NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14435, 20 June 1917, Page 10 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

NELSON DISTRICT CONFERENCE

{From "The Colonist," May 18th.)

The annual conference of the Nelson Provincial District Fanners' Union took place at the Institute yesterday. Present: The president (Mr W. Thorn) ia the chair] Messrs. F. Whitwell (vice-president), W. D. Harkness (lion, secretary and treasurer), C. P, Hugonin (Kohatii), B. M. Field (Thorpe), K. B. Goodall (Tadmor), George Dodson (Atawhai), E. 11. Turner (Redwood's Valley), G. L. Mead (Motupiko), E. W.Frost (Wakapuaka), A. Wilkinson (Stanley Brook), G. Wintor (Takaka), members.of.the executive, and the following delegates: Messrs C. Fenemor and J. Eatwell (Stanley Brook), A. Drnmmond M.atajriki), J. Thorn (Dovedale), R. C. Withers (Wakapuaka.), H. T. Cook (Waimea), ;G. Macmahon (KorereMoti:,piko), J. G. Page and Nielsen (Takaka), and 11: O'Connor (Murchison). Mr.' 11. P. Hudson, M.P., was also present by invitation. ' PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. The president, in tis 'address, said he was glad to report an increase in the membership of the union in this district, and that much keener interest was being taken than previously. The Executive Committee had met at Tapawera and Takaka. At tte former place it was decided to form a company to work the lime deposits at Kaka, which it was hoped would benefit the farmers. During the year-quits a number of matters had been dealt with by the union. As the result of their efforts-in conjunction witb others Nelson had been declared a valuing port for wool, which wa-s of great advantage to the farmers. Tho meat trust, which | Vt a* such a menace to the community, was also considered by the union. Several resolutions were passed by the Union, but Le did not know what action had been taken,, except that the matter had been placed before the:' Prime Minister. . He was quite convinced that if the trust did the same in New Zealand as it did in the United States and the Argentine it would be a'sorry day for the Dominion. -If the trust could be broken down it would be a good thing for the country. At the request of the National Efficiency Board j;. committee of advice has been formed, but so far very little had been done. Reference was also made to the steps taken by the Minister of Agriculture to secure an adequate supply of wheat for tke Dominion. There was mud that farmers could do if they combined, but so long as tney failed to work together thoy would be at a disadvantage. t)ther organisations worked together for their benefit, and there was no reason why farmers should not do tte same. Mr Thorn then read the demands of the A.P U which ho said would have a serious effect on farmers if they were Mr R, p. Hudson, M.P., brtefly expressed his pleasure at being present and said he tad not come prepared to make a speech, but would be pleased to giro his opinions on any matters that might bo brought forward.

CORRESPONDENCE

A letter was read from the President of the Marlborough Farmers' Union suggesting the formation of a producers' shipping company-wittl a capital of £5,000,000. ■• . . Tho chairman said the .Dominion os,ecutive had formed a strong. committee to consider the proposal. .-'■■-' ; Several speakers favoured the proposal, and it-yvas re&plved that a com-mittee-consisting of tho :Presidcnt;:Mr H. T. Cook, and the secretary be appointed -to frame a resolution to be' forwarded to the Marlborougb Farmers 7 Union expressing^the views of the conference.

The secretary of the Wairarapa Patriotic Society forwarded a series of. resolutions suggesting that the Government bo urged to immediately provide improved land for returned " soldiers and that if suitable land was not ofiered for purchase voluntarily, the executive recommended that war regulations be provided for tte purpose rf ?c----quinng.the land.—Received On resuming after lunch, Mr T. A. H. iield, M.P., was present by invifcaTIOI2.

GENERAL

Several remits from the Matanki branch were considered.

After discussion, it wa s resolved on the motion of Mr Brummond, seconded by Mr Mead, that it be a recommendation to tho executive that the president and tho vice-president visit rll the branches in the provincial district ftt least once a year. It was resolved'(Messrs Drummoiid and JViaomahon) that the Government be asked to abolish the taxation of f«rjaers: oil-engines other than those u,=ed lor mre.

