N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16448, 29 May 1919, Page 6

N.Z. FARMERS’ UNION.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, May 28. Numerous matters arising out 01 remits passed by the conference of the Wellington Provincial Farmers’ Union were discussed with the Hons. W. D. S. MacDonald and D. H. Guthrie bydelegates to the conference this afternoon. Hie questions dealt with included shipping operations, tho Meat Trust, and fixing tho price for butter. Mr. MacDonald said, in regard to the question of insulated shipping, he did not think the Government had left anything undone in this respect. Constant representations had been made to Sir J. Ward, urging that more shipping should be placed at the disposal of New Zealand, and every effort had been made to influence the minds of the Imperial authorities that the position was urgent so far as tho Dominion wai concerned.

Mr. G. L. Marshall (president of the union) : Is it not a fact that the Meat Trust has had influences at work to divert some of the ships that should have come here?

The Minister replied that he had boon advised from England that influences of the trust had no such effect at all. The same question had occurred to him after the Act of last session had been passed, and it was for for that reason he had inquiries made in the Old Country. The trust was not able to interfere with the shipping position at all. In x-espect to the operations of the Meat Trust, Mr. MacDonald said that an export license was not needed this year, as the companies were selling the moat to the New Zealand Government, which obtained the supplies for the Home Government. To him that appeared to be a weakness, but it was in accordance with legislation passed last year. Of course, farmers could help the Government in the matter if they refused to sell meat to the trust. However, the position had not been so severe during ijJie war, as the Imperial Government had been purchasing all supplies pf meat in the Dominion, and had even had to ojitain supplies from the Meat Trust itself. At tho same time the general position was serious, and he was strongly of opinion that before the meat contract with the Imperial authorities ceased a strong commission should be sent Home from New Zealand to inquire into the whole question, but they would have to await the arrival of the two loaders from the Old Country before anything could be done. Personally ho believed tho Government would have to send agents abroad to look after the interests of producers of the country. He hoped Dr. Reakes would be able to go Home within the next few months to go into the whole position. The conference had suggested that the names of representatives of the Moat Trust should be published, and ho could not see any reason why that should not be done. PRICE OF BUTTER.

So far as the fixation of prices was concerned, he know it was a most difficult matter to deal with. It was said hero yesterday that the fixation of prices and interfering with the produce of farmers was done for political purposes. That was not a fair statement. Whatever had been done had been done to protect the produce of the farmers of this country. The Minister wont on to explain the position regarding the prices of butter and potatoes. With regard to the potatoes, no said the reason why the embargo had been placed on their export was that the price had soared from £3 15s to £T7 and upwards to £2O per ton. He knew it was unfair to exercise drastic powers in connection with the produce of the soil, but they wore living under extraordinary conditions, and food prices had gone up tremendously. Therefore they could not wonder at industrial unrest when it was found that prices increased to such an extent. It could bo understood why workers asked for more wages, and why stopwork and like meetings were held. HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER. Speaking of hydro-electric power, the Minister said it would be a good thing for the coal position in the country it the cool stores were connected up with hydro-electric power schemes. When the hydro-electric proposals of the Minister of Public Works (Sir William Fraser) became an accomplished fact, farmers should not rest content until every cool store in the country was connected with power supply stations. SHIPPING DIFFICULTY. . Mr. Guthrie said that everything fiossible was being done to try to reieve the shipping position. The Government had been assured that a fair apportionment of the shipping had been' allocated to New Zealand. Compared with Australia, no doubt, the Dominion had been overshadowed by the name Australasia, a proper distinction not having been made between the two countries of Australia and New Zealand. Had it not been for strikes and epidemics more ships would have been available for loading in Now Zealand. At the present time half the season's output of cheese, amounting to 447,000 crates, was in store. With regard to butter, they had nothing to fear, and the same could be said regarding wool. They could get plenty of space for the shipment of wool. There was an idea abroad that the equalisation scheme in respect to butter pressed heavily on the exporters. Cabinet was considering the suggestion to take from the consolidated fund the money necessary to improve the position of those producers w'hose butter was kept for local consumption at a lower price than that fixed for export.

WASTE LANDS.' Dealing with the question of waste lands, Mr. Guthrie said that Sir Francis Bell was fully alive to the necessity for such lands being planted as soon as possible. He felt sure that as soon as funds and labour were available Sir Francis Bell would go ahead with a vigorous policy. THE AUCKLAND CONFERENCE. AUCKLAND, May 28. The Auckland Provincial Farmers’ Union to-day passed unanimously a number of remits advocating a progressive development policy on the part of the Government, in the direction of developing idle lands of the Dominion, in order to increase the output of primary products of the country. It was recommended that progressive reports he. prepared of all unused lands of the Dominion by special boards in each land district, acting in conjunction with the Commissioner of Crown Lands. The boards would he required to make recommendations as to the best and quickest method of bringing lands into production.