THE FARMERS' UNION

Otago Witness, Issue 3455, 1 June 1920, Page 15

THE FARMERS' UNION

APATHY OF SOUTHLAND FARMERS. The following extracts arc taken from a circular letter recently issued to ail its brandies by the -Southland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, calling attention to the lack of interest being bestowed upon that organisation by the class whose interests it stands to defend and conserve : : '' Our bank account is overdrawn, and the executive has guaranteed an overdraft. Thero aro accounts owing amounting to over £l5O, tho greater part of which is made up of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the delegates travelling on business connected with farmers' interests generally. For instance : Attendance at the Dominion Conferenco; various conferences fixing up the threshing-mill workers' demands, inquiries and investigations connected with the electrification schemes, etc. We have appointed two members to attend a conference called by the Board of Trade at Wellington to go into the question of marketing our produce, and also the shipping problem as it affects the getting of our goods to market. A few more are conferring on and about to visit various lime deposits, with a view to securing a quarry and kiln to supply lime at cost price. Surely it is not reasonable to expect that these delegates should pay their expenses out of their own private purse when attending to matters such as these and which may mean a saving of many thousands of pounds to their brother farmers.

"If there were the same vigilant organisation among the farmers as among business men, the balano? in £. s. d. would be much more evenly divided; and attractions which, after all, are largely made up of the ability to spend without counting the cost too closely, would centre as much amid the free open paddocks of the country as in the crowded and dusty streets of the towns. The remedy is therefore in your own hands; to induce all your neighbours to support the Farmers' Union and its objects; and there is no doubt what the result would be —namely, easier circumstances, and your sons and daughters delighting in their home life." REMITS ADOPTED. FEILDING, May 25. The Wellington Provincial Farmers' Union Conference was opened here to-day. The president (Mr G. R. Marshall) was in the chair, and about 50 delegates attended. The Hon. D.' H. Guthrie (Minister of Lands) was present, and was welcomed. Mr D. M'Laren addressed the conference on industrial unrest, and asked support for the proposal of the Welfare League that a conference bo held to discuss better methods of dealing with the industrial question. Tho following remits were carried by the conference :—■ '' That the conference suggests to the Government that, taking into consideration the necessity of growing wheat for local consumption, the price of such wheat should bo fixed on a minimum instead of a maximum basis." " That until there is a positive solution of tho extreme congestion of frozen meat, and until there aro better trading conditions, tho Imperial authorities be asked to continue requisition." " The conference protests against the continuance of tho practice of fixing maximum prices for primary products in this country, and is opposed to any committee being set up in England by tho Imperial Government to have control of the disposal of our exports at Home." "That the Government be requested to publish the names under which the Meat Trust is operating in this dominion, and the names of the agents of the Moat Trust in this country. This was promised by the lato Minister of Agriculture, but, so far, has not been given effect to." " That this conference considers the Commissioner of Taxes should acknowledge, on receipt, all returns furnished by farmers on land and income tax business."

"That, owing to tho increasing shortage of timber, tho union strongly urges all farmers to jyive greater attention to tho establishing of plantations of suitable timber trees."

" That the Government be ui-ged to remove the import duty on all timber, and that the railway freights on imported timber be brought into lino -with New Zealand timber rates." " That the attention of the Minister of Railways be again drawn to the urgent necessity for better communication between Wellington and surrounding country districts ; that second class railway stations bo connected with the local telephone bureau in their respective districts for the convenience of settlers receiving goods and requiring trucks." "That the Government lift restrictions of tho sale of damaged railway tarpaulins." "That the Government be urged to bring: pressure to bear on the Imperial Government to do away with tho " draft on wool' charges of lib per hundredweight." " That tho Government bo urged to do its

utmost to supply farmers -with the necessary fertilisers, especially superphosphate and basic slag, otherwise the production of foodstuffs -will be seriously curtailed." '" That farmers' co-operative companies in the dominion be given equal opportunity of handling the New Zealand proportion of the Nauru Island prosphatic deposit, in order that fertilisers may be secured at cost price." " That if no satisfactory arrangements can bo made with the shipping companies within three years for the carriage of produce, legislation be asked for to enable a poll to be taken for raising a shipping loan on the security of occupied land, or by an export levy, if thought desirable."