PROBLEMS OF FARMERS

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1927, Page 2

PROBLEMS OF FARMERS

NEED OF CONCERTED EFFORT PRODUCERS’ LEAGUE MOOTED. ADDRESS BY MR. BUUKERIDGE. June 22. At the invitation of the Mokoia Settlers’ Association, Mr. G. H. Buckeridge, of Hawera, who recently returned from a visit to England, gave an interesting address on present-day problems which are affecting the producers of the Dominion. He appealed for a combined effort to launch a “producers’ league” in an endeavour to alleviate the position .of the producers. There was a good attendance of settlers at the Mokoia Hall, the president of the association, Mr. D. S. Richardson, presiding. Mr. Buckeridge referred to an address given by him to the association about a year ago on “problems that face tire farmer,” when he had referred to the necessity to regard the occupation of farming more in the nature of a complicated business which demanded very accurate knowledge, combined with keen intelligence, special training and greater initiative than most farmers appeared to consider necessary. The usual acceptance of the position of farmers, said Mr. Buckeridge, was that farming was a good, healthy occupation, but that it required no particularly high intelligence on the part of the farmer to make it a success, and that business methods did not eater into the proposition.

OUR PRINCIPAL ASSET. "On the. previous occasion I showed you that farming was an extremely complicated and highly scientific business and required, to ensure real success, a much wider education and training than probably any other calling,” said Mr. Buckeridge. In ths previous address he had given actual instar, to show that in many cases farm had no accurate knowledge of the true relative values of the assets involved in the machinery .of production, and had invited those present tc name the principal asset of this country. The replies to this question were varied and not one was the correct one. “Unquestionably the principal asset of this or any other country is the land, as, only by possession of that, is it possible for any other assets to exist. 'This being the case, it behoves farmers and every other individual in the Dominion to demand that this principal asset shall be guarded with the most jealous care,” said Mr. Buckeridge. Every possible means should be adopted to prevent waste or deterioration of that asset. "One need not look far, even in this district, for examples of the lack of care or want of knowledge that has guided the actions of those in charge of our princial asset, for in. whatever direction one looks can be seen the evidences in land which, at one time, under its natural bush, was a national .asset, but today is a weed-infested rca and a menace to the country round about.

DETERORIATICN OF LANDS. “This provides the clearest evidence possible that something is wrong with the management of the principal asset, and that it is in much the same position as would be the stocks of, for instance, a big drapery emporium where people were allowed to obtain access to* the reserve stocks of piece goods and to hack out pieces wherever they thought fit, or where the'manager allows his stock to become moth-eaten and infested with vermin. This, in such a business, might not be an irreparable loss, as goods could be replaced by the expenditure of money, but in the ease of land the asset having once been destroyed, it cannot be replaced and the only thing left to do is to endeavour to rehabilitate it and bring it back, if possible, to its first condition. “This is one of the problems that is facing this country to-day,” said Mr. Buckeridge, “and one sees almost every week references by men in public positions to this deterioration of our land and to the prohabV expenditure of huge sums- of money which will be necessary before the mistakes made in endeavours to settle the problem can be overcome. "The next best asset of a country is its people,” continued the speaker, “and here again only the other day we had an evidence, one of many, that something is radically wrong with this asset also, otherwise it would not have been necessary for a deputation of unemplovcd like that which waited on the Prime Minister a few days ago to urge on him the necessity of providing for their upkeep. LOSSES ON OUR PRODUCE. “That deputation was merely an indication of a similar condition in other parts of the country, and it displays a condition of affairs which is resulting in very considerable economic loss. “These unemployed have to be provided for in some way or other at the expense of the community, which is a waste of good material and a burden which it shouk. not be called upon to bear.

“The next principal asset,” went on the speaker, “is our produce, and here again the experiences of the past six l months must have demonstrated to any thinking man that there is something wrong. It has been amply shown that, through lack of accurate and scientific knowledge in the production of the finished article from the raw material we have for years been, and still are,, making huge losses, most of which are preventible and. in addition, we have h!ftl during the past six months an example of heavy losses entailed through laek of appreciation of what is the proper business method to adopt in its marketing.” The next asset touched on was “our boys and girls,” who, said Mr. Buckeridge, were, through lack of the rightkind of training, being driven to seek their future livelihood in the cities. This trend of population to the cities had been, and still was, a serious problem to all, and frequent references were made to this deplorable condition and to the necessity for some means of combating it. The life in the city was not conducive to the best interests of our young population, since all occupations in the cities were already overcrowded.

