FARMERS' UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16821, 28 May 1919, Page 11

FARMERS' UNION

| WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CONi : FERENCE. PRESIDENT'S' ADDEESS 1 . [ (Per Press Association.) "WELLINGTON, May 27. •Thfe Wellington Farmers' Union Provincial Conference was opened to-day. In his presidential address Mr G. L. Marshall said it was wonderful how necessary work had been got through during the past season in spite of the shortage of labour and the epidemic. The autumn proved disappointing for farmers, as very dry weather shortened the season by nearly a month, and made the prospects gloomy. The chief cause of complaint, however,' had been the inability of the freezing works ,to cope with the quantity of fat Btock. Insulated tonnage had not arrived in time to save the situation. The Board of Trade had allotted a certain number of ships for the Australasian trade, and farmers were told that Australia had got more than half her meat away. Why were the ships allowed to go there? Firstly, the American Meat Trust -owned a large proportion of the Australian output, and it seemed probable that influence had been at work. He alluded to further attempts on the part of the Government to interfere with and control the prices of primary produce. He (the president) thought that such interference tended to reduce production. It was the height of folly for the Government to put an embargo oh the. export of potatoes. The Government had discouraged the growing of wheat by offering a non-paying price in the previous season. The coming election would have an important bearing on the future of the Dominion, and it was high time that the farming community bestirred itself and exerted greater influence in the political arena. The Union could do nothing unless organised, and an organiser had already been appointed, and candidates would have active support or opposition from the solid body of producers which would materially affect their chances of election. The result.of recent by-elections gave them rnucli cause for reflection. "We have nothing to fear from any member who is actuated by real love of King and country, but I fear there is a large mixture of people, chiefly in cities, who will give their votes to the loudest mouthed demagogue who will give voice to any wild, untried and lawless opinions, which he thinks will appeal to an unreasoning mob." The president went on to appeal to the members of the Farmers' Union to organise their branches so that they might do their part to preserve our land from the hands of irresponsibles who wished to force upon us a kind of social terrorism, which would paralyse industry and-bring ruin on the community. It was perfectly obvious that as long as an increasingly large part of the community persisted in demanding shorter hours, and in decreasing the weekly output or the value of their work, so long would the conditions of living be increasingly difficult. Until people in general were ready to once more give a fair day's work for a fair day's pay, the prevailing unrest was bound to increase. The. appointment of an Industrial Council might possibly have a good effect i At the conclusion of the address some members objected to the president's reference to the. "loudest mouthed demagogues," as it "was felt that; the remark would antagonise labour. Mr Marshall stated that he did not refer to the Labour Party. This was the first time the president's address, had been discussed, and he took full (responsibility for the remarks. [ Finally a vote of thanks to the presfc; i dent was carried. p SUBJECTS DISCUSSED. f

: .It was resolved to bring before ' resolutions were passed bringing beiore , tne brov eminent the serious position ot ; tiie farming community owing to the shortage' 01 insulated snipping; and. consequent congestion of meat in the cold ; stores of tne .Dominion, also tnat tjie f Dominion Conference be. asked to call a meeting of the snipping Committee with the object of lor warning a plan ito safeguard shipping interests. : < : At the Wellington Farmers' Provincial Conference Mr It. Vautier (Whakaronga) moved—"Tbat. in view of the heavy taxation of land Parliament be asked to allow all farm produce to be placed on the open market." Mr A. J. Parker (Hukanui) said it would be fatal if the cheese contract was not adhered to. He knew froin influential quarters that the Imperial Government would be .very glad to cancel the contract if New; Zealand farmers agreed. He moved an amendment that the Government be urged to further meddling with the open market prices in favour of the New Zealand consumer. This' was .lost on a division. I A further amendment that the' Farmers' Union protests against the Government fixing. the .priee, .of butter at 2£d below the export "price was moved by ' Mr Vile. I Mr W. B. MatJheson moved that I where the Government deliberately reduces the•' -returns' for ajiy man's 1 laj hour for the general good, the cost of such reduction' 'should bo recouped to the labour^ 1 * out of the Consolidated Fund. I The amendments moved 'by Mr Vile : and Mr Matheson were put together and carried' unanimously, and- referred , to. the Dominion Conference.' Other resolutions were:— That an injustice, is done to farmers' wives engaged in actual farm work, by refusing to allow deductions for suciu services, and the conference urges the i Minister of Finance to allow a reasonable deduction to- be ■ made in the , assessment of income tax. I That the Railway Department he requested to arrange faster carriage of cheese and butter from factories to cool stores in Wellington. That the attention of the Railway Department he drawn to the fact that | the Government grader reported to certain factories that _ their cheese arrived in cool stores in Wellington 1 with large pieces cut out of cheese. That the attention of the Minister .of Railways be called to the unsatisfactory regulations exempting the Department from responsibility for short delivery of consignments of cheese at the Harbour Board's grading stores. That the Government be persistently pressed until it takes more active steps 1 ,to put the Department of Forestry in , working order. ' 1 That the State Forestry Department be asked to endeavour to establish plantations on some of the sand wastes ' i on Crown lands.