FARMERS' UNION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 82, 17 January 1930, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION

GRADING OF PRODUCE. IMPORTATION OF JERSEY CATTLE FOOT AND MOUTH (DISEASE, The Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union met this afternoon, .when the president (Mr J. R. Dalton) presided. ... Two letters were, received from tne Minister of Agriculture (the Hon G. W Forbes), enclosed in a letter from Mr David Jones, M.P. Mr Forbes stated tliat in connection with the resolution passed by the executive relative to the grading of primary produce, the question of the present methods of grading agricultural produce had been carefully considered, and investigation showed that under the present method it was carried out efficiently and without any bias the grades being definitely standardised. The service was being performed on extremely economical lines as tar as farmers and merchants were concerned, and any alteration would not be intie interests of efficiency or economy. Ihe grading was carried out only by persons approved by the Department. The chairman said many fanners were not satsified that the method was economic. ~ ~ _ Mr G- W. Leadlev said the Government had nc authority over the grader of potatoes. He would like to see a man appointed representing both sides of the matter. It was not fair that growers sending lines forward should have them condemned at the dictum of one man, Mr Leadley did not think the letter met the case satisfactorily -He would like to see a man appointed -by the Government. At present the grader was paid by the purchasers. The Minister evidently did not fully realise the position', or Ins letter, which was in reply to the executive's inquiry, did not give that impression. Mr Leadlev was not aware, that any other produce sent forward had to pass a grader. ~ , The chairman: It must pass through a grader's hands. He has a licentee from the Government to act, but was not employed by it. Mr Evans: The sooner they get a Government grader then, the better it will be for everybody.

The chairman: We want a man representing the Government to grade primary produce, and Ave are prepared to pay him. Mr Leadley said if there was no objection, he would write to the Minister and lay the true position before him. His grievance was not that they were in the hands of a man paid by the merchants. The grader's living depended on satisfying those men. Mr J. Can- did not think the present position satisfactory. They knew of instances" where the grader had been told to ease the standard, as there was not a sufficient supply. If the farmer were able to have an agent at Lyttelton, he would be in a better position. If the grader received the message to ease the grade as he had stated, it was possible he would receive a message in the opposite direction. Mr Leadley said the Minister was right up to a. certain mark, but he had missed the point raised by the executive. It was decided that the executive take the matter up again with 'the Minister of Agriculture. The meeting went into committee to discuss the matter of the financial side of the recent inquiry into the scale of wheat duties by the select committee.

On .resuming open meeting it was reported that the committee had decided to forward its pro rata contribution. The Minister of Agriculture also referred to the question of the .supposed importation of cattle from England through America. The position, he said, was that a consignment of Jersey cattle arrived recently from America and included in the consignment were a few animals bred on Jersey Island, where the malady known as foot-and-mouth disease did not exist. These animals, had never been in England, having been transported directly from Jersey Island and subjected to quarantine before landing in America. The cattle were not shipped to New Zealand until they had been domiciled for at least six months in accordance with Dominion regulations, and were subjected to a further two months' quarantine at Somes Island, Wellington, before being landed. These Jerseys had been submitted to veterinary examinations in America and in New Zealand, and were accompanied by a declaration from the shipper to the effect that they were free from infectious disease, "and had not been in contact with infected stock during the six months preceding shipment from America. It was therefore seen that the precautionary measures taken eliminated all risk of these cattle bringing foot-and-mouth disease to New Zealand. Had there been any risk, the importation from' America would not have been permitted. Mr H. Wills said that in England little attempt had been made to obtain a cure for foot and mouth disease, and whole herds suffering from this malady had been destroyed. Mr F. G. Evans said the main thing was to prevent the disease from being brought to this country. Sheep Stealing and Stock Driving.

A circular letter was received _ from the Dominion Secretary stating that in some districts there was considerable unrest among sheepfarmers over the unauthorised removal of sheep, especially by motor-lorries at night. There was at present no legislation preventing the removal of sheep by motorlorries at night, consequently legislation would have to lie introduced making such removal of sheep illegal, except bv permit. Clause 59 of the Stock Act read that every person who drove or removed any stock from land not in his own occupation without the consent of the occupier was liable, to n fine of £IOO or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months. This seemed to prescribe the penalty for sheep-stealing by motor-lorry, or any other vehicle, in addition to stealing while driving. The driving of stock on roads was the subject of a letter from the Dprairiion Secretary. It stated that persons driving stock on. highways or Crown lands between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the same day from March 31 to September 1, or between 4 a.m. and 8 p in on the same dav in any other part of the year, without a permit, was liable to a fine. The chairman: There was no doubt that sheep stealing was being practised in the County. One farmer in the Methven district had had N 2OO stolen. , .. It was decided to defer discussion until a later meeting. The Dominion Secretary advised tliat the itinerary of the tour of New Zealand bv the English, South African, and Canadian farmers had been amended owing to. the late arrival oi the boat. The party would be in the Countv on Saturday, March 22, when

thev would inspect the wheat areas m the'Methven district, later visiting Mr H. F. NicoPs stud farm. They would be the guests of the Ashburton branch of the Farmers' Union at tea, and would proceed north that evening. Owing to the alteration in the programme it was considered that it would be more convenient for the party to have luncheon at Methven instead of Ashburton, as was previously arranged. The chairman said the Methven farmers would be prepared to entertain the visitors. Mr Withell suggested that the party break the journey at Hinds to enable them to visit Mayfield, and from thence on to Methven. The chairman said the country between Mayfield and Methven would not give them a true .'dea of the quality of the land. It was decided that the arrangements be left in the hands of the general committee appointed to supervise the matter ci entertainment, and that any suggestions be forwarded to the committee, which would meet at an early date. .

It was reported that the Women's Division would heartily co-operate with the executive in assisting to entertain the farmers.