MANY REMITS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 54, Issue 196, 1 June 1934, Page 5

MANY REMITS

FARMERS CONFER. MID-CANTERBURY UNION. QUESTION OF WHEAT SELLING. IRRIGATION IN THE COUNTY. EMBARGO ON STOCK APPROVED. The annual conference of delegates to the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held to-day, the president (Mr A. P, Bruce) presiding over a good attendance. , The chairman welcomed the delegates and Mesdames F. Johnston (president) and J. A. Fleming (president emeritus), of the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Women’s Division of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. The annual report stated: — “In reviewing-the executive's activities during the past year, a variety of matters have been dealt - with, among them being foot and mouth disease, ■railway freights, road transport, irrigation, wool-grading, wheat duties, holding of wheat, cost of bulk power, pig marketing, exchange, amalgamation of local bodies, grading of produce, wool improvement, dairy industry, destruction of rabbits, tariffs and derating of farm lands. ‘ 'During the year a conference was held between the representatives of the Ashburton and Mount Hutt Dairy Companies and the Dairy Committee members of this executive with a view to improving conditions for the dairy farmer. At this meeting it was resolved to protest against New Zealand butter being sold under am _ Empire brand, and also that tlffe Government be asked to provide a bounty on all butter exported.

“A strong protest was made by yodr executive against regulations preventing free competition in road transport of goods, particularly where motor transport paid its share of costs of roadways. In this County farmers depend on an. efficient transport for their produce and the improvements in motor transport of recent years have demonstrated that the railways in certain respects are behind the times.

“Considerable controversy has arisen concerning the higher exchange rate, but it was imperative that urgent relief was needed for the primary producers of this County and there seemed no other solution for affording tiro required assistance. “Good work is being done amongst .the branches by Mr John,Brown, who was recently appointed one of the Dominion organisers. Already he has secured a considerable number of new members, which tends to show that farmers realise that they must stand solidly behind their own organisation in order to protect their interests. “The year commenced with a credit balance of £2 10s 4d and finished with a credit of £1 6s 7d. The coming year should show a much improved position financially as a result of the organisation and campaign for new members, the subscriptions from the majority of those enrolled not being included in the past year’s receipts.”

The report and balance-sheet were adopted on the motion of Messrs Bruce and R. A. Oakley. The chairman presented his annual review, as published on page three of this issue, and was accorded a vote of thanks for Ids comprehensive statement, on the motion of Mr Oakley. Mrs Johnston thanked the chairman for his welcome.' The division was only too pleased to assist the Union where it was able and also was grateful for the help given by the Union. Refe*ring to the housekeeping scheme of the division, the speaker said that of 16 housekeepers, four had been placed Vith members of the division. These; women wore very capable and could take complete charge of a' home and children. The scheme was organised for the benefit of country women and she hoped members would take full advantage of it. A housekeeper could lie put in a home within a few koui s. bf advice that one was required very often, and Mrs Johnston stressed the value of such a scheme. Mr J. Carr referred, to the Wheat Purchase Board, and said that it had been found that the Board had power to handle only f.a.q. wheat, and the Board had approached the Government asking for authority to handle all wheat, as it realised the great difference there was in price between milling and good, whole fowl wheat. The disparity was far too great. Members had been asked to secure samples of good fowl wheat for the consideration of the Board next week. These samples were intended to come from the growers who held they had a case of hardship because of rejection of wheat as milling. Something should be done and the farmers themselves should approach the Government, on the subject. , Mr F G. Evans said lie was still or opinion that the Board should take nil wheat, though ho was glad to hear Mr Carr’s statement. A merchant tins morning had told him he did not know what was going to happen to the foul wheat market when it became flooded, as there was a threat that it might. Mr M. Macale agreed that growers were practically unanimous in preferring the Board to handle all wheat. The fault was directly due to the Coyer nment. „ , , Mr G. IT. B. Lill: Is it- a fact that last year, when prices went up, the Board put milling wheat on the market as fowl wheat?

The president: .That is so, Mr Lill: Have we any guarantee that this will not happen this year? The president: No, we have not.

That is what many farmers are fearful 1 of. Mr- Carr said it would not be fair to say that the Board began a campaign of general selling of wheat. The grain sold was of a quality that would not command a fair milling' wheat price. Referring to irrigation, Mr Carr said that reports would sooner or later come to hand 1 and the Union should keep an open mind on the subject. Many fanners were of the opinion that as they could not sell all they grew now, they should not increase their production. He had been greatly impressed by an irrigation scheme presented to the County Council 50 years ago,, and he admired the courage of those days. Mr W. T. Lill said that the irrigation system was all wrong. It was aiming at making poor land grow crops instead of increasing the production of the good land. In three years out of five it would pay not to irrigate. Voices: Hear, hear! Mr Maeale said he looked upon irrigation with a good deal of apprehension. Where was the money coming from to carry it out? It was like putting another mortgage on the farm. The president* said lie'had heard the specialists speaking on the subject and he felt that if other countries were taking up irrigation it would be regrettable if New Zealand did not have tests made. He would not throw cold water on the scheme till he knew what it was proposed to be done. Mr W- R. Hammond said they should know where they stood on the question before condemning it. As had been said of experiments in Russia,, “the Soviet was too poor not to experiment. Mr O. C. Winn said that he had been told by an irrigation expert that irrigation was of national consequence, and if that were so, it would be a national debt. Mr Carr said that the rainfall was too varied not to have some subsidiary supply. In 25 years the rainfall in May in his district had varied from .45 inches to 10.19 inches. Mr Wilkinson (Lauristoh) said that in view of the fact that the Bi itish Government had given its word that there Was no risk of infection of foot-and-mouth disease, the , embargo on stock importations should be lifted.

