FARMERS’ UNION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18832, 21 March 1931, Page 6

FARMERS’ UNION.

TIMARU-ST. ANDREWS BRANCH. I A meeting of the Executive of the ! Timaru-St. Andrews Branch of the | New Zealand Farmers’ Union, was held yesterday. Present—Messrs P. R. Talbot (president), A. Ward, W. J. Black, i E. Hart, B. E. Evans, R. W. Gainsford, D. M. France, R. B. Williams, W. J. Beattie, J. J. Hall, J. Green, F. S. Squire, H. W. Hewson, and L. G. Smith. Referring to the matter of unemployment, the chairman said that seme of the schemes brought down by the Unemployment Board were suitable for farmers. He though, that Mr McKessar should be invited to attend a meeting at an early date to explain the schemes outlined. Mr Black said he regarded some of the schemes as something of a farce. He considered that if the money was to be spent it should go on productive work. Mr France wanted twenty men for potato picking. It was explained that this did not come under the Unemployment Board’s subsidised scheme. Mr France: What’s the good of it then? We- want the money spent on productive work. Mr Black: It is just as Harry Lauder said, “there are rules to go by, and they just go by them.” (Laughter.) The chairman said the Unemployment question was a difficult problem, and they should assist those who were endeavouring to solve it. He would confer with Mr McKessar and would report to the next meeting of the Branch. A letter was received from the Otago Executive of the Farmers’ Union, enclosing the copy of a letter sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Agriculture, urging that the powers vested in the Government should be put into operation to prevent the dumping of oats, barley and chaff in New Zealand. It‘was explained that with wool, butter and meat being at zero prices in the markets of the world, farmers were relying upon the domestic markets for the sale of their oats, barley and chaff, but by permitting, these commodities to be dumped here from Australia at prices below the productive level, local products became practically unsaleable. If the New Zealand market was to remain open to Australian operators who knew no law, the position would become untenable for local producers. The meeting supported the policy advocated by the Otago Union, and decided to send a recommendation to the South Canterbury Executive to carry the matter further. Wages Cut. A copy of a circular issued by the railway servants protesting against the proposed 10 per cent, reduction in salaries, was received. The chairman said the Union was asking the Government to cut wherever it could. “We have to cut, and we get a lot less than these people,” observed Mr Talbot. “There is something to be said on either side.” Mr France: “And we are asked by the Chamber of Commerce to keep oats and produce up.” The chairman: “The lower paid men are the difficulty. If some of them on the lowest basis are cut they will have some trouble in making things meet. A man getting a £IOOO a year will only come down £IOO, whereas they could easily come down £2OO. I have discussed this matter with a number of railway men and they are up against the men on the high salaries only receiving a 10 per cent. cut. These men have a certain amount of justification for their grouse. Farmers have to cut down their overhead charges, but higher paid men will have to forego more.

Mr Williams: “I sympathise with the lower paid men.” The chairman: “The lower paid men are up against it. Men getting £SOO a year and over should come down, and some are expecting that they will come down. Just after the war salaries went up 50 per cent., and things would have to come down to a normal standard.”

Mr France said he was in touch with a good many railway men, and they told him that the higher paid men should have a bigger cut. There were inspectors that could be done without. “They have inspectors watching other inspectors,” said Mr France, “and they get up to £7OO or £BOO a year. It is astounding how money goes out for useless men.”

The president: “The cut should be made on a graduated basis, with a

steep graduation in the case of the men with high salaries. The others are prepared to help so long as there is an equal sacrifice.”

Mr Black: "We very much regret that there should be any necessity for any reduction. By the end of the financial year it will be found that the revenue will be less by £25,000,00 than last year, and this means that there will be £25,000,000 less for a million and a half people to spend. Next year it will be nearer £40,000,000 less. Taking that into account, it means that someone will have to go short. I don’t think the farmers are making any money. About 90 per cent, of the farmers cannot carry on unless there is a reduction in wages. The best time the farmers had was when wages were high. Everybody was getting good pay and prices were good. I think the same thing will happen again. If we could only find the money to pay the wages, then it would be all right.” Mr Squire: I think there should not be a cut on the lower-paid men. We are asking for good prices for our produce, and how can we ask the lowerpaid men to be cut. It is all right for the higher-paid man to be cut, because he is not buying our produce. He spends his money on things other than the necessary commodities of life.” The meeting decided to receive the communication after having discussed it.

WOMEN’S DIVISION. A meeting of the Women’s Division of the South Canterbury Farmers’ Union was held yesterday, the president (Mrs J. O. J. Oliver) presiding over a good attendance. A letter was received from the Ternuka Flourmilling Company offering a 501 b and 251 b bag of flour as prizes for a cookery competition, to be promoted by the Union. It was decided to accept the offer. The president read an extract of a letter received from Mrs F. J. Carter, president of the Hawera Division, giving an idea of what the Division had done in assisting with earthquake refugee work. The president mentioned that Mrs J. Carter had recently been made a Justice of the Peace, and it was agreed to send her a letter of congratulation. It was stated that the earthquake contributions had amounted to over £7, and the Division acknowledged additional donations since the last list was published from Mesdames Watson, Hewson, Olliver, Simmons, McConnell, A. L. Gee, Kelland, Paterson, Vincent, Black, Jackson, O. E. Oliver, Gordon Campbell, H. J. Evans, S. R. Jackson, McPherson, Webb, J. J. Page, H. Moyle’ Sullivan, L. G. Smith, S. A. Marshall] W. J. White, R. Parry and Caird.