THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15156, 21 December 1914, Page 4

THE COUNTRY.

NEWS AND NOTES. AGRICULTUKAL CONDITIONS IN CANADA. A SIGNIFICANT CONFERENCE. (raou ora owx coEHzsroNnEXT.) TORONTO, November "20. Afc a conference- bold during the first week of November in Winnipeg, between representatives cf tho Graingrowers' Association of Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the United Farmers of Alberta and of the Canadian Manufac- ! turers' Association, some results which promise far-reaching effect were achieved in the friendly in which the natural ailianeo and mutual dependence of agriculture and manufacture overcame* to a good dogroo tlio antagonism tliat hue crown out of political and commercial friction. Consideration was given to tho general scope for improvement, especially in agricultural conditions. Tho conference deprecated any spasmodic expansion in farming to moot tho present demand, insisting that jxsrmanent benefit can come only by such expansion as fe justified by prospect of continuous success. (In this connexion it may bo noted that there has been a considerable increase this fall in the aereago' sown to •wheat and oattf by farmers in various parts of Canada, at tho suggestion, mado in the interests of tho Empire and tho Allies.) Anions economic anomalies and remediable evils dealt with were the waste of tho apple crop in tho East, for which the. Wost would gladly pay a rcmimerat.vo price, and the waste of hogs in the West, through economic obstacles in the way of bringing feed to them or shipping them to .where feed is abundant. (Hero again, by tho way, it may be" stated .that there has beven much loss wft«to of apples this fall than usually, owing to determined efforts to bring them in, as also vegetables to tho cities,.particularly for the poor, numerous agencies, such as the Salvation Army, churches?, and jven tho breweries, co-operating to pick the apples and to conve'v them from the orchards to the cities for distribution free, or sale at low prices.) Tho problem of social life on the farm, part of tho eccnomic problem of incomo and expenditure, engaged the attention of tho conference, and some practical suggestions received free approval. Transportation, of course, was given a large place in the discussions, and the conference, decided to ask genfny.l rate reductions, while freely Acknowledging the generous spirit iii which transportation companies havo responded to their demonstrated needs. A demand for cheaper money, the farmers wanting moro certain and jess costly accommodation, seemed quite reasonable. On tho side of the manufacturers there Were no , demands or a class they have hitherto received a large measure of consideration from Canadian Governments, and while mar.y farmors havo been willing to bear this burden, and some havo been desirous of having it partly reduced, a few have demanded entire relief and the complete removal of sgal obstacles conferring any advantage on either, eide. Of late some Saskatchewan farmers have gone beyond this even 'balance of advantages, asking- tho Government to establish minimum prices of grain, and paying tho balance when tho commercial prices fell lower. But a most hopeful sign is that these straggles for class advantage.are giving place to earnest mutual consideration. Tho most important itnmediato outcome of the conference wa3 a demand that the Dominion Government institute an intelligent, comprehensive, and searching enquiry regard-, ingthe causes ard influences which occasion tho present unsatisfactory conditions in agriculture This enquiry, respecting particularly production; transportation, distribution, markets, and finance, to bo mad 6 forthwith by a committee or board, to be appointed, in accordance with, the best British practice... with the least possible delay, by the Federal Government...that committee ■or Board to bo .composed of nonpartisan men of outstanding ability, broad experience,' hijsh ideals, and unquestioned probity. The purpose of the enquiry, to be, .first,, to thoroughly, acquaint themselves with tho needs which exist; second, to evolve and submit to the Government in tinje for a report to the approaching session of the Parliament of Canada (to open probably in January or February) a plan calculated to meet thoso neodsvanjd third; to put that nlaii, wh'en approved of amended, into execution, with power to act in matters of urgent- need, with Government approval only. Anticipating favourable." action on tins request, tho conference delegates pisdgetl themselves jointly and individually to faeili-t-ato tho work of such committee or Board to tho best of their ability, and appointed a cominitteo of five men to strike committees for the fuller inves- l--tigatidil of these matters on their own account, these committees to report 16 a future conference of agricultural, manufacturing,' financial, and transportation interests..to ine-et 6n the call of the chairman, Mr E. G. Henderson, of "Wir-dsor, Oni., nrtwidert- of the Ciiriadiaa Manufacturers' Association. FOOT AND MOLTTtt DISEASE IX AMERICA. orn owx correspondent.) TORONTO, November 20. Owing to ah outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the United. States, which has assumed serious proportions, the epidemic having spread in a virulent form to no fewer than eleven States, while two other States aro under suspicion. the Dominion Government hits been obliged to pass stringent imoortation regulations ahplyinsr to the whoJo Kepuplic, prohibiting the importation into Canada ot : cattlo, ehoep, swine, or j;i>:it!--. or tho flesh, hides, Tioofs, hoi-ns, wool, or other parts of such animals, except, cured meais. lafcl and tallow, or of hay. straw, fodder, or manure. Tlio. crossing of horses over the border is a'eo forbidden, in either direction, except, army horses imported into Canada, which aro kept strictly in t|U«rant:no'whilo hero until they are shipped to Kni-one. The outbreak was first observed in .Michigan on tho loth Octolyr, and has reached greater proportions than any previous epidemic of Korfc on rcxird. Tho Unitetl States has also placed t<. prohibition on thr; importiition into that roun-tt-y of nnimals, ct<-.. from . Canada, though there is v.o evident , © of the prefenco of foot and mouth di c sas.e in any part of the. Dominion. Tho embargo is working hardship on cattle raisers cf the Wert. especially, and ako affects manufacturers of woollen and leatlier clothing for the army.

