FARMERS’ CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17408, 22 May 1928, Page 8

FARMERS’ CONFERENCE.

Farmers from all over the Auckland Province gathered in Toorak Chambers this morning, -when the 28th annual conference of the Auckland provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union commenced. There are G 7 remits dealing with land, export, produce and control boards, finance, taxation, prices, education, arbitration Court, politics and miscellaneous matters, sent from nearly every branch in the province. v Mayor’s Welcome. In welcoming delegates the Mayor (Mr. ,T. R. Fow) said he realised from tiie agenda paper much business was coming forward. lie was pleased to welcome old acquaintances and memories were revived when, as a business man he'worked solely for the farmer. Tlie coming of the conference was a compliment to Hamilton. The discussion and solution of problems and removal of difficulties would do much good. In the ’seventies times were hard for the farmers, but with plenty of grit they won through. Socially, farming was immeasurably better nowadays. The motor-car, telephone and wireless had dispensed with isolation. However, for a man to reap and enjoy the fruits of his labour constituted the very honey of life the world over. Increased Knowledge. “ I hope your conference will result in your getting a full share of what is due to you. (Hear, hear). Leaving politics out, you realise more business methods are necessary for selling your wares. Increased knowledge should bring increased production and profits to those engaged. The question centres round how you can conserve for yourselves the fruits of your labour. (Jlear, hear.). Having confidence in your leaders, the one thing you have to learn if you are to improve your position, is loyalty to yourselves. (Applause.) “ I sincerely hope that as the result of your conlidence you will advance another step toward the goal you are aiming for, and I know that will be a fair return for a fair day’s work.” (Applause.) Replying, Mr. A. A. Ross, the provincial president, voiced appreciation of the Mayor’s remarks. It was the first occasion the provincial conference was held in Hamilton, and he fully believed it would not bo the last.” “We are meeting in what is undoubtedly the most important part of the province,” said Mr. Ross. “ The Waikato is the most closely-settled in the Dominion, and we cannot meet in a belter place.” PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. _ “Dealing with the work of the Union in the province, 1 will not be able to do more than touch upon a few of the principal points,” said .Mr Ross in his presidential address. "The question of the wisdom or otherwise of 'the subsidy on the export of pork was considered, and the discussion disclosed much difference of opinion. “A proposal by the Meat Board for the adoption of the Australian Patterson scheme to stimulate the export of beef was not supported. “The question of dairy control has been up for consideration at various times, but the executive has not «een its way to any definite action, the view being taken that the board having been captured by the opponents of the original idea, there is nothing to hope for from it, and nothing to be done until the lime is ripe for rebuilding it on a proper basis. Tariff Revision. “As a revision of the tariff was to be undertaken during the last session of Parliament a very active campaign was conducted with the object of preventing a repetition of what has always happened at previous revisions —an increase in 'the protective duties. When the revision proposals were placed before Parliament they contained very little to which exception could be taken and the Dominion executive was assured 'that the Government was going to adhere to its proposals. This assurance was accepted, but unfortunately it was not carried out. Tlie parties interested in increasing the duties got to vvoi'k, brought all their 'influence to bear, and the final result was an increase in protective duties on a great number of articles, including a number of farm implements previously exempt. “The’ plight of the Ngaroma settlers who had for years been engaged in a losing battle on bush-sick country, was before the executive on various' occasions, and everything possible was done to assist them to put their case before the .Government. The executive is satisfied that the settlers j were placed in an impossible position, and that a reasonable solution of Ltie difficulty should be found. “Among the tariff proposals presented 'to Parliament last session was one to abolish the import duty on maize, and a protest against tlie proposal was put before the executive on behalf of the maize growers in the bay of Plenty district. The executive, while utterly opposed to suc-h duties, felt that this was no‘t the ' n o hl wa to deal with the matter, that it should be taken in. hand only as pait ot a general scheme. The protest was endorsed by the executive, and the pro posat was abandoned. _ Working of Union. “II lias for some time been appare„t Inal there 1. » in llic present arransemenls to lilt working of the Union in this pio\mce, m ,„"l° there is not sumdent touch between the various districts, -P----function effectively as a Jleet bo* sr, "■ s’: cent with the ihea of maiitaimng he nniiv of the province. Bui m orutr that" the idea’ may he properly carried oJi machinery must he pr°v,de<l so that all districts can be fully formed and can readib take ai t llm general movement. With this on s ec tln view the sub-provincial scheme was set on foot a number of years * a o but it has not proved a conspicuous’ success The executive is still ol . ls s . u . n th „t .iiw, sub-provincial idea J" ™h 0 o' anh tlia't it should he re-estahUshed, Ml »" » fro*" b f ?' with its finances controlled by and its general working. kept in close touch j with the provincial ouica

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL DISTRICT. FIRST SESSION COMMENCES. OFFICIAL WELCOME BY THE MAYOR. MANY REMITS FOR DISCUSSION.

