FARMERS’ PROBLEMS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1921, Page 7

FARMERS’ PROBLEMS.

OPTIMISM FOR THE FUTURE. GATHERING OF LAND AGENTS. THE TARANAKI ASSOCIATION. The first annual dinner of the Taranaki Land and Estate Agents’ Association was held in the Stratford Town Hall on Wednesday night, Mr. M. J. Lynskey, of Hawera, presiding over an attendance of about 50 members, representing practically every part of the district. The function was extremely successful in every way, and those present spent a most enjoyable evening. After dinner toasts and musical and vocal items passed away the time. After the toast of “The King”, Mr. J. W. McMillan (Mayor of Stratford) proposed the toast of the “Land and Commission Agents of Taranaki”. To the visiting agents he extended a hearty welcome to Stratford. The land and commission agents were “a jolly sporting lot of fellows”, and he coupled with them the Commercial Travellers’ Association, whose great efforts during the past trying years had been considerably helped by the land agents. He understood that a Bill which was at present before Parliament would probably have the effect of putting land agents in a better sphere than they have been in in the past. Mr. L. A. Nolan (New Plymouth) said the members of the association were to be congratulated on the fact that the association was a fairly large body, and on the great interest they showed in it. Members were at first lukewarm, but they now recognised that the association was going to be of some use to them. He hoped the association would be kept goipg for many years. Mr. J. Hignett (Stratford), responding, expressed the great need that was felt for an association, and his ■ gratification that the association was going so well. AUCTIONEERS’ TROUBLES. . Mr. Lynskey proposed the toast of “The Auctioneers”, and congratulated the auctioneering firms on the manner in which they had stuck to their guns during the last twelve months. Right throughout New Zealand auctioneers had had heavy financial and other burdens to carry, and in very few cases, if any, had the agents turned down the farming community. During the last few months, with the assistance of the banks, they had had to carry the farmers on their backs. Taranaki had not yet felt the pinch. He believed that during the next twelve or fifteen months the land agents would do very little, and they would then realise the difficulty of the burden the auctioneers were asked to carry; but he was confident they would carry the burden.

Mr. H. Abraham (Stratford) said that the present crisis was the more acute because it had come so suddenly. There bad been no symptoms to lead them to believe that it was coming." They could imagine the position of the auctioneers, who had been carrying the farmers in a way which they could hardly believe possible now. He referred particularly to sheep farmers. The dairy farmers were still all right. The price they would get this year would still keep them on a permanent basis. The increased production would make up tor the shortage of prices., At the Stratford factory the payment of Is 6d for ibis month totalled only £lOO less than the. payment of 2s for the same period last year. The wool man was still in the throes of despair, but there seemed to be a brightening on the horizon. Meat looked bad, particularly beef. He hoped they had reached the worst. He believed they had done so, because, although the prices had been Idw they had had nearly a year o( low prices, and people were beginning to get used to the idea. It was the suddenness which had upset everything. The auctioneer was trying to carry over people who were heavily in debt to him. He was sure that the banks also would stick to the people, and if they did then the auctioneers would be able to go on carrying the farming people on their backs. They could only look forward to the time when things would be brighter.

“THE CORNER TURNED.” Mr. W. A. Hewitt (Stratford), responding, said that the position of an auctioneer was a very difficult one to hold, to be just to the farmer and holiest to themselves. The auctioneers had to stand by and see men buy stock for two guineas a year ago which was. worth only 14s or 15s now, and the auctioneers had to carry on until the men were again in a good position. He believed that the corner was turned. Freights on meat,were going to be reduced. Charges in London were already reduced by 25 to 30 per cent., and that helped, as the insurance rates were bound to come down. He saw a bright future. The backblocks man was in a very serious position, but the country had grown in confidence, and if the banks and mercantile institutions would continue working on the same lines things would brighten up. This was a fitting opportunity for him to remark that he was very pleased to see Mr. Newton King in Stratford a few days ago. Had anythipg happened to Mr. King it would have been a calamity, because the country had confidence in him. The dairy farmer was beginning to be more of an expert. Nineteen years ago a farmer had told him that he was getting £8 10s for butterfat. Then he improved him stock and brought his returns up to £lO, which was considered a good price. Now returns were from £lB to £2O. Taranaki at present was a king’s paradise compared with Gisbrone and Hawke’s Bay, where the auctioneers and farmers are feeling the pinch very much indeed. WILL PULL THROUGH. Mr. W. H Young (Stratford) proposed the toast of “The Farming Community”. The farmers were up against it now, and it was they who were footing the bill, but he was confident that they would pull through. The Taranaki dairy farmers were in clover. It was their produce which had saved the country last year. The people on the other side of the world trusted them as a community, and it was a great thing to have credit. (Laughter.) He referred to the courtesy of (he farming community. In 23 years as a land agent he had received at the hands of the farmers and producers every courtesy. Mr. Campbell Jackson (Stratford) responded. Other toasts honored were: “Local Bodies”, proposed by Mr. E. Jackson, and responded to by Messrs. J. W. McMillan, A. Stewart and P. Skoglund; ‘ The Visitors”, proposed by Mr. J. Hignett and responded to by Mr. J. Smith, of Hawke’s Bay; “The Secretary”, proposed by Mr. Lynskey and responded to by Mr. E. L. Humphries; “The Ladies”, proposed by Mr. C. Fairbrother and responded to by Messrs. C. Finnerty and Large; “The Chairman”, proposed by Mr. Hewitt and responded to fiy Mr. Lynskey; “The Press”, proposed by Mr. Robertson. During the evening items were given by Messrs. G. E. Jago, C. T. Walters, D. Watson, W. Robinson, P. Skoglund, J. H. Thompson and J. Hignett. Mr. J. H. , Thompson presided at the piano.