DRIFT TO THE TOWNS. “This young population eould be better utilised in assisting to increase production from the land, as we so frequently see mentioned by public iqen,” said Mr. Buckeridge. “All of these problems are capable of solution ahd it only remains for the people themselves to see that the right men are appointed to manage our country’s affairs to insure that this will be done. There must be a solution of all these problems, and if there is the sooner the correct solution is obtained the better it will bo for the country and the less it will cost. ‘The farming class is said to be the backbone of the country and we may concede that to be the case, but of what use is the backbone without limbs and members, all of which must function to the highest of their capabilities if the body is to be healthy? The farmer is accustomed to look upon himself as the beginning, the middle and the end of production,” said Mr. Buckeridge, “but this is by no means the case. He certainly is a necessary spoke in the wheel of production, but he is not the whole wheel. To illustrate this, when a farmer buys a property, before he can work it he must call in the aid of the implement worker, who is as necessary to successful production as the farmer, for without him the latter cannot produce. The manufacturer of machinery, the factory manager and his assistants, the distributor in the towns, the carrier who takes the finished article to the seaport, the wharf labourer who loads his produce on to the boats, are all necessary spokes in the wheel of production, and it is essential, if real progress is to be made, that all these should be working at their full capacity, in harmony and without friction. NEED FOR HARMONIOUS WORKING.

“Friction between any of these necessary parts means retardation, waste and loss,and it should be the duty of every right-thinking person to use his every influence to eliminate any such friction and consequent waste. “This is your business as individuals,” said Mr. Buckeridge. “It is your individual duty to the State in which you live, and it is up to you to do that duty. I put it to you, do you think this country is worth putting up a fight for? If so, then it is your bounden duty to take a real live interest in the business and politics of the country and to see that, so far as it lies in your power, your efforts will be directed to that end. It cannot be denied that the conditions in New Zealand to-day are far from satisfactory, and it is the obvious duty of all of us to use all our faculties to further any movement which may have for its objective the putting of our country’s affairs on really sound lines and the elimination of preventable waste and loss which is at present taking place. “If you are prepared to assist in this work I am going to ask you to subscribe your names to this undertaking,” said the speaker. He then read out the following document:— PRODUCERS’ LEAGUE. Objects.—To assist in every movement which has for its object the bringing together of every section of the machinery of production in New Zealand so as to eliminate friction between the various parts, and thus to prevent economic waste and so to bring about increase of production on sound lines. Pledge.—l sincerely and solemnly promise that I will endeavour to do my duty to the country in which I live by taking a real live interest in the business and politics of the Dominion and tq insure this: 1, To assist, by every means in my power, any movement which makes for economy and efficiency in production. 2. To do all in my power to assist in the improvement of the conditions of all sections of producers in the Dominion, and to bring about a better understand-

ing between the various sections of producers. 3. To assist, to the best o.' my ability, any movement which will tend to encourage the young people of the Dominion to take p the life on the land in preference to that in the city. 4. To do my utmost to promote any movement which will tend to prevent the steady influx of population to the cities from the country. 5. To use my utmost endeavours to see that the management of the country’s affairs shall be placed in the hands of men of upright character and moral integrity, who will put country first on all occasions and who are of proved business ability and qualification for such important positions. Mr. Richardson thought that perhaps the name “Producers’ League” would not be received kindly by'the townspeople, and suggested that the name be the “People’s Welfare League.” Mr. Buckeridge, however, was of the opinion that if the situation were explained, there should be no difficulty in overcoming this objection. After several members had spoken in support of the scheme, Mr, Buckeridge invited signatures to the undertaking, and almost 40 were received during the evening. At the conclusion of the meeting, on the motion of Mr. A. T. Main, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Buckeridge by acclamation for his address. A vote of thanks was also accorded the chairman, and the evening concluded with supper handed round by the ladies,