FARMERS' NEEDS DISCUSSED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23828, 7 June 1939, Page 5

FARMERS' NEEDS DISCUSSED

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENED ADDRESSES BY REPRESENTATIVE LEADERS About 80 representatives of Otago branches of the New Zealand Farmers' Union were present at the opening session of the Otago Provincial Conference in the R.S.A. Hall yesterday. The conference, over which Mr R. H. Michelle presided, was officially opened by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Adam Hamilton), and was later addressed by the Dominion president of the Union (Mr W. W. Mulholland. The remainder of the day was devoted to a discussion on "the position of the farmers in relation to the rest of the community," the election of office-bearers, and consideration of a proposal to increase the membership subscriptions. Remits from branches and the executive will comprise the business of to-day, and the conference will be closed this evening with a social gathering in the Concert Chamber. Attendant features of the conference are the annual meeting of the Otago branch of the Women's Division of the Farmers' Union, the annual meeting of the Southern District Council of the Royal Agricultural Society, the annual meeting of Otago Farmers' Union Mutual Fire Insurance Association, and various other meetings.

A VEXED QUESTION

PRIMARY PRODUCTION AND MANUFACTURE DOMINION'S ORDAINED PURPOSE "Conferences these days seem to be about as general as they are necessary," the Mayor of Dunedin. Mr A. H. Allen, said at the beginning ol the conference in a brief welcome to delegates on behalf of the city. "To-day the relationship between primary production and secondary manufacturing is a vexed question. We must have a balanced economy, but it must never be forgotten that this country is ordained to help to feed the industrial centres of the world. The land is the source of the Dominion's income, and it is obvious thtt first consideration must be given to the men responsible for working the soil. Our manufacturing costs are so high that it is clear New Zealand can never sell manufactured articles unless they should happen to be peculiarly adapted to production in this country." The Dominion had to compete with the world, and the London market was not so much concerned with reasons for high production costs as with where it could buy best, he continued. New Zealand would have to concern itself with the fact that its production costs were too high. It should be able to produce as cheaply as any other country. The Mayor made it, clear that he was speaking of no particular Government, but of the cumulative effect of the Dominion's development, when ne said that if production costs had reached such a high level, there must be some internal reason for such a position It was the duty of the administrators of ;th£ : country to unravel that reason. Town and country were complement- . ary,, he added, and the only way in which the residents of Otago could regard their province was as one big family, On behalf of the citv. he wished the conference success. Mr Allen was given a hearty reception and thanked for. his welcome. MAN ON THE LAND UNFAVOURABLE COMPARISON "BATTENING ON TO A VICTIM" The discussion on the subject of the relationship between the farmer and the rest of the community was led by Messrs F. Waite, of Balclutha. and James Begg, of Dunedin. It proved tc be an exposition of the disparity between the country's attitude towards its foundation industry and its regard for workers in secondary industries.

Established Industries

It could be admitted that there might be room for some new industries, said Mr Waite, who opened the discussion; but the first consideration was that the industries already established should be maintained. It was well known that it was much easier to obtain money for investment in city Droperties than for country properties. For some reason, city properties were considered safer, but the real position was that there were just as many bad investments in the cities as there were in the country. If the prosperity of the country were dependent on rural in-, dustries, then there was something wrong with the investment trend, and it was a fair question to put whether the top storey could be safe if the foundations were being undermined. Then there was the fact that men preferred to work in cities and on public works to working on farms. Why was it that other industries should be able to pay better wages than the industry that was the foundation of the country? The fact that both men and money were finding the city more attractive should give everybody interested in the welfare of the country food for serious thought Mr Waite discussed the 40-hour week and increased costs, and said it was becoming noticeable that there was one standard for the rural community and another for the city community. That was why farmers' sons were not staying on the farm The speaker emphasised the reliance of the community at large on the farming industry. There was talk in different parts of New Zealand to-day of a farmers strike That was not practicable; but if the purchasing power of the farming community should get back to the level of 1930-31, the whole country would very quickly feel- the effects of it. Voracity of Secondary Industries Mr James Begg said the farmer was the victim and the rest of the community was battening on to him. That, he thought, summed up the relation of farmers to the rest of the community and what farmers needed most was some adequate protection from the voracity of the secondary industries. One thing that was certain was that the farming industries could never get the uame protection that manufacturers rnjoyed, because they were exporting industries and could, therefore be protected only by subsidy, which the rest of the community would never stand for. Mr Begg said he believed in secondary industries and would like to see them increase, provided they did it on a sound basis instead of existing by charging twice the right price to the rest of the community.

