FARMERS!

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 222, 8 December 1926, Page 5

FARMERS!

PEC-Vil-ifOIAL EXECUTIVE. MEETING AT WAIPUKURAU. ; ne. first meeting of thp executive of tne Hawke’s Bay Provincial District of tiie N.Z. Fanners’ Union to take place in Waipukurau was that hold i,n the Oddfellows ’ Hall yesterday afternoon. Mr J. H. Joll, provincial president and chairman of the executive, presided over a large and representative attendance of members. RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCE. The Chairman referred to the death of 3Fr Paul Hunter as a provincial and Dominion-wide loss, and a resolution of. condolence with the relatives of the deceased gentleman was passed in the customary manner. NEW MEMBERS. 3Eessrs W. Richmond and R. ‘.J. 8011, proposed, by 3'lr Field for membership, were elected as such. The resignation of Mr C. I\ Goodrick, Mangateretcre, was received and accepted. CORRESPONDENCE INWARD SCUSSIONS The Dominion Secretary wrote in regard to the Daylight Saving Bill. ■ ■Mr Tanscy said it would be a waste of time to discuss the Bill. It was agreed to support the Df-min-ion executive in its opposition to the Bill. The Dominion secretary forwarded advice in regard to rural credits, advocating support to the recommendations of the Commission. The setting up of a district committee was deferred till next meeting at Hastings. The secretary of the VYairoa branch of the N.Z. Union communicated with the District anent the blackberry nuisance, urging support of the efforts of the Cawthornc Institute.—This was agreed to. Incidently Mr L. M. Monckton referred to a visit of Professor 3Filler and his advice as to a natural enemy —a beetle. The Napier Stationmaster replied to representations made as to warning bells, to the effect that the matter would be brought before, the Department. —Received. The Head Office of the New Zealand Union forwarded advice as to the travelling expenses of the Dominion Organiser.—Received. The secretary of the Gisborne branch of the • New Zealand Union forwarded a protest against wool being sold below the cost of production, for the endorsement of the district. The formation of a wool board -was advocated for the purpose of valuing the product, ami countering dictation by the buyers. It was contended that while pence per lb were vital in the ease of the producer the amount involved was not so in the case of the consumer. Mr Tanscy agreed with the chairman as to the statements being in order. The producers had to face a controlled market. They wanted, a fair pi'icc. It was pointed out that the price of wool had no special beat ing upon the cost of a suit priced' at say £ll, as it contained only about Slbs of the raw material. Air Livingston pointed out that 2ibs of -wool should make a suit but he allowed Gibs. A bale at 1/- per would represent £l6, and in a sud £560, as applied to its weight. Air Riggar stated that in sending wool Home his neighbour had boon uai 1 13-ld., and he received 141 d., for tl e same quality. The prices paid Avm-e different as applied to one farmer ami another. Air Nestor moved that a Wool Board be formed. There were only four, countries exporting large supplies oj wool. New Zealand, Australia, Bourn Africa, and the Argentine. Air Livingston seconded the motion. Air Beamish mentioned the allege 1 export knowledge of a Bradford ma-~. who had classed dog’s hair as a Wlknow wool product. He referred to tuo expensive operation of 8.A.33 .R._-~ (the British and Australian Wool Realisation Association.) In his opinion the wool should be. classified by the farmers, and the price fixed for each grade. Wool would always be a able commodity. The producer in the hands of the woobbuycr, and had to pay whatever price asked for tie finished article. The cost per lb of wool outward and inwari/ he had forwarded to Bradford, as raw material and a .finished article, respectively had been only 6d, per lb. By combination and unity the farmers could briny about a great change for the bettffiQ

The Chairman said that the minister had refused to set up a Wool Control Board as requested by the N.Z. Union. Neither wool nor mutton were paying the producer to-day. Farmers were selling at a “song” and buying at a high price. By taxation and otherwise the. producer was being penalised. Mr Tanscy said the country must produce £60,000,000 worth of exportable goods to meet its liabilities. Air Biggar spoke very strongly In opposition to the methods adopted by the wool buyers. \ The motion was carried unanimously. The Provincial Secretary of the Southern Hawke’s Bay District wrote suggesting a conference between the executives of the respective Hawke’s Bay district organisations as to matters of mutual concern.

The Chairman said he would be willing to meet M.r H.. S. M. Quigley (the secretary,) and this was agreed to on Air Tansev’s motion.

The Chairman had correspondence bearing upon the subject of boundaries between the Southern Hawke’s Bay ami H.B. Provincial districts, the greater part of the Waipukurau County bo- i ing agreed upon as included in the latter area. Porangahau being left in the Southern District. ml ad OFFICE PAPERS Information forwarded from the Hoad Office included the papers regarding the following matters:- — (1) South Australian Dairy Cattle Improvement ,Aet 1921. (2) The outlook for wool. (3) ’.Receipts and payments for the period Ist. July—2nd. October. 1926. (4) Proposed wool soiling. (5) Replies of Ministers regarding , conference remits. The objects of the ' former is the elimination of the scrub bull, and this was approved. The Chairman mentioned the value of herd testing and stated that it had been shown that a eow had produced as low a value of production as 16/-. I The Dominion average had been L’OOib- j of butterfat per cow. • The outlook for wool was referred to as healthy. The receipts for the period of four months were shown as £744 16s. ana expenditure £.1273 17s lid. The Chairman said the position is satisfactory. It was stated that the -wool totalled 500,000 hales as compared with JOO.OOd about .fourteen years back, and the i separation of the North and South Is- j lauds was favoured for grouping purposes as to selling. Mr Nestor spoke in support of a longer time for each sale and a greater period between sales. On Mr Monckton’s motion this business was held over for discussion later. Mr Nestor proposed ami it was agreed to circularise the executive as to naming the six most important mat- j tors for consideration by the Dominion j executive. Mr Monckton referred to the fact that by the combination of~merchants the farmers had been prevented from 1 obtaining Nauru phosphates ar the same price as the commercial The Chairman said that lie had been informed that there was a difference of £5 per ton between the Nauru price and that in New Zealand. Mr Nestor urged that the capital value system would remedy matters as | to farm lands in boroughs and some i districts—thus- obviating the need for the proposed differentiation in Taring. , DOMINION RALLY j ■The Chairman read a letter from the j Dominion Organiser (Mr McAlpine) ! inviting Mr and. Mrs .Toll and others to be present at a monster demonstration to be held in Wanganui, on Thursday 9th. inst. Mr Beamish said that a similar rally should be hold in the leading province of the Dominion. —Hawke’s Bay. (Laughter), and he proposed that the Chairman endeavour to arrange the event. This was agreed to. The chairman suggested a date in February. GENERAL MATTERS It was agreed to support the elimination of the preference to Unionists clause in the Arbitration Act, the matter being in the hands of the Dominion executive. Air Livingston referred to the need for expert advice being obtained as to the use of irrigation pumps, the importance of the right plant being very , essential. ■ Air Beamish considered that the Government should also disseminate authoritative information on this important phase of increased production, and it was agreed to communicate with the Government accordingly. With a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman the'meeting closed.