MARTON FARMERS' UNION

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12043, 4 May 1920, Page 5

MARTON FARMERS' UNION

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting was held on Saturday, Mr *A S Oolsman in the chair. The attendance was small. The annual report read : In presenting the annual report of the Branchjror the year 1919-20. we wish to remind all farmers, that at the present tims there is urgent need for them to combine, so that they may be enabled to present their views and demands as a united body. One of the burning questions at present time is shipping, as it is absolutely necessary that the main products of the Dominion, viz .—Frozen meat, dairj* produce and wool must he put on the world's markets, in the most expediiious manner. If the farmers of the Dominion as a whole, would put their shoulder to the wheel and form a Farmers' Shipping Company with a capital of five or>six millions it is quite possible that the Government would guarantee it. The farmers and producers, could guarantee'an outward cargo for the ships, and there is no doubt that a return cargo would be assured from the Homeland During the past year the Branch has kept in touch with most matters concerning the farming community as a whole, such as wheat prices, shortage of coal and trucks for chaff, etc. Messrs Alex Stuart and A S Coleman* were appointed by the Provincial President, Mr G L Marshall, as delegates to the Conference of wheat growers held at Christchurch. Through the efforts of the Union about 100 tons of steam coal was diverted to the Bangitikei district for threshing and chaffcutting purposes which relieved the position considerably. The secretary wired the Traffic Manager in regard to shortage of trucks. Also in regard to benzine, ho wired the Board of Trade, a d sacnre:! an allocation to the Marton district. We think that in attending to these matters the Branch deserves the confidence of its members. The membership of the Branch is still maintained, and will be supplemented by thirty-three new members to be elected-at this meeting During the year a Ploughing Match was held, and despite adverse weather conditions was carried ont successfully, by an energetic committee A complimentary social was tendered to our returned men, and was well patronised. Tho'ladies as usual put on a splendid supper and made tho gathering a success Tho amount of manure shows a falling off in comparison with last year, owing to tho shortage of super for mixing purposes, and partly to the huge prices charged by tbe different companies. Lime orders came in freely, and farmers are beg»'ning to realise the benefit of it for the land in this district. The Mutual Firo Insurance has increased considerably, quite a good volume of new business having been done, and it behoves the far. mers to support their owd Company by insuring their houses and farmbuildings with.it. As we all know the Railway strike has eventuated, and has dislocated business in general and we hope to see an early settlement The secretary hart several offers of cars to carry mails for the Postal Department, which were gladly accepted by the Postmaster, and mails for Wanganui, Greatford, Bulls, Palmeraton North, Feilding and Haloombe were delivered and return mails collected on Thursday. There is one more matter that I would like so mention, and that is the time lost and expenses of delegates to the Conference, and different duties they have to attend to during the year, and it is my opinion that all out of pocket expenses should be met by the Branch At last general meeting it wa3 moved and carried that it be a recommedation to the incoming Committee, that the subscription be fixed on the rateable value but we decided to continue on the old scale as we considered we might lose some or the smallermen, whom we wish to keep in the Union.

The balance-sheet showed membership of 189. Receipts for the year totalled £lB5 6s lid Expenditure showed provincial levy £76 4s. The credit balance stands at £4B 6s Bd.

Mr G L Marshall said that of all the Dranchea this was the most satisfactory one. There were not many branches that had kept the fnil number of members and paid the full levy without the assistance of an organiser. It was very gratifying; tha Shis branch had kept up its membership The secretary (Mr Kilgour) had done all the work The chairman urged that all members of the Union should procure their manures through the Secretary, who was devoting a lot of time to the interests of the Union.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted. The chariman stated the secretary had been very energetic in scouring the country to get new members He (the speaker ) had also secured a few but the secretary had done better.

The secretary read a list of 33_new members, and Mr F R H .tsrioe thought it very encouraging to see so many new members and paid tribute to the work done bv Mr Kilgour.

Mr G Ii Marshall said there waa no question that the time vras now ripe that farmers should unite to g&t any demands they may make. The membership of the Onion had kept up very w*ll. The Marton branch was the first formed for this province, and the membership and work done spoke well for the officials they had ktirj. chairman had paid keen attention to Union matters and, they were fortunate in having him and alio Mr Kiigour who waa acceptable to all farmers.

Election of officers reunited—Chairman, Mr A S Coleman (re-elected unammeußly), vice-chairmen, Messrs G Li Marshall (re-elected) and W D Oaraon; Executors, Messrs G L Marshall, A S Coleman, W D Carson, A Stewart, A P Howard, A Black and J G A, Thompson. PEMITS TO CONFERENCE

G L Marshall said they had a question of very great importance before them and it was hard to fc,et an expression of opinion df thay did not get gcod meetings. They were up against the shipping question. We had been getting good, prices for our produce and not complaicine, Bnfc in two months we would be up against having to pav about three rimes as" much freight for meat and double for wool. They knew that the Shipping Companies were comb ning and had made enormous profits while the nation was engaged in a' great struggle He was quite eure . they would never get definite information from Che

Shipping Companies. The Uoton wonld be doing its duty in getting' an.opinion of the whole of the producers of the Dominion. Each branch should take a referendum aa to shipping of produce He was prepared to support an export tax. If we pledged our lands as security he thought; we could cet sufficient from the capitalists to buy ships. Mr Brice thought thoy should build ships. , Mr Marshall moved "That the Farmers Union take steps to have a referendum taken from the producers as to whether they are in favour of ; raising money for the purchase of ships." He was in favour of an export tax for three or five years. Five per cent on produce would give £3,000,000 a rear. Nino nuillion for three years would be sufficient with Government help. No steps could be taken unless we had a pronounced opinion. We may get better prices for produce, but if freight charges were to be increased we would not be any better off. Prices would remain higher than before the war, but the question was who was going to get the benefit, the farmers or the Shipping Companies. Mr Carson thought the money could be raised among the farmeri without a tax. They could raise it on debentures, of say, £1 each. They should get the small farmers to come ir.. We would be in a much better position if we could run our own ships. The motion was carried.

Mr Marshall brought up the question of fixing prices. They had no objection to the commandeer ' while the country was at war, but when not aS war it was to the advantage of everyone to get the best part of trade. He objected to Government fixing the prices for 18 months With regard to wheat it was absurd. The prioi of wheat rested on seasons good or bad. If bad the farmer had no hone of getting even If a bumper crop the public would pay more for wheat than they should. It was not encouraging farmers to grow unless they were going to get a fair profit It was unfair to farnieru to fix the prices of primary produce unless they were prepared to fix the prices for all processes from the farm to tho public. Hides took a milliou pounds out of our pockets. He had not met. a man who had seen a pair of standard boots The tanners had made a, fortune Fixing prices had never been successful, lor one tiling it tended to reduce production. If they fixed the price of wheat and not the price of machinery, labour ect., it was very unfair The whole thing was one-sided and they shoula make an emphatic protest He moved—

That the Farmers Union protest against the principle of fixing prices of primary produce either here or in England as tending to discourage production.

Mr Coleman seconded the motion. Farmers really wanted a free market. It was not fair to have fixed prices for wheat, and not the prices for the machinery neoessary for tiie production of wheat

A further remit was "That the Railway Department be asked to hav® lavatories at railway stations properly attended to

The chairman and Mr Carson were appointed delegates to the Conference at Feilding.