HA WARDEN* -A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. A meeting of tho General Committoo of tho Hawarden A. and P. Association was held on Saturday, Mr 4. j 3lv Anderson presiding over a good at- ] tendance. I It was decided to offer Mr H. U. ! SlcNally, of Itangiora,. tno position of secretary during ttie absence ot Ala j or B. B. Jordan, with the Expeditionary Force. Mr James Little gavo notice to move at the next meeting that in cases whero cups were offered for competition, it be made optional for prize-winners to i receive the cash value, providing the : , money be given to the Poor of Great Britain and Belgian Relief Fund. Exhibitors in cookery and produce classes will bo asked to.civo their exhibits to be auctioced for tho benefit of tho same i I frjif , „ - - , I

[mitteo to arrange, in conjunction -w-.th Dr. Le-in<s<?, for a concert to be held I csrly in the New Year, for tfco heneht of the Poor of Great Britain and Balgiurn fund .-—Messrs H. ..Little \\. White, W. Bridson, S. Prtfo; and \\ Evans. The date of the next meeting was fixed for January Oth. at l.p.ni. On Satirrday inornlat; early, bcvcral of Tho crops of potatoes around Kaiapoi were, affected by the th'arp frosts. CHEVIOT. . I A pleasant- function took place* at iho prize distribution at ,the Cheviot rcain school on Thursday, when Mr. ana Mrs Ormandy, the master and mistress, received ■ handsome presentations from tho scholars. AMBEISLEY. A very successful garden pnrty in connexion with the Methodist Church, was held at tho residence of Mr E. Coleman. Tho members.of the- Ladies' Guild (who had organised the affair, land a number of their friends, worked hard to make tho party i> success. The I following ladies controlled the different departments: —Work stall, •Mcsiia'moF ■Hoiton and Fau-weather; produce stall, f Misses fcJhepherd and J. Stanton; I Christmas tree. Misses Wornail hnfi Retallick; afternoon tea., Mcsdainei ' Goleman, Webb, Shepherd, t". Chamberlain. T. Chamberlain, Mi.sacs Hunt and DaluieU; competitions, Mioses jStanton, Rhodes, Kodgers, Harris, Lantro and J. Shepherd, Messrs T. and E. Chamberlain; gate, Mr R. Wornail. 1 . RANGIORA. J There was a large congregation at the I Presbyterian Church yesterday after- | noon, when a special Christinas service ! of sons entitled ".David's Sacrifice,''! was given by n combined choir of the J Sunday school and Bible class scholars, conducted by Miss G. Rogers. Tho connecting parts were read by Miss Nellie Htighey, Miss Myrtle Bell playing the organ. A collection taken »3> on bo- , halt of tho Christmas Gift Fund foi Belgian children realised £2 11s Sd. Tho scholars of the Sunday school hay* consented to give the cash -val'io of tlieir annual prizes to the saiae fund. LEKSTON. On Monday evening Mr L. Birks electrical englnfcof of the Pub'.ic Work* Department; Cnnstchurch, gave a lecture at the 'Leeston Town. Hall, on the benefits of electricity; dealing principally with tho Lake CV.oridgc plant. Tho' lecture- ivas illustrated by lantern slides. Mr Birks assured tho meetine that tho Government was prepared u> bring the current to tho Ellesmcre district as soon as there was a demand for fifty electrical liorsc-powcr. Ho pointed "out that tho Government kept '.inlj a limited stall and that it-wo* uesiroJ that local bodies should mirehaso tho energy, in. bulk and retail it to consumers. Tho transmission lines could be- run out to Ellesriiero county afc the rate of five miles a week when tho people were ready to receive tho current. Mr Birks added that ho intended to spend a few days in tho district at.the first opportunity, so as to in.ept consumers individually, and ascertain Iheii requirements. Upon the motion of.Mr J. C. Free,, seconded by Mr J. Storry. Mr Birks wa.s accorded a hearty yote of ihanks. IiOLLESTOX. A. very successful concert, was held in tho Itolleston schopl on .Friday evej'ing jn aid Patriotic aiid.Britain and Be.gium Relief Funds. There was a large attendance of tho public, and a very' pleasant evening was spent. At the cfoso of tho concert Mr Voss pro ; posed a very hearty vote of thanks io tho New Zealand Farmers' Co-op. Musi cal iSociety for their splendid programme, and the audience responded with thron hearty cheors. The -