Hop and Barley Growers and the Licensing Question.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 17, Issue 61, 4 August 1903, Page 4

Hop and Barley Growers and the Licensing Question.

MEETING IN NELSON. A meeting of hop and barley growers was held at Messrs Buxton and Co.'s offices last week, at which Messrs T. A. Cook, D. Wilkens, R. J. Trewava 3 , S. Satherley, A. Chaytor, A. F. Trask, A. E. Batt, W. Hunt, and W. Drogemuller were presenr, as were also members of the firm of Buxton and Co., and Mr S. D.Levien, of Tasker aud Levien. Apologies were received from Messrs Philip Best and I. Tunnicliff, the latter expressing himself in sympathy with the objects of the meeting.

Mr F. W. Hamilton said that the meeting had been convened by Messrs Buxton and Co. in response to a telegram from Blenheim urging that Nelson growers should join the barley growers in Marlborough in sending a deputation to Wellington to protect the interests of barley and hop growers in respect to licensing matters. The information was very meagre, and as time seemed an object, the meeting was called, so that some action could be taken immediately. A telegram had appeared in the papers regarding the Blenheim meeting, and later he had received a letter from the Secretary of the Marlborough meeting, also report of the meeting in a Blenheim paper. From these it appeared that there was not the urgency at first thought, from the 15th to the 20th of August being considered the best time for the deputation to visit Wellington. It was a farmer's matter, for them to take up or leave alone, and he thought the A. and P. Association should be asked to take the matter in hand, as was done in Marl-, borough.

Mr T. A. Cook was voted to the chair, and said that he also thought the A. and P. Association should call a meeting to discuss the question. Personally he thought it was quite time a move was made, or they would be ridden over rough-shod. He thought that he was coming to a free country when he came to New Zealand, but if he had gone to some uncivilised place he thought he would get more freedom than here. Mr F. W. Hamilton then read the report of the Blenheim meeting, at which Mr D'Arcy Chaytor, President of the Association, presided, and in the course of his remarks said that in proportion to area and other crops grown, Marlborough was the barley-growing district of the colony and Nelson was not far behind. Taking the average price at 3s 9d per bushel, Marlborough's production of barley in 1901-2 was worth £35,265. (In that season Marlborough produced 189,248 bushels of barley, and Nelson 116,185, occupying third and fourth places respectively among the provinces in respect of barley.)

Mr Hamilton said that if the value of the hop crop was added Nelson would beat Marlborough hollow as to the amount at stake. He pointed out that at the meeting at Blenheim the stand had been taken in large measure that the licensing laws should be better carried out, the resolution carried being—" That a deputation should wait on the Premier to make representations to him as to the interests of barley growers, and urge roforms in regard to the conduct of the liquor traffic, as suggested by Mr Fell and ot'oer speakers." (Mr A. G. Fell had stated that the moderates—the bulk of the people—were steadily going over to the prohibitionists. His own impression was that they would continue to go in that direction until the trade was extinguished, unless one thing was done—unless excessive drinking was stopped., He thought that if the barley growers could point out how a check could be imposed on excessive drinking the prohibition vote would be reduced two-thirds. The man who drank to excess was the greatest enemy to the barley grower and brewer, a d the hotelkeeper.) Mr D'Arcy Chaytor said that the meaning of the action taken was not that they were advocating the liquor traffic, or directly attacking prohibition, but that they were protecting their own industrial interests. Mr Cook felt sure that the Takaka people would join in any agitation, for the hop industry had to be considered, Mr S. D. Levien said that he had just returned from the North Island, where he had been approached by brewers, and large brewers at that, who urged that Nelson could give very material assistance to the licensed victuallers if they o-.ly moved, and moved quickly. He urged that a meeting should be arranged for Saturday night next, at Richmond, under the auspices of the A. and P. Association.

Mr Arthur Cbaytor suggested that a meeting of hop growers should be held at Motue*a.

Mr Trewayis undertook to see the Mayor of Mocueka. and arrange for a meeting as suggested. Mr A. P. Trask moved that Mr Cook be. requested to interview the President of the A. and P. Association, and arrange for a meeting to be called under the auspicies of the Association on Saturday evening next, at the Oddfellows' Hall, Richmond, to discuss the matter.

Thifl waa carried* and Mr Cook

undertook to do as requested. It was also resolved to communicate with the Prescient of the Golden Bay Association, asking for co operation from Takaka. Mr Batt thought that the Farmers' Union might take the matter up, and T. Mr Cook said that could follow if the Association started it.

On the motion of Mr Chtytor a vote of thanks was passed to Mr F. W. Hamilton for bringing* the matter before the growers, and. a similar vote to the Chairman closed the proceedings.— Colonist.