THE MAN ON THE LAND

Otago Witness, Issue 3403, 4 June 1919, Page 14

THE MAN ON THE LAND

A SEA OF TROUBLES. PRODUCERS' POLITICAL, ORGANISATION. . . WELLINGTON, May 27. The Wellington Farmers' Union Provin cial Conference opened to-day. In his presidential address, Mr G. L. Marshall said it was wonderful how the necessary work had been got'through during last season in spite of the shortage of labour and the epidemic. The autumn proved disappointing- for farmers, as very dry weather shortened the season by'nearly a month, and made prospects gloomy. The chief cause of complaint, however, had been the inability of the freezing works to cope with th@quantity of fat stock. Insulated tonnageiiad not arrived in time to save the situation. The Board of Trade allotted a certain number of ships for the Australasian trade, and farmers were told that Australia got more than half its meat away. Why were ships allowed to go there first? The American Meat Trust owned a large proportion of the Australian output, and it seemed probable that influence had been at work. He alluded to further attempta the Government had made to interfere with and control the prices of primary produoe, and this interference had reduced production. It was the height of folly for the Government to put an embargo on the export of potatoes! The Government discouraged the growing of wheat by offering an unpayable price in the previous season. The coming election would have an important bearing on the future of the dominion, and it was high time that the farming community bestirred themselves to exert a greater influence in the political arena. The union could do nothing unless they were organised, and an organiser had been already appointed. Candidates would have active support or opposition from a solid body of producers, which would materially affect their chances at the elections. The result of the recent by-elections gave them much cause for reflection. "We have nothing to fear from members who are actuated by a real love of King and country, but I fear there is a large admixture of people, chiefly in the cities, who will give "their votes to the loudest-mouthed demagogue who 'will give voice to any wild, untried, and lawless opinions which he thinks will appeal to an unreasoning mob." The president went on to" appeal to members of farmers' unions to go and organic© 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 the weekly output or value of their work, so lonjr would the conditions of living be increasingly difficult. Until the people in general were ready to once more give a fair day ■ work for a fair day's pay the prevailing unrest was bound to increase. The appointment of an industrial council might possibly have a good effect. At the conclusion of the address some members objected to the president's reference to "loudest-mouthed demagogues," as it was felt that the remarks would antagonise Labour. Mr Marshall stated that he did not refer to the Labour party. He said this was th© first time the p resi clent's address had been discussed; and he took full responsibility for his remarks. Finally a vote of thanks to the president was carried. The conference passed a resolution bringing before the Government the serious position of the fanning 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 the Shipping Committee, with the object of formulating a plan to safeguard shipping interests. Mr R. Vantier (Whakaronga) moved — "That in view of the heavy taxation on land, Parliament be asked to allow all farm produce to be plaoed on the open market." Mr A. J. Parker (Hukanui) said it would bo fatal if the cheese contract was not adhered to. He knew from influential quarters that- the Imperial Government-would be very glad to cancel the contract if tho New Sealand farmers agreed to it. He 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 tho .banners Union protest against the Government fixing the price of butter at 2id below th© 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, tho cost of such reduction should be recouped to the labourer out of. the Consolidated Fund. Tho amendments moved by Messrs Vile and Matheson were put together, and car-