Mr R. J. E. Smith said there was no doubt about the disparity between the farmer and the rest of the community, and, despite what was said about the futility of strikes, he could not help thinking how powerful the farmers could be if they all joined together. They could take command of every ounce of production and market it for themselves, and it would do no harm to tell the Government so. „ ' Other speakers were Messrs S. Sim, T. Stockdill. C. R. Sheat and D. H. Cockburn. the last-named quoting the difference between farmers and other people, reflected in the fact that, while the bulk of the community enjoyed a national holiday on Monday, hundreds of farmers were busily engaged trying in the face of odds to make ends meet by keeping oh working. "OF NO IMPORTANCE" CRITICISM OF MR MULHOLLAND REPLY TO PRIME MINISTER CONFIDENCE OF FARMERS ENJOYED The attitude of the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet towards the president of the New Zealand Farmers' Union (Mr W. W. Mulholland) was the subject of brief comment yesterday at the annual conference of the Otago branch of the union. Mr Mulholland, who addressed the conference, himself dismissed Mr Savage's comments lightly, remarking that they were " of no importance." The conference refuted the Prime Minister's statement that Mr Mulholland did not represenf the farmers of the . Dominion, i "Mr Savage ■'has 1 ' said that Mr Mulholland does not represent .the, - farmers of New Zealand." said the chairman (Mr R. H. Michelle), in his introduction of Mr. Mulholland! "I.say he does. /(Applause.) Mi; Savage ; has said that if Mr Mulholland does represent the farmers of. New he feels sorry for them. I would teirhim that the farmers do:not want any pity. They want no more thah fair play." (Applause!) Development of Union Mr Mulholland opened his address by glancing at the position of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to-day. Under its first president (Sir James Wilson) it had a maximum membership of about 10,000. Mr G W. Leadley was president for a year, and was succeeded by Mr W. J. Poison. In the letter's term the membership had risen to 20,000. Since then it had risen another 10,000. Among the effects of this development, he said that when the membership was 1000, the Government knighted its president. When the membership was 20,000, it occasionally said nasty things about him. Now that the membership was 30,000, there had been attacks on its president by Cabinet Ministers twice in one week. It was not the president of the union that was being attacked, Mr Mulholland said, but the growing power of the organisation was worrying the Ministers. At the same time, it wasr not enough that a membership of 30,000 should draw the Government's fire. A membership of 50,000 was needed, so that the Government would "no., be game to attack the union as it does now." Mr Savage's Attitude "I am not going to refer very much tc what Mr Savage has said.' Mr Mulholland mentioned, "because it is of no importance. Speaking to workers in a boot factory the other day. he explained all the sins of the Farmers Union president. He had been asked the previous day to attend a farmers conference, but he was too busy. He made great play with the fact that I am interested in a wheat marketing scheme. Presumably he was trying to indicate that I am inconsistent in being connected with a wheat marketing scheme while I am not in favour of a guaranteed price for meat and wool. He may be under a misapprehension that I am more interested in wheat than I am in meat and -wool.. That is by no means correct If the Government could offer a scheme for meat'and wool as serviceable as the wheal scheme. I would be 'all for it." I opDose the proposed scheme because 1 cannot see how the farmer can benefit from it. I would give my full support to a serviceable scheme." MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION INCREASE RECOMMENDED After a full discussion in committer the conference decided to recommend to the Dominion Executive that the membership subscription be increased from £1 to £1 5s Office-bearers Office-bearers for the coming.year are as follows: —President, Mr R. S. Thompson (Lawrence); vice-president, Mr D. H. Cockburn (Queenstown): immediate past president. Mr R. H. Michelle (Milton); group representatives on committee—Messrs D. Finlayson. of Owaka (Catlins) J. A. Johnston, Balclutha, and W. Sutherland, Clinton (Clutha-Clintort), D. Grant, Milton (Milton), R. McCaw, Waitahuna (Lawrence). T. Stockdill. Miller's Flat (Roxburgh), W. J Marshall, Berwick (Taieri), S. Sim, CrookstOn (Tapanui), G. P. Howell. Middleman* (Middlemarch), J McK. Morgan, St. Bathans (Dunstan). W. A. Scaife. Pembroke (Upper Clutha), A. Orbell Waikouaiti (Waikouaiti) William Lee. Waikouaiti (Peninsula). A. Spoor, Pine Hill (Mount Cargill), D. H. Cockburn, Arrowtown (Wakatipu). and C. J. Inder, Dunedin (Maniototo); honorary members of committee—Messrs James Begg, A. C. Cameron; group representative to Dominion Executive. Mr

S. Sim; delegates to Dominion conference—Messrs R. S. Thompson. R. H. Michelle. D. H. Cockburn. and A. C. Cameron: auditor. George Blyth and Co. Greetings from Other Bodies Greetings to the conference were conveyed on behalf of their respective organisations by Mr P. O. Smellie (nresident of the Dtinedin Chamber of Commerce), Mr G. W. Reid (secretary of the Duhedin Manufacturers' Association, and Mr J. M. White (president of the Returned Soldiers* Association). Each spoke of the attitude of the city towards farmers' problems, and wished the conference every success.