PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXIV, Issue 6579, 25 October 1939, Page 4

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

DIFFERENT PHASES OF FARMING DISCUSSED Committee Set up Under National Council Scheme Mr F. G. Armstrong, chairman of the Akaroa Cocksfoot Seed Grower's Association; who attended the district meeting of the National Council of Primary Production in Christchuich last Friday, at which' 'Mr R.'McGillivrey, Fields Superintendent of the Department of Agriculture, presided, reports on mUttfei-s dealt 5 with at the iheeting. The district council was elected as follows :— Mesgrs W. 0. Rennie (president, Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association), I. L. M. ! Coop (president North Canterbury executive of the Farmers' Union), R. .McPherson | (wheat controller), C. A/ Champion (president, Mid-Canterbury executive of the Farmers' Union), F. G. Armstrong (president, Akaroa Cocksfoot Seed Growers' Association), D. Goode (president, Onion Growers' Association), W. H. Nicholson (secretary, Canterbury Sheep Owners' Union), J. Parlane (representing dairy farmers), C. E. Baldwin (N.Z. Workers' Union), J. R. Brown (State Placement Officer), R. McGillivray (Department of Agriculture, chairman), and R. G. Jolly (Department of Agriculture, and secretary to the council).

The district council will cover the area from the Rangitata to the Conway.

Mr Armstrong states that the total elimination of Danish Cocksfoot seed will be recommended. The area controlled by the district council is seven million acres of arable iand of which 3.3 million acres arc used for fattening.

blatters discussed for further consideration arid action were: Increase in the production of forage for dairy stock; increased production of food ci*6p for sheep, the checkihg of spread of "noxious weeds and the extermination of the rabbit pest.

Mr R. McPherson, wheat controller, said he was prepared to set up a committee with others to deal with cereal and grain crops.

It was decided the investigations made by the- committee should be of an educational nature and not cdmpulsory at present.

Mr" J. R- Brown, State Placement Officer, was appointed chairman of a committee to deal with the placing of farm workers in employment. He reported twehty men were willing to work on farms provided housing accommodation was adequate.

Mr I. L. M. Coop (N.Z. Farmers' Union) and Mr Hamilton (N.Z. Workers' Union) were elected to this committee.

The definite prospective shortage of insufficient quality of farm seeds from Europe and Australia was discussed. It was explained that turnip seed was imported from Europe and barley from

Australia and was- so cheap*, that it would not pay to grow it in New Zealand. A survey of the manure position showed that thefe werfe sufficient supplies for the South Island.

Messrs W. S. Mac Gibbon, J. Parlane, I. L. M. Coop '; and F.' G. Armstrong were appointed a committee to investigate farm buildings' attd employment and Mr R; McGilliVray, J. Pai-lane and Woods to investigate the seeds trade.

A motion was passed-recommending that the travelling expenses of farmers attending meetings should be paid.