A remit that the PobKc Works Department bo -urgcx! to speedily ere"t tno cart bridge over Tadmor river, and two bridges on the Wangapeka-Kara-"leiar trA- ck ,' evoke<* some discussion. Mr Hudson M.P., explained in rep*rd to the Tadmor -bridge, . that he bad Drought pressure to bear in the proper quarters, and the position was that the contract was let, but the Department was haying difficulty in setting the contractor to make" a start with the work.

The remit was carried

THE MEAT INDUSTRY

Tho following remit by the KprereMotupiko branch was moved by Mr Macmahon and seconded by Mr~DrumT? •,: ~'<Tili lt a New Zealand meat distribution board be appointed in London under the supervision of the Hi-'h Commissioner or a Trade Commissioner appointed for the purpose, to controi the sale and distribution of all meat exported from the Dominion through , appointed agents, at reasonable rat's to the consumer, so as to offectuallvcombat the Moat Trust monopiy." Mr B. M. Field considered that ail meat exportixls f mm thrv Dominion should go through the meat distributing board. »■

Mr O'Connor said tiiat after the war there./tvould probably be other European marjtots than Great Britain, and he asked if it was intended that' the board should coutrokthose.

Mi- Whitwell pointed out that the 'board in London y.otild controi all me^t exported from New Zealand, irrespective of the markets to which it was to bo sent. .

Mr Macinahon, in reply, said that the Merit Trust already had a hold in New Zealand,; and unless the Governnv^t obtained control farmers would not get satisfactory prices for their stock. ■ ... Mr Hudson, M:p., said the . Ateat Ti-ust had no control outside New Zealand. At the present time ; all meat wss purchased by the-Imperial autfion-. ties. What would happen after '/ tho war was':quite.;-a different !.thmfr- . .'Mr Hudson read a telegram received by him from the Acting- Prime' Minister, stating that ihe Aleat Trjust h?d bsmi; dissolved by the United States Government, and tho companies were operatI ing .independently, one in Nen- Zealand.

The Acting-Prime Minister stated thab the whole position was receiving the very enreful consideration of th»» Government: The Prime Minister intended to go fully into tlw matter while m England.

Mr -Field, M.P., endorsed Mr Hudsou's remarks, and said" the farmers should keep tho matter before the Government, so tliaT, thpi American Trust couid not obtain control, of the New Zealand output.

The remit was then carried unanimously. ,

COUNTY HATES

Mr Foncmor (Stanley Brook) moved that the Provincial Executive bring beiore the Waimea/.County"Council the -matter of readjustment of rates on the new valuation. The mover said that the new valuations were higher, consequently their- rates' would ■bo higher > and he thought they should be reduced. ..-■..•■

Mr Wilkinson said that he did not think tlie rates; should be raised* at uhe present time, as the money couid be more profitably expended-'in. .the employment of labour on their farms.

A remit from' BovodiJe that the Waimea County Council 'be requested to reduce tho rates when the new valuation conies in force, ■vas considered at the same time.

Mr B. M. Field contended that there was no necessity to increase, the amount of rates 'collected at tfie present time. He charged . tho Council with extravagant expenditure on main roads and neglect of roads to backblocks. ~ "•

Mr Mncniahon said the .new valua tionjwero. nearly double tLe present ones, bub he did not think it was. intended to raise double the money by way of rates. ' .'

Mr Dpdson thought that tho Council paid too much attention to motor traffic. ■

Mr Page said he did not think that, because the valuations were increased, more money would be collected in rates. In His county, the Council reduced the rates to bring in an equivalent to what was brought in under x,he old valuation. The remits were carried.

OTHER 11EMITS.

The conference unanimously affirmeda remit from Murchison district that agricultural and pastoral shows should he continued during the currency of the war.

