FARMERS’ UNION

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20784, 19 April 1939, Page 13

FARMERS’ UNION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE EMERGENCY WHEAT SUPPLIES SEVERAL REMITS DISCUSSED Matters affecting the primary industries of New Zealand came in for a good deal of discussion yesterday when the annual conference of the Waikato Sub-provincial district of the Farmers’ Union was held in Hamilton. The president, Mr G. T. Crawley, presided over a good attendance of delegates. “ Any enemy fleet which could pre\ent wheat from coming in to the Dominion from Australia could do the same thing with regard to grain from the South Island,” said Mr G. L). Hunter, in proposing a Gordonton remit to the effect that the Government be asked to make provision for supplies of feed wheat, barley and maize in 'he North Island in the event of an enemy blockade. "It would be

cheaper and more efficient for the future protection of New Zealand against a shortage of grain if 12 months’ supply were kept in each centre."—The remit was carried.

A Te Kowhai remit to the effect that the conference felt that the stringent censorship of matter pertaining to freedom of speech over the air was inimical to the progressive thought of the people in the Dominion was carried.

Matters dealing with defence were contained in two remits from the executive, both of which were carried. The remits were as follows:—(1 That this conference is emphatically of the opinion that compulsory enrolment for defence purposes is the only method of achieving efficient training. (2) That this conference considers .that half-day military parades, insofar as country units are affected, he abolished in favour of a longer period in camp training at a time most suitable to trainees and employers. Financial Matters Discussed Financial matters were included in two remits from Gordonton and one each from Huntly and Te Awamutu. One Gordonton proposal, stating that all farmers should receixc a price in New Zealand money which would enable them to meet New Zealand costs of production, was taken in conjunction with the one from Te Awamutu, which advocated full support for the principle of the compensating price, irrespective of party, as the only means of assuring justice 1o the farmers. — Both remits were carried. Tho Iluntly branch's suggestion that, failing a satisfactory price being given for tho ensuing year, the executive notify all branches to take direct action as from August 1, 1939, was lost on the vote. The other remit from Gordonton. stating that all consumers of New Zealand

goods should be subsidised and that these results he achieved hv the use of debt-free money from the Reserve Rank, was referred back to the Gordonton branch.

“ If this remit were brought into force it would encourage more young people to join the union and would assure the farmer that when he obtained the services of a union shearer the man would be capable of doing Hip work,” said Mi- F. C. Johnstone, in forwarding a Raglan remit to the effect. that, for the purpose of encouraging young people to learn to shear, they should not be compelled to join the shearers’ union until such timg as they had attained a certain proficiency. An amendment from Mr \Y. Hodgson (Te Awamutu) stating that the matter should he referred to the executive lor consideration and action was carried.

" The time is overdue when something should be done towards the reafforestation of our land,” said Mr Hodgson, when forwarding a Te Awa-. mutu suggestion that the Government be urged to institute enquiries into the best method of re-afforestation and especially forest preservation. “If the people in the past had been wise we would not have had so much trouble with the ragwort problem.”— The remit was carried. Removal of Hospital Rating A further remit from Te Awamutu urging the Government to make a thorough investigation into the costs and returns of farmers on second and third class lands was also carried. A remit from the executive and from Raglan to the effect, that, in view of the fact that the social security legislation came into operation April I. tlm lime was opportune for the removal of hospital rating, was carried. Tli© election of officers resulted as follows: —President, Mr G, T. Crawley; vice-presidents, Messrs. F. C. Roberts and C. J. Pierce: treasurer, Mr W. B. Cummings; delegates to provincial conference, Messrs. G. P. Kenah, C. J. Flay. F. C. Roberts, D. J. Pierce, W. G. Neill, F. H. Anderson. R. Feisst, W. Harbutt, F. Griffin, D. S. Riddell. J. L. Wallis, F. C. Johnstone. R. G. Young and G. R. Lawry.