fried unanimously, and refored to the Dominion Conference. It was resolved: That an injustico is being done to farmers' wives engaged in actual farm work by refusing to allow deductions for such serTices, and the conference urges the Minister of Finance- to allow a reasonable deduction to be made in the assessment of income tax. That tho Railway Department be requested to arrange for the fast carriage of cheese and butter from the factories to tho cool stores in Wellington. That tho 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 000 l stores in Wellington with large pieces out out of the cheese. That the attention of the Minister of Hallways be called to the unsatisfactory regulations exempting the department from responsibility for short delivery of consignments of oheese at harbour boards' grading stores. That the Government be persistently pressed until it takes more active to but the Department of Forestry in working Order. That the State Forestry Department _ be asked to endeavour to establish plantations on some of the sand wastes on Crown lands.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. WELLINGTON. May 28. Numerous matters arising out of the remits passed by the conference of the Wellington Provincial Farmers' Union were dis dussed with the Hon. Mr MacDonald and the Hon. Mr Guthrie by delegates to the conference this afternoon. The questions dealt with included shipping operations, the Meat Trust, and fixing prices* for butter. Mr MacDonald said, in regard to the question of insulated snipping, that he did riot think the Government had left anything Undone. Constant representations had been made by Sir J. G. Ward in regard to more •hipping being placed at the disposal of JJew Zealand, and every effort had been made to influence the minds of the Imperial authorities that the position was urgent so far as the dominion was concerned. The president (Mr G. L. Marshall): Is it not a fact that the Meat Trust has had Influences at work to divert some of the (mips that should have come here? The Minister replied that he had been advised from England that the influences of the trust had no such effect at all. The fme question had occurred to him after e Act of last session had been passed, and was for "that reason that he had had inquiries mad© in the Old Country. The trust was not able to interfere with the shipping position at all. In respect to tho operations of the Meat Trust, Mr MacDona'd Baid an export license ,was not needed this year, as the companies were selling meat to the New Zealand Government, which ol> tained supplies for the Home Government. To him that appeared to bo a weakness, but it was In accordance with the legislation passed last year. Of course, the farmers Could help the Government in the matter if *,hey refused to sell meat to the trust. However, the position had not. been so severe during the war, as the Imperial Government had been purchasing all the supplies of meat in the dominion, and nad 6ven had tft obtain supplies from the Meat Trust itself. At the same time the general position was serious, and he was strongly pi opinion that before the_ meat contract with the Imperial authorities ceased a ?trong commission should be sent Home rom New Zealand to inquire into the whole question, but they would have to ftwait the arrival of the two leaders from Hh& Old Country before anything could be done. Personally, he believed the Government would have to send agents abroad to look after the interests of the producers of the- country. He hoped that Dr Reakes trould be able to go. Home within the next few months to go into the whole position. The conference had suggested that the names of the representatives of'the Meat Trust should be published, and he could not see any reason why that should hot be done. So far as tho fixation of price was concerned, he knew it was a most difficult Eattor to deal with. It was said here yesrday that the fixation of prices and interring with the produce of the farmers was ffone for political purposes. That was not a fair statement. Whatever had been done bad been done to protect the produce of the farmers of this country. The Minister went on to explain the position regarding the prices of butter and botatoes. With regard to potatoes, he said the" reason the embargo had been placed on their export was that the price soared from £3 15s to £l7, and afterwards to £2O per ton. He knew it was unfair to exercise drastic powers in connection with the produce of the soil, but they were living under extraordinary conditions, and food prices had gone up tremendously, and therefore they could not wonder at tho industrial unrest. When it was found that prices increased to such an extent it could be understood why the workers asked for more wages, and why stop-work and like meeting were held. Speaking of hydro-electric power, the Minister said it would be a good thing for the coal position in the country if tho cool fctores were connected up with the hydroelectric power schemes. When the hydroelectric proposals of the Minister of Public Works became an accomplished fact the farmers should not rest content until every cool store in the country was connected with the power supply stations. Mr Guthrie said that everything possible was being done to try to relieve the shipping position. The Government had been assured that a fair apportionment of the shipping had been allotted to Now Zealand fcs compared with Australia. No doubt the dominion had been overshadowed by the bamc "Australasia," a proper distinction not having been made between the two countries of Australia and New Zealand. Had it not been for strikes and epidemics more ■hips would have been available for loading fci New Zealand. At tho present time half of the season's output of cheese, amounting to 447,000 crates, was in store. With regard to butter, they had nothing to fear, and the same could be said regarding wool. They could get plentv of fcpace for the shipment of wool. There Was an idea abroad that the equalisation fccheme in respect to butter pressed heavily on the exporters The Oafefnet was con Adoring a suggestion to take from t>he Consolidated Fund tho money necessary to improve the position of those producers whoso butter was kept for local consumption at a lower price than that fixed for export. Dealing with the auestfon of waste lands, Mr Guthrie said Sir Francis Bell was fully alive to the necessity for such lands beinnr planted as soon as possible, and he felt lure that as soon as the funds and labour

were available Sir Francis Bell would go ahead with a vigorous policy. May 29. The Farmers' Union Conference was concluded to-day. It was resolved that the attention of the Minister of Finance be called to the present unsatisfactory position in connection with State and private money-lending institutions; that where the security is good tho State should provide money at reasonable rates for farmers' needs, and should restore the table system of mortgage, and provide in every mortgage a clause for the payment of the sum before the due date without the forfeiture of interest. The Government is to be urged to take more effective measures to prevent the aggregation of lands. It was resolved that in view of the excellent results from the adoption of preferential voting in Australia the same system shall without further delay be embodied in the electoral law of New Zealand. Mr Marshall was re elected president. The next conference will be held at Feilding. Tho conference resolved by 26 votes to 24 to cordially approve of the Labour Party's suggestion of a round-the-tabl© conference to consider Labour conditions, and expressing readiness to send delegates to such a conference if invited. The conference also resolved to set up a committee to draft suggestions for legislation which would be acceptable to both farmers and Labour, and that immediate steps bo taken to educate public opinion on sound economic principles.