FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144145, 15 July 1913, Page 7

FARMERS' UNION.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE. PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS, PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, July 15. The annual confcrenco of the Now Zealand Farmers’ Union commenced to-day. The President (Mr. J. G. Wilson), in a lengthy address, congratulated the conference on the attaining of the freehold, for which they had fought so long. During the year New Zealand had experienced a very fine season on the whole. There had Wen drought in the North of Auckland and the crops in the South Island had not boon as good as usual, but stock had done remarkably well in most parts. Dairying had made such strides in the last few years that the export value of the produce of the industry was greater than that of the frozen meat trade for the first time this year. Frozen meat returned £3,650,6X8, whereas dairy produce was entered as £3,915,794. There seemed to bo a likelihood of still further expansion in tho near future. With the high prices of the last few years for dairy produce, land had risen very much in value. In areas suitable for carrying about 25 cows, £75 per acre was being paid for land in tho best dairying districts. Most people would say that this price was far beyond its value, but there wore those who averred tfiat it was not too high, and based that statement on the fact that even fit these prices men were making a comfortable living from 25 cows. Sheep (’armors had also had a very satisfactory year. In a statement ho had mado ten years ago he said they could double their exports from tho land. Ho new found they had nearly achieved that rosnX In 1903 tho exports of agricultural products wore of a value of £11,057,101; in. 1913 tho value was £18,867,GT5. Butter had risen from £1,268,659 to £2,056,615; cheese from £181,601 to £1,859,177; wool from £3,924,484 to £8,065,945. whereas frozen meat had shown only a slight increase of a few hundred thousand pounds. Tho question of re-aggregation was discussed at tho Farmers’ Union Conference to-day. Tho president said there had been a great deal of foolish talk about roaggrogation. Personally ho regarded it as political talk. I may say, ho added, that on this coast this sort of thing has taken place. Tho land was originally bush which was cleared by the original owners in some cases in large areas. It was now being disposed of in very small areas. Right along the coast tho land was being cut up and not loss than 200,000 or 300,000 acres had been cut np along the West Coast during a very few years. There had been no re-aggregaton except in a very few instances. The union desired to ro-affirm its views against rc-aggrega-tion as being injurious to tho country. At the same time there wore areas which had been cut up into small sections in the first place and it was only reasonable men should have enough land to make a living out of it. It was finally decided that the conference is against the re-aggregation of land. It considers that adland should be disposed of in such areas as will permit a reasonable livelihood to be made by any person taking it up. Some provision should be mado so that all tho conditions which are imposed by tho Land Act should bo so altered ns to enable holders of such land to borrow money on equal terms to ordinary freeholders.