FARMERS’ UNION

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 92, 20 April 1938, Page 9

FARMERS’ UNION

'REPLIES TO REMITS MINISTERS AND DEPARTMENTS The Wanganui Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union has been furnished by head office with replies made by various Minsters of the Crown and their departments to remits sent forward from the February meeting of the Dominion executive. The most important matters from a Wanganui standpoint are contained in the following:— Minister of Finance Remit. —“That the executive again call the Minister’s attention to the following resolution passed at the Dominion executive meeting held in December, 1937: ‘That the union support the local bodies in their request for a £ for £ subsidy on secondary roads until such time as we get derating.’ ” Reply.—ln my opinion the adoption of a rigid and arbitrary method of allocating subsidies such as that proposed has little to commend it, either from the point of view of the general taxpayer who would be required to find the money, or even many of the local authorities, some of which would not benefit from the change. When it is remembered that funds for reading expenditure by local authorities are derived from a variety of sources including rates, heavy traffic fees, subsides from petrol tax, general taxation. Government loan moneys and Employment Promotion Fund ,it will be perceived there may be numerous instances where the rates collected are subsidised more than £ for £. The present system allows for elasticity in the provision of financial assistance where it is most required, and consequently I am not in favour of any alteration on the lines suggested by your executive.” Remit.—“ That the Dominion executive ask to have the deduction made from income tax for the amount paid in unemployment tax.” Reply.—“ The union's representations in this connection will be carefully considered by the Government, but I would, however, point out that in estimating the revenue from income tax, allowance is made by the Government only for the existing exemptions and deductions. If these were extended it follows that in order to obtain the same net revenue as previously, it would be necessary to increase the rate of tax. On balance the average taxpayer would thus be liable for the same amount of total tax (employment promotion and income) as at present.”

Minster of Marketing Remit.—“As the dairy industry sells its products to the Government, and the Government, as the buyer, fixes the price, this meeting requests the Government to disclose to the producers the full report of the investigating committee relating to the guaranteed price.” Reply.—“l have nothing to add to the statements already made by me when this question has been previously raised. The essential features and information contained in the report have been published in the annual report of the Primary Products Marketing Department, and in the Press.” Remit.—“ That the union call upon the Government to make a retrospective payment at the end of the present season on a butterfat basis to cover raised production costs due to factory and other workers’ awards or any other causes during the present season.” Reply.—“ The present prices were fixed on a cost basis which it was considered would cover any increases of costs due to factory and other workers’ awards. The representations of the union are noted and they will be given careful consideration.” The Prime Minister Remit.—“ That this executive cannot advise farmers to co-operate in the matter of land utilsation survey and the sociological inquiry unless the Government is prepared to publish the results of such investigations and the purpose for which they are intended.” “That the Dominion executive enters the strongest possible protest against the policy of Government departments appealing against the decision of Adjustment Commissions.” Reply.—" The resolutions are being placed before the Government for consideration.” Commissioner of Transport A letter from the Commissioner of Transport dealing with farm tractors states:—“Under section 25 of the Statutes Amendment Act. 1937, farm tractors and traction engines are exempted from registration fees. The present position concerning farm tractors which are used on the road is as follows: If they are used exclusively for agricultural purposes, then they and the trailers drawn by them (it so exclusively used) are exempted from licence fees ,registration fees and heavy traffic fees, but ‘E’ plates will be required for them and third-party insurance will be payable. The plates cost 2s per annum and <he insuran e for tractors is 10s and for trailers 6s. It is not considered that a tractor or traction engine drawing farm produce to the market is being used for agricultural purposes. You will recollect that this question was discussed between us recently. I take it that you will take steps to advise your members of the position and the Registrar of Motor Vehicle is communicating with all postmasters for the same purpose.”

National Dairy Federation Remit. —“That this meeting considers that deferred payments made by dairy companies annually should cease to be referred to as bonuses, and should be called deferred payments.” Reply from the National Dairy Federation.—“l wish to advise that at a meeting of my executive held to-day (March 24} a resolution was passed strongly supporting the views expressed in the resolution passed by your executive. It was also decided that the matter should be publicly dealt with at our forthcoming annual conference which is to be held at New Plymouth in June next.”

THE TURAKINA BRANCH ANNUAL MEETING HELD At the annual general meeting of the Turakina branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union there was a good attendance of members, Mr. J. A. Harris being in the chair. Mr. Harris, in his report to members, dealt first of all with the farmer’s place in politics. Other sections of the community were organised, he said, and were making their influence felt with the,Government. It was time the farmer realised his position anJ gave greater support to his union. The National Farmers’ Union in Great Britain was non-party in its political attitude, but recent events clearly showed the influence of this body on the British Government. During his recent trip to England, he had made it has business to visit the scene of an outbreak of the foot and mouth disease, and witnessed sights which could only be described as appalling. There was no organisation in New Zealand that could cope with an outbreak, should one ever occyir in this country, and even if there were, the expense of controlling the disease would be a staggering one beyond the resources of this country. He found that leading farmers at home were often ignorant of the conditions here, but readily accepted his explanation that introcFuction ol the disease would spell ruin to the New Zealand farmer, as the wild animals such as rabbits and deer covered extensive areas and would quickly spread the plague. Government scientific research stations at home were doing good wot k from which farmers would ultimately reap the benefit. However there was often delay in getting the results: ol important scientific discoveries on to tthe market as some vested interests were always trying to obtain monopolies in these lines, and such attempts had to be guarded against. The report and balance sheet, the lattei showing a healthy credit balance, were adopted.

The election of officers for the ensuing year resulted: President, Mr J. A. Harris (re-elected); vice-presi-dents, Messrs. H. J. Cameron, D. M. Lethbridge (both re-elected); committee, the retiring committee was reelected with the addition of Mr. M Goldsbury; honorary secretary, D. A. Cameron.

A general discussion ensued on matters affecting the union, after which Mr. Guildford, State placement officer, briefly explained the operations of his department. The chairman then called on Mr. L. Hammond, provincial president, to address the meeting. The latter in a survey of some of the important activities of the union first of all mentioned the complaint sometimes heard that members of the union hau not had an opportunity of discussing remits which came before the Dominion executive. This had always been a difficult question, but alter all whose fault was it? Meetings branches were called and often members preferred to remain by the fireside. He paid a warm tribute to the support and activity of the W.D.F.U., the enthusiasm of this body being an object lesson to the union. He stressed the point that the union was definitely opposed to Government control and sale of produce, and went on to explain the compensated price proposals. Where the Government decided to step in and commandeer the farmers’ produce what the union asked was that farmers should be allowed a remuneration commensurate with the service they rendered, and with that obtained by other members of the community who tendered equal service. A special committee had been set up by the union, and, after exhaustive enquiries, had prepared figures, which proved that the dairy farmer was underpaid by between 2d and 3d per pound ol butter-fat. These figures had been confirmed b> another body working entirely independently, but were consistently ignored by the Government. , . ; .,u. nislarices could be quoted ol Lumets’ sons, alter receiving a good education, found their way into other professions. The loss of these men was a severe blow to the farming industry, but they could not be blamed for their choice when the future of the man on the land was so uncertain. Uneconomic secondary industries presented a further problem to the primary producer, who eventually hau to pay the cost of carrying on these concerns. Altogether the speaker felt veiy pessimistic over the farmer’s future unless something was done very soon to stem the tide of rising costs. The farmer was the one man who could not pass on these costs, and where was he going to end? A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Hammond and Mr. Guildford, carried by acclamation, brought the meeting to a close.