURY FARMERS’ UNION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. <Paa United Pbeps Association.) ASHBURTON, May 30. Mr G. W. Leadley, chairman of the Wheat -oard, speaking as chairman of the conference of the Mid-Canterbury Farmers' Union, declared the future of agriculture rested on three bases: (1) The maintenance of high quality; (2) controlled shipment, ensuring regularity of supplies; (3) cooperative marketing. The Meat Control Hoard, he said, had already saved the producers three-quarters of a million. In moving a remit to ask the Government to investigate the Eastern markets, Mr Leadley referred to Singapore as a strategic distributing point for millions of Eastern people. He was informed that the Easterner was becoming a meat eater and a wool wearer. The Meao Board should assist. Ho suggested that every provincial union should donate a, dozen bullocks for canning to test the Eastern markets.—The remit was carried unanimously. It was unanimously decided to urge county councils to plant trees freely so as to leave posterity a source of revenue as well as debts. A motion that the Government flstablish a compulsory dairy .produce board the same as the meat board was carried unanimously. It was unanimously resolved to ask the Government to facilitate sugar-beet tests, supply seed, and instruct the Ashburton experimental farm to grow 10 acres. It was stated that the freezing works would probably accommodate the machinery and th.it a private sugar refinery had formerly existed in the district. The meeting fullv authorised the Wheat Board to fix the price with the Government at an early date, and requested other branches to do likewise. Discussing a remit to abolish road boards, which are verv numerous in the Ashburton district, Mr Frampton gave the following figures:—Mnsterton.—Total county exnendfture, £37,613: administration, 5.7 ner cent. Kairangr.—£33.792; 5 8 per cent. Southland. —£100.000: 7.21 per cent. "Waitaki.— £32.652; 11.26 per cont. Ashburton.— £36.692; 2.1. per cent. The motion was carried by a larire maioritv. The meeting discussed the lifting of the moratorium next Christmas twelvemonth.

The -president (Mr Leadley) said that although £800,000.000 worth of mortgages were publicly registered beside large sums held privately, the crisis would pass without disaster if properly prepared for. He advocated a London loan of £10,000,000 throuirh the State Advances Department, the farmers paving 1 per e P rt. sinking fund half-yearly. It was resolved accordingly.