FARMERS' UNION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 96, 22 April 1904, Page 2

FARMERS' UNION.

AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. a. T ?i T« ren - Cc . of dele g*te 3 to the Auckland Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was continued evenin S a »d resumed to-day. Mr Piullips (president) in the chair. Back-blocks Butter.—The .South' Wairoa delegates were responsible for a motion affirming that first-grade nonfactory butter from the districts remote from dairy factories and creameries was quoted below its value in the markets of the colony, and advocating the establishment of co-operative mill" ing and grading depots. Mr Townsend (Government butter expert) advised the establishment of dairy companies in districts where creameries could not be formed, rather than the formation of mills which would be a backward step. Mr Kirkbride said what was required was that they should find out from the newspapers who it was that fixed the quoted prices. On a former occasion it had been found that the published price wns fixed by a number of the Auckland merchants whose interest it was not to fix too high a price. The quoted price was generally much below that obtained by those farmers who were able to come in ard see to the sales 'themselves. Messrs S. A. Brown, Fawcett, Wilson, Hudson, Day and Montgomerie, took part in an animated discussion on the question, one speaker making the remark, "If there is anyone I hate it's the grocers." Mr Sturges suggested that the cool stores which the Auckland Harbour Board proposed to erect could be used for grading purposes. Finally the whole question was referred to a committee to take what steps were found desirable. Teaching the Boys Farming.—Mr Wilson (Southern Wairoa) moved a motion in favour of the teaching of technical agriculture and agricultural science as a chief subject in country schools." He suggested that the boys should be taught practical farming on the plots of ground attached to all country schools, and that the girls should be taught dairying, as was done in Denmark. Messrs Balham (Tokatoka), Browne, Kirkbride and others supported the motion. Mr Kirkbride said he believed it would soon be found necessary to have teachers specially trained for country schools. Mr Dye said efrerts were being made by the Auckland Board of Education to get the capitation grants to country schools increased so that education might be carried into districts where it was not now possible. Mr Garland spoke of the large sums of money spent on technical education for city children, and said the 'country children also deserved consideration. Mr Ramsbottom believed it was desirable that there should be a syllabus for town schools and another syllabus for country schools. Mr Press said it was necessary to remove the impression that farming was a profession ! for fools. Mr Rutherford suggested that j the Auckland technical instructors should travel to the principal outside settlements ana hold classes there, as | was done in the Wellington district. The ( motion was carried. Working Together.—Mr S. Browne, moved. "That a provincial travelling officer should be employed to keep branches more fully in touch with one another." Messrs Wilson, Sainsbury, Press, Burns, Balham and Seruby expressed views on the proposal, and Mr McCurdy was mentioned as a suitaol. man for the position. The question was deferred till after the financial position had been discussed. Preferential Discounts.—Mr Burns (Whaingarata) moved a motion in favour of securing preferential treatment of members of the union from merchants. The president seconded the motion. Mr Dye said the executive had oensidered the suggestion, and felt that the task could be better undertaken by the branch unions. The motion was carried. The Assessment Court.—Mr Wily (Mauku) moved in favour of an alteration of the Government Valuation of Land Act, 1896." to provide that one of the three members of Assessment Courts should be appointed by the local bodies. Mr Kirkbride said he had hopes of the Government taking the initiative in the matter next session and granting the alteration if sufficient pressure were brought to bear. The motion was| carried. j Preferential Trade.—Mr Press moved a motion of the Kaitafa branch, "That preference on British goods should be in the form of a reduction of duties, and that the Colonial Executive be asked to use every means in their power to have the duties amended accordingly." Mr Browne advocated that the method of giving preference should be left to the Government, as agreed to by the Colonial Conference. A reduction of duties would necessitate an increase of the land tax. Mr Garland and Mrs Phillips strongly favoured the motk>n, which was carried. Northcote to Awanul. —A motion to ask the Government to maintain the main North-road from Northcote to Awanui was carried. Legislative Expenses.—A motion of the Kaitaia branch asking the Colonial Conference to urge the Government to reduce the legislative exnenses. Reference wns made to "Parliamentary trips to the Islands." Mr Garland thought it was time for New Zealand to follow the example of the Australian colonial instead of trying to lead. He favoured reducing the number of members of. Parliament by one-half. Mr Hudson | urged the abolition of the Upper House, but was ruled out of order. The motion was carried. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. TRAINING YOUNG FARMERS. The Union debated at some length the question of experiment farms and agricultural institutes in the colony. The question was introduced by the Hamilton Branch, for whom Mr Sturges moved: "That the Government be asked to establish an agricultural institute in the Auckland province." He referred to the farms already being conducted by the Government, but urged that they should be conducted more exclusively as experiment farms. Mr Wakelin said it was desired not only that men should be put on the land, but that they should be enabled to succeed on the land. They did not wish that young farmers should come here with £500 and drop it through adopting wrong methods, and go back to England | in disgust. | Mr Rutherford and Mr Kirkbride spoke eulogistically of Mr Cliftoh's work I at the experiment farms. Mr Wakelin said his idea was that the institute should be established in connection with an experiment farm. I Farming could not be learned at a city | institute. Mr Ramsbottom said the Wairangi ex* periment farm existed to induce farmers to go on poor land, yet no balance-sheet was issued to show whether their system would make or ruin a man.