Membership. “There has been a notable increase in the membership of the Province. On April 30, 1927, financial membership stood at 25G3, and on the same date, 1928, 4073, an increase ol’ 151. This does not represent the full improvement, as April orders were not to hand when the books were closed, and we already hold 515 orders lor November payment. Volume of Production. i “It is gratifying to observe that during the period under review farmers have been doing their part, and that notwithstanding some seriously" adverse conditions the volume of production has been well maintained. The number of sheep in the Dominion showed for some years a steady decline, but now we find that it has for two years or so been again on the up-grade, and the rate of increase promises soon to place the number ahead of ail previous records. Wool has again reached high values, and from all appearances should be in a strong position for some lime lo come, while the, production and export of fat lambs goes steadily on, and constitutes a very satisfactory branch of the industry. The volume of dairy produce, in spile of the long dry spell, is practically equal lo last year, which was a long way ahead of any previous record. I’his, of course, is attributable to improvement of stock by testing and culling and to improvement of pastures by top-dressing. Pig production has been increasing considerably, and should be materially improving the dairyman’s net returns, hut unfortunately this does not appear to be the case. This industry will never be in a sound position so long as it has to depend wholly on the local market, but so far the export of pork has not by any means been satisfactory. In order to place it on a proper footing two things are essential. Firstly, the right breed of pig to make the bacon that will command the highest price, and secondly, a lowering of production costs so that the price obtainable will leave a margin of- profit. The first can be accomplished by the farmer himself and is gradually coming about, but the second is bound up with high costs generally, and particularly the artificially high cost of foodstuffs which has been imposed to assist the grain grower to meet his high costs. Grain and Poultry. “With regard to grain growing, we have to record a bumper season, the total production being well ahead of any records of recent years. The only regret is that owing to high general costs il appears to be necessary to impose duties and restrictions on imports so that the industry may continue to exist. This makes bread dear for I he whole of the people, and so raises (he cost of living at its source, places the pig-raising industry in a very precarious position, and eliminates the possibility of any satisfactory exports from the egg producers. The poultry industry, which ought to be one of very great importance, continues to languish. improvements are being made in methods and in slock, but the poultryman finds it difficult to make ends meet unless eggs can command a higli price. So far from being able to compete in ihc world's market he claims that without assistance in the shape of restrictions on imports he cannot hold the local market. The only hope for this industry is food stuff at its natural level of prices. Fruit-Growing. “The fruit-growing industry is capable of enormous expansion, provided that an export trade for tlie surplus can he developed. Up to the present this is being attempted with the aid of a Government subsidy. Tlie season just closing lias resulted in a much greater volume of exports than ever before. “ Prospects for the export of beef arc much better at present than they have been for some time owing to tlie prevalence of foot and mouth disease in the Argentine. If this continues it is bound to make all young stock more valuable, and Ibis will aid materially in maintaining clean pastures in the broken hill country, and in checking increase in the area of deteriorated lands. Farmers’ Financial Problem. “ viewing fanning operations as a whole it would appear that the industry ougtit to be in a nourishing condition. Production is at a high level and it is being maintained, whilst prices generally have been good, in spile of all this, it is quite clear that, the posi-i lion is not satisfactory. The general experience amongst farmers is Unit as time' goes on it is becoming more and more difficult to make ends meet, it is the men in ihc back districts, Ihc men who arc doing I lie pioneering, and whose farms arc only partially developed. who have the greatest difficulty. It is nothing lo do with dear land in these cases. It is the difficulty, of making interest on the cost of the improvements, and the general impression is that the position is not improving, hut is gradually getting worse. Some valuable work on this problem has been done by tlie Department of Economics of the Canterbury College, and published by tlie Canterbury Chamber of Commerce in their various bulletins, j a Bulletin No. 34 published in November last il is stated that over the last seven years export values measured in purchasing power at New Zealand prices have been on I lie average 12 per cent, lower than in 1914, and that during llie first half of 1927 the discrepancy was 17 per cent. That is to say, farmers have been able to' buy over the whole period only 88 per cent, of tlio goods that tlie same quantity of exports would have bought in 1914, and for tlie first half of 1927 only 83 per cent. This is serious enough, but it is not all the slory. In Bulletin No. 3G issued by the same authority in January last, there is a (able showing that while between 1913 and 192 G the money value of the total production per head only increased by slightly under 70 per cent., the increase in rates and taxes was slightly over 125 per cent. The share of this increase paid by the farmers constitutes an additional burden, and we know that many farmers are saddled with rates amounting lo several times what they were paying in 1913. We must further add the extra cost of money, and when we remember that the higher rate of interest is accompanied by a much smaller result from the same expenditure owing tQ higher nrices. it is clear

that, the interest costs on any particular piece of work have increased enormously. When all these things are taken info consideration it need occasion no surprise that many farmers find it hard to meet their interest charges where any considerable portion of the cost of the necessary improvement has been met out of borrowed money, nor is it any wonder that, investors fight shy of svich investments, or that, land settlement has come to a standstill, or that much land formerly occupied is now abandoned, or that many men have had to walk ofT the farms which the rising tide of costs have made unprofitable. It is clear that the root cause of the difficulty lies in the fact that the producer for export under our present economic arrangements is the only man who is working under competition. The others can regulate their net returns by passing the extra costs on to him. I’liere can be no permanent removal of these difficulties until there is a radical reform in our economic system. “ Dealing with the business before the present conference it will be noted that the list of remits is shorter than usual, and that some of them have been dealt with at previous conferences. Nevertherless, there is sufficient to give you an opportunity of dealing with all the important questions of the day. I trust that our deliberations will be on the same high level as previously attained, and that our decisions will be such as to command the attention and respect not only of our members and farmers generally but also of all sections of tlie people of New Zealand.” REMITS PASSED. The provincial conference of the Farmers’ Union continued its sitting at 2 o’clock this afternoon. Before the luncheon adjournment the following amended remits were carried:— “That no lease of Crown, privatelyowned or native-owned land should be permitted, unless they contain a clause allowing for compensation for improvements, or for renewal at a rent assessed on the value at the date of the original lease, such rent to be settled by a competent Court.” “That this conference reaffirms the principle that none but dehorned cattle over 18 months’ old be allowed to be offered for sale in any public sale-yard, or to be trucked.” “That a Slock Food Act be placed on the Statute Book, to obviate the possibility of adulteration of stock foods.”