FAIRLIE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20513, 3 September 1936, Page 3

FAIRLIE

CRITICISM OF NEW LEGISLATION ADDRESS BY MR O’REGAN Mr P. J. O’Regan, Canterbury and West Coast representative on the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union addressed a meeting of members of the Union and Women's Division in Fairlie on Tuesday night. As he had been a member of the executive for 12 months, he apologised for remaining away from the district so long. His address was generally on similar lines to the one he gave at Temuka earlier in the day. Mr W. M. Black, president of the Fairlie branch of the Farmers’ Union, presided, and at the conclusion of the meeting supper was served by members of the Women’s Division. In so far as it had eliminated the stay order, Mr O’Regan said, the mortgage legislation passed by the present Government was an improvement on the former Act. He believed, however, that it would have been better if the whole matter had been left alone. ‘The people who made the deal should have been the ones to adjust it,” he added. The new Act was “a modest document of 84 clauses,” and for that reason he had not had time to go through it in detail. With regard to the farm labour question, Mr O'Regan said that after the election, the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) had asked the Farmers’ Union Executive to appoint a committee to make suggestions in the matter. On page 19 of" his pamphlet, Mr Nash had stated that a guaranteed price would entail guaranteed wages, but Mr Armstrong had reversed that order and had wanted to fix the wages first. At that time, however, the Cabinet itself had not been aware of the guaranteed price for butterfat. In answer to a question put by Mr John Trotter, Mr O’Regan said that at present farmers were not under the Arbitration Act. Some portions of rural industries, such as shearing, were under an award, but the agreement made between the Government and the Farmers’ Union was outside the Act. Powers of Minister If the system of marketing as contained in the Primary Produce Marketing Act was extended, the speaker stated, the functions of Government would be multiplied. He referred to the absolute power placed in the hands of the Minister, and considered that producers would not receive any more than their produce realised. Mr Nash had stated that anything over and above the market price would be given to the farmers at the end of the year, but that meant an abandonment of the reasons for a guaranteed price. If the Government dared to dip into taxation to subsidise exports a town versus country outcry would immediately result, and that was what politicians wanted to avoid. Further, he did not think the Government would revert to inflation for the subsidy of exports, because that would affect the exchange between England and New Zealand. Both the present and the last Government were trying to take credit for the improvement in prices, said Mr O'Regan; but if world conditions were examined it would be found that there had been no additional inflation and no further recent impositions of trade barriers, if the Japanese-Australian dispute was excepted. The improvement in his opinion, was therefore due to the fact that after trying all manner of remedies, politicians had left matters alone. Mr C. H. Whatman referred to Mr O’Regan’s remarks as a “political address.” “I feel sure that you will all agree that he has the political situation at his finger tips,” he added. The Farmers’ Union was supposed to be a non-political organisation, and if members of the Union were to listen to addresses like that given by Mr O’Regan, they should also have a Labour speaker present to put forward the other side. Mr O’Regan said it was difficult to deal with matters of vital importance to farmers without touching on politics. Government, in his opinion, should be confined to administration and defence, and a country would be governed better If the functions of the Government were reduced. “Government functions are becoming so involved,” he added, “that if we are prepared to countenance them, we must be prepared to bear a large Increase in the cost of government.” A vote of thanks was accorded the speaker for his address. ROLLER SKATING On Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday right there were large attendances at a children’s roller skating carnival in the Aorangi Hall. Prizes were won as follows: Potato race: N. Surridge 1, M. Surridge 2, Brian Edwards 3. Circular race: Harry Dore 1, N. Surridge 2. Girls’ circular race: Doreen Dunn 1, Ngaire Rapley 2. Boys’ circular race: M. Surridge 1. Brian Edwards 2. Boys’ trolley race: Brian Edwards 1, N. Surridge 2. Boys’ race: N. Whitehead 1, Leo. Edwards 2. Fancy costumes: Best costume, Mary Macdonald (girls), and John Dore (boys); most M. Surridge; comical, Graham Mt..ichester; special prize, IT. Whitehead. INDUCTION SERVICE The Rev. J. S. Strang of Gatlins, Southland, who has accepted the call from St. Columba Presbyterian Church. Fairlie, will be inducted at 3 o’clock next Thursday afternoon. The Rev. James Baird. of Highfield, Timaru. will preside at the ceremony and induct the new minister. The sermon will be given by the Rev. Patterson, of St. Andrews, and the Rev. F. H. Wilkinson will address the newly-inducted minister and the congregation. The Rev. W. Marshall who has been relieving at Fairlie, will complete his term in the district with the services on Sunday He is returning to Ashburton on Monday.