Mr Sturges said they, ought not to ask for a balance-sheet on an experiment farm. The motion was carried. THE FREEZING COMPANY. At the instance of the Hamilton Branch it was resolved to be desirable "That all the Union branches should lurther by every means in their power the promotion of an Auckland Farmers' Freezing Company." NOXIOUS WEEDS. A brisk discussion on blackberries was provoked by a motion of the Te Puke i Branch: "That a more rigid enforce- ! ment of the Noxious Weeds Act of 1900 should be carried out, and to include 1 Crown and native lands." ! Mr Kirkbride said that the Government had placed '£500 on the Estimates | for any person who could find an effec- • tive means of killing noxious weeds. Mr Hall (secretary) said he had writ--1 ten for particulars of this bonus, and '■ was informed that the particulars would '■ not be available till after next session. One farmer said that salt was effecj tive, another prescribed syringing with arsenic and soda, and another said he i was waiting for a friendly insect to j come along and devour it. The motion was carried. > PROPOSED BUTTER MILL. • For promoting the proposed butter | mill decided on yesterday the following ! committee was appointed: The president, and Messrs. Rutherford, Dye, Fenton, Whitton, Wilson, Seruby, and '_ Fawcett. On the motion of Mr Wakelin eggs were included in the movement, [ with a recommendation that they should \ be sold by weight. 1 FREEHOLD V. LEASEHOLD. On the motion of Mr Ramsbottom a t resolution was passed in favour of the . optional freehold and Crown lands. \ RUST IN GRAIN. . In accordance with a ...solution passed at the Provincial Conference last year, L it was decided to collect information ou the subject of rust in grain, with a view , to taking steps to minimise the damage caused by this diseaste, Circulars were i sent out by the executive to the various . branches lor distribution among tneir I j considerable members, close on 100 re- - ; plies were received, and handed over to . MX J. A. Pond, F.C.S., with a view to . getting his opinion on the subject. This) ; gentleman prepared a report, anil the , j executive deciUed that Mr Fond should j »|give the conference the benefit of his i , i conclusions. II Air Fond explained that he had pre- [ pared two reports ou the subject. The • hist was baaed on the replies to the first circular, and the second to a supplemen- ; I tary set of queries submitted, mat tne . extent of the loss is serious is eviueuced ■ by the fact that practically all the rei pries class the disease as serious. Many • j replies stated that wet ground suffered 11 while others indicated tnat dry ground : ■ | also suffered, it would appear that i j hilly ground had sullered most, i.egaid- j i, ing the varieties which sullered most, it j ; ! was a singular fact that 20 replies stated j 'jthat Alg.rian oats were absolutely free I from the disease, and in no case was ! ! there any reference to this variety hay- j ' j ing suttered to any appreciable extent, j 1 it would lppear that several of those | '■ who sent iv replies have fallen into the j • error of confusing rust and smut. With regard to the report on the second bet j of queries submitted, and the replies ! 1 received, as, in the prior report, there is abundant evidence that tne Algerian ' variety was practically immune. It was proved that moist, warm weather was ! exceptionally conducive to the ravages of the disease, and this was borne out ' by the experience of two seasons in the Auckland Province. With regard to the | practical immunity of the Algerian variety, there is some doubt if this immun- ! ity can be relied on in the future. It ( has been clearly shown that all attempts to minimise the ravages of rust have not been attended with much success, while remedial measures have proved I effectual in the matter of smut. He was i convince 1 that remedial measures will , yet be found, but efforts must not be relaxed. Much might be done by a care- : ful study of the life histoiy of the fungoid (uredo) here, where the same con- . ditions do not exist for its cycle as in , England. He asked was it too much to II hope for that some woman gifted wi'h I leisure and knowledge may take the j role of the late Miss Ormerod, truly the , guardian angel of the farmers of England, and earn a like name from the . farmers of New Zealand? The office i awaits her. Finally, with the result of ■ this inquiry, which he attributed to thft ■ indefatigable secretary (Mr Edwin Hail), 1 he would ask whether the branches of : the Farmers' Union could not be utilised systematically for the well being i of farmers generally, by recording and ) forwarding to the centres results which, coming from different districts, may "be collated and prove of great value. The question was discussed with great interest, and ,! the general experience was that the Algerian oat, though inferior for chaffing purposes, was almost rust-proof in all districts. Mr Pond, in reply to questions, advised the making of more ensilage, for which rusted oats were suitable. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Mr John Reid, president of the Auck- ( land Chamber of Commerce, addressed | the meeting, and said he was sure he could say on behalf of the Chamber that I they fully reciprocated the wish ex- | pressed by the ex-president of the Farmers' Union yesterday, that the farmers should be represented on the Chamber. They had often felt regret that the farmers were not represented, although a rule existed that every county council should be entitled to a seat. He believed it would be to the interest of all parties that they should be represented. The secretary of the Chamber (Mr Goulstone) invited the farmers to communicate with him as to the steps to be taken to secure representation. In the discussion a unanimous desire to be represented was expressed, but no motion was carried. FINANCE. In committee the Conference discussed the financial position of the Union, and methods for improving it. (Proceeding.) A most degrading system of slavery is being carried on in connection with ! the rubber industiy on the Upper Congo. I The British Consul on the Congo was de- ! puted to investigate the rumours which '. were current regarding the treatment of I natives; and after a personal investigation lasting two months he reported that slavery and barbarism, in the most I revolting forms, are in existence in that i district. A missionary who is labouring in the Congo says: "No language could describe the horrors of the system which allows the present treatment of natives. The traders do not attempt to hide this state of things from qur-gaze—it is done openly."