Election of Officers. The following officers of the. executive were elected: President, Mr Raymond Oakley; vice-president, Mr M. Maeale; treasurer, Mr F. Frampton; secretary, Air W. H. Amos; auditor, Mr J. W. Bowden; delegates to Dominion Conference, president and past-president. Remits Considered. The consideration of remits occupied a good deal of - the time of the conference. -

The first, from the Ashburton branch, was as follows:

‘-‘That legislation be introduced providing for compensation to farmers for pernlament improvements effected on farms which' they have been forced to leave ”

Aloving the adoption of tho remit, Mr O. H. B. Lill said that it was only fair that a man who put improvements into a farm should be giyen a portion of them when- he had to leave. The . remit was seconded by Air H. C. B. With ell. .

Air Oakley said the remit should provide for the payment of arrears of interest out of the value of the improvements.

Mr Lill agreed with this. Members considered there were many difficulties to be surmounted before such legislation could he suggested. It was agreed to send the remit to a special committee to investigate, it and compile a remit to the Dominion Conference. Messrs Oakley, Macale and H. H. B. Lilt were appointed to this committee. The next remit, from Metliven, read: “That the Government he approached to make funds available to Lincoln College for the purpose of furtlieiing research into the various types of internal parasites that lambs are subject to.” . , * This was moved by Mr Winn, who said that farmers were well aware of the ravages in sheep flocks through parasites which made their presence felt under varying weather conditions. There were remedies for the pai asites, but there were different types pt worms, and the drench for one wPs food for another. He feltothnt if data were available to the scientists ■ some efficient remedy could he found, and the Government should -supply the. money for this research. Seconding the remit, Mr Carr said there was a great need for research-in this question. , . The President suggested that tne Meat Producers’ Board should be interested in tile subject. Mr Winn agreed to the inclusion oi this suggestion. . Mr Oakley supported the remit, anu said that the position had become serious.

. The remit was carried. The Lauriston branch sent the following : “That this branch urges the executive to confer with .the stock associations with a view to again imposing the penalty on ram lambs sold as stores. This was' moved by Mr G. A, Franks, who referred to instances. The purchaser had no redress under tlm present rulings. Last season cases of this kind were numerous. The price should be divided equally. i , Mr S. H. Lill seconded the remit, which was adopted. The Mayfield' branch forwarded tne following:— . “That .farmers he protected against the activities of travellers selling licks and drenches fur sheep and lambs, aim their products should ,he analysed and the analysis made public.” Mr A. A. Fleming moved the adoption of the remit, and said that several farmers had been annoyed by travellers with licks. , Mr H. Brown said a farmer should use his commonsense and not purchase such remedies _ __ M v Carr agreed \yjiir Mr Brown, and Mr J. Brown surmorted thp remit. Mr Hammond and Mr Oakiey thought the activities of .vendors of “quack”, remedies should he. curtailed. It was agreed to send the remit to the Government-with a suggestion that vendors of remedies should he com pellcd to publish on the label an analysis of the contents. The following also came from Mayfield :

t “That weights of wheat on trucks be made available to growers free of

ffiarge, the present charge of Is 6_d a ;ruck over and above the cost of weighng being considered unreasonable.” The remit was moved by Mr J. A. Fleming and seconded by Mr Barrett. Mr Carr said he did not see how the position could be improved by the passing of the remit. ' . Air Fleming said that in his experience there had been considerable variations in weights given to growers, n The President said he was given to understand that flourmillers could not force payment for weighing. It was Agreed that Mi* Carr should take up the question with the Wheat Purchase Board, and that a letter should be sent to the. board. . . . With regard to the suggestion of. the president, in ii'is address, that there should be a conference of growers, to discuss the urging of the Wheat Purchase Board, Mr Winn moved that the United l Wheatgrowers’ Association should take up the question and approach the Government seeking a remedy. * , This was seconded by Mr H. Brown and was carried. Members agreed that the question was a- vital one for growers. Mr Carr said the Mid-Canterbury and North Canterbury Electoral Committees had discussed the problem. The Mayfield branch sent in the following : “That every effort be made to prevent the lifting of the embargo on imported stock so that foot-and-mouth disease may not be introduced.” < Air A. V. Barrett moved the adoption -of the remit, and stressed, the danger there was in straw packing, which should., be destroyed as soon as it was taken out of cases, instead of being - scattered about the country. There was more danger of infectionfrom this straw than there was from stock. _ Air Al. A. Fleming seconded the remit. r-: '“ ,I'G. vJ. L Mr Hammond said that Britain, with all. her “scientists, had not been-able to completely eliminate the disease.' There should still be a' strong embargo on stock from Britain. ; . : :1‘ ■ • The remit was carried, and. it was agreed that the executive’s delegates; to the Dominion Conference should vote, .against any move to lift ,the embargo. '