CROWN TENANTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21362, 3 June 1939, Page 5

CROWN TENANTS

President Reviews Year “ Anything But Happy One ” At the annual meeting of the New Zealand Crown Tenants’ Association, held in Timaru on Thursday, there were present the following delegates from branches: Messrs J. J. Gregan (president), J. A. Bell. W. Collins, C. R. Goulter, W. Mackintc-’i, A. G. Morrison. B. J. Moyle, C. F. Rose, B. Sievwright and R. Yates. The president, in emphasising that the Association was a non-political body, said that because the executive had passed a resolution favouring the principle of guaranteed prices it did not necessarily follow that the Association was in any way supporting or attached to the Labour Party. President’s Report Reviewing the past year, the president said that it had been anything but a happy one for many of the Crown tenants and the farming community in general. The troubles chiefly had been seasonal. As they were well aware last year was one of the wettest on record, proving disastrous to many of the cropping men. There was also the difficulty of getting in rape and turnips for fattening purposes. This, together with the drop in mutton prices, reflected seriously on those who had to face the market with their store sheep, especially the hillcountry mei. who had been hit badly. After the New Zealand the weather’ te'k another turn and now they were passing through a serious drought, many farmers being short of water as well as feed for their stock.

Mr Gregan said that awaiting the results of the Adjustment Commission the Association had had a comparatively quiet year. Ever since the inception of the Association the chief aim and objects, so far as Crown tenants were concerned had been to get land values down to a productive basis. The passing of f ? Mortgagors’ Relief and Reh .bbilitation Act, and the setting up of commissions to deal with same was an ' nest endeavour on behalf of the Government to do so. This was all right so far as it went if costs and prices could, have been stabilised on the 10 year average which was the basis of adjustment. But since then costs had incre-sed and prices had dropped, and many farmers found themselves little better off. ' trG of Costs “My opinion i- that until there is some stabilisation of prices which would automatically control costs there will be no st dlity c' land values.” said Mr Gregan, continuing his address. The Government was setting un a Royal Commission to inquire into the many problems c 'fronting the farm, ar 1 it hoped a satisfactory solution would be brought about. In conclusion he thanked all those who assisted him '’uring the year. He advised members to put their weight behind the Association as it was very necessary that it should be kc -t to its full strength. Mr R. Yates (vice-president) appealed for young men to be appointed to execut’ve positions in the various branches of the tssociat'on. Officers Ejected The following were elected for the coming year: ’’resident, Mr J. J. Gregan; v’ce-residents, Mes-ns R. Yates and B. J. Moyle. It was decided donate to the various clubs in the Canterbury group, a challenge cup for comp, tition by Young Farmers’ Clubs, " r inter-club debates. Fairlie Remit A remit from the Fairlie branch was carried after i + had been amended to read as follows: "In view of the very low prices received and the drought conditions prevailing, this meeting asks the Government to give the primary producers some protection in the way of a moratorium, until the investigations of the Royal Commission of Agriculture are completed and producers placed in a more secure position.” It was resolved that the resolution passed at the previous meeting, supporting the principle of guaranteed prices, be forwarded to the South Canterbury branches c f the Farmers' Union asking them to support the resolution. It was decided to rsk branches of the Association to gather information with a view to the Crown Tenants’ Association giving evi. nee before the Royal Commission of Agriculture when it sits.