A remit by the Murchison branch in regard to fixing a standard price, according to quality, of all corn and seed sacks, supplied to farmers, was withdrawn after discussion, several speakers considering that it was a matter between buyer and seller.

In moving that the Provincial Conference use its best endeavours to bring before the Nelson Freezing Company the absolute necessity for the company to feilmonger all sheep and iamb skins slaughtered at the works,

Mr Cook said that many farmers felt that they were losing money through the skins not being fellmongered at the works.

Mr Whitwell seconded pro forma

Mr Macmahon o said that, the company being :i co-operative one, it ,was decided that shareholders should be allowed to deal with the skins just as they wished. The matter had been placed before the directors, but, owing to the lateness of the season, nothing was done. It was, however, receiving consideration. The position had only arisen this season, through the Government purchasing the whole output of

skins

The motion was lost- on the voices

On behalf of the AVaimea branch, Mr Cock moved the following motion: — ■ "That the Provincial Conference urge on the Government the wisdom of their harnessing up, say, the jtoto'roa lliver* for an electrical power to run the railway, especially as coal is becoming such an uncertain quantity." . Tha mover thought that, if it werei possible.to electrify the railway, it would be a 'good thing, in view of the {.•resent position in regard to coal-

miners

' In seconding the* motion, Mr O'Connor said the river was eminently euitiibio'. iorJiarnesfiing,- there being a fall of 300fb in e-iirJlds--while the banks ■v/ere rockb'iund and there was a lake 9 miles long and 3 miles wide at the top end.

Messrs Field r.nd Hudson, M.P.'s, agreed that no harm would be done in bringing the matter under the notice of the Government, although nothing would bs dune during the war. The tendency all over the world at the pre-. sent time was to use 'electricity. A remit by the Dovedale branch, moved by Mr B. M. Field, that a ecminictee be set up to get a general experimental farm in Nelson province. was carried, after somo discussion. Members' spoke favourably of the experimental work caried cut at the Government farms. The committee was constituted as follows: —The president, Messrs 11. T. Cook, B. M. Field, F: Whitwell, and A. Drummond. Mr B. M. Field (Dovedale) moved, "That steps be taken to bring before the local bodies controlling tie public roads in Nelson the dangers that the general travelling public incur by th« reck-less driving of motor cars and cycles; that it be a recommendation that the body controlling all dangerous turnings on hills and other places, such as river roads, pi^t up notices for the drivers to reduce their speed to 10 miles an hour; and that steps be taken to lessen the dangers of motor traffic on country roads, especially as regards dazzling headlights and excessive speed."

. Mr Cook seconded the motion, which v/as carried. BoLh speakers spoke strongly against'dazzling headlights on motor cars. "

- Mr Whitwell (Wakapuaka): Tnoved, "That steps should be taken by the Government to noto all farms, the owners of which have lost their lives in tie service of the Empire,,imcl.that returned soldiers should vbe given, xthc opportunity of acquiring thorn without going through tho. hands of the speculator."

This was seconded by Mr Withers and carried.

ELECT-[ON OF OFFICERS.

The election of officers was then proceeded with and resulted as fqllows:— President, Mr W. Thorn (re-elected); vice-president, Mr. F. Whitwell (reelected) ; hon. treasurer, JV3r W. l>. Harkness (re-elected) ; auditor, Mr K. Gcodall. (re-elected) ; executive committee, Messrs C -P. HufTomn (Tapawera), Cl: L. Mead (Motupiko), B. M. Field .(Dovedale), J. Jordan (Stanley Brook), G: Dodson (Wakapuaka). E. W. Frost (Wakapuaka); A If, Wilkinson (Stanley Jirook), K. Ooociall (Tadmor). J. Thprii (Doved.'tle), H. T. Cook (Applehv), arK.! J. G. Page (Takaka).

The president and vice-president were appointed to ■ represent the Nelson -district, nb the Dominion Conference.

The .conference closed with a vote of fchfinks to the cliairman.