AKAROA COUNTY FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume XXIV, Issue 2131, 2 March 1897, Page 3

AKAROA COUNTY FARMERS' ASSOCIATION.

; . A meeting of this Association was held on Saturday at the Schoolroom. Duvau ohelle's. J. D. Brace { Fret-ideM) Eli So&tt. Q. McKay, Richfield. Wm. Meek ay, Whitfield, Bridge and Jacobson. MINUTES. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. OOKEEBPONDENOB. Returns of export of produce reoeived from Government were handed to members. DAIBY EXPBET. The President said that, aa they were aware, be bad written to tbe Department asking that Mr Sawers, tbe Dairy Inspector, who bad been visiting tbe Peninsula dairy factories, might visit some of tbe dairy farms. He bad received no.reply at all to bis communications. It was no fault of Mr Sawers, who was be underetood obliged lo go. Mr Wm. Mackay aaid Mr Sawers bad been at bis pl*ce, and had stated that be was obliged to go to the North Island, but expected to get through bis work there in a month, and that if application were made be might then revhit the Peninsula. Mr Eli Sootfc thought the Department should be vfrittan to, asking wby the President's communication bad been allowed to remain unanswered. He begged to move " That an application be made to the Department through their member. Mr Montgomery, asking tbat Mr Sawers might be allowed to revisit the Peninsula for inspection and instruction not later than Marob 10th." Seconded by Mr Mackay and carried* Mr Whitfield said it seemed to bim tbat the whole policy of the Government waa Kagainst tbe dairies and for the factories. In every way they tri»d to encourage tbe latter to tbe detriment of the former. BAM FAIR. t The President reported that thia Fair %*a to be held on Tuesday. The arrangements were tbe same as last year, and be bad received an application from tbe Secretary of tbe Bsleyarda Co. asking tbat it might bo held under their auspices, and bad con*eit o d. The President's action was approved. DISTINCTION* Alluding to tbe recent exhibition at Akaroa, Mr Wm. MoKay said he thought * a mislake bed been made in offering different p-ises for factory and dairy made chpeS"» The obeeee from both bad ti compete in the open market, and it was » pi'y th»t io offering prizes at their local * chow any deetinction should be made. Mrs Savage, of Pigeon Bay, and himself bad both compttid at ObriHtchurch against factory cheese with oonßiderible success. Ho failed to see why in offering prizes both kinds of cheese should not bo placed on tbe same footing* He begged to move Tbat it be a recommendation to the Akaroa Exhibition Commiitee that in all future ejebit'i ions no distinction should he made in the prize Met between factory and dairy cheese: Seccnded by Mr Eli Soot* and carried. COCKSFOOT, . - The President said tbat Mr James Hay had had a conversation with him regard * ing tho bad system of let'ing cocksfoot on halves. Mr Hay pointed out that in eucb caseß tbe contractor waa ao anxious to get lid of bis eeed ac soon as it was harvested, tbat be would sell it below ~ market price, to tbe great detriment of the general market price. A buyer told Mr Hay tbat be could not make an offer for some seed at present as. he would wait till the men on halves offered, when be - would probably get it for lees. A general discussion followed, members being of tbe opinion tbat tbe wisest course to purfcue when practicable was for the grower of the seed to buy out men working for him. " In connection with this matter Mr Bridge pointed out tbat they paid 6d each for their cocksfoot sacks, and were only credited with 4£d for tbem, and yet when tbeee same second band bags came back 1 to tbem again filled with chaff or other produce, they were charged 6d. BAILWAY AND FREIGHT OHABQBS. Mr Bridge e»i<fr that there was every t prospect of an early session of Parliament, and it was time they moved in the matter of the reduction of the enormous charges made for carrying their produce on tbe Lyttel'on and Ohrietchorcfc Railway. Peninsula farmers were at a special di*- "* advantage, a* bo much of their produce went by rail to Cbristcbuioh and thence back to Lyttelton, so that they were pay. ing for the double journey* m Mr Whitfield concurred, and tbe President pointed out tbat they bad been rather badly treated in tbe muter of tbe eheepysrda at Little River. People who bad to track sheep there had to wait if some one else had got bis lot io first or else truck the other man's sheep, even if be were absent before they could get ri 1 of tbeir .own... Working in mud and slush from 3 B.m. under these bad arrange-, a>ent* was net pleasant, and an alteration was needed. After further r»i«cußsion, Mr George t Maokny moved "That Mr Montgomery member for tie dutrict, be written ti asking bim to receive a deputation ot Friday nest at 11 a.m. at tbe Dovau

cbelletf Hotel. 16 discuss : qaattlonii to. freight, etc., with a view ;to.aome remedial measores during tbe comin« eemon : sueb deputation to oonnst of all, members pre> sunt at tbat meeting " Seconded by Mr Bridge and earned. general. The matter'of freights from Lyttelton to the Borongb was di-tounßod, and ali-o the danger from r«bbi b on Mt. Herhert, which members thought waa not an urgent qnPßtioo, and the meeting adjourned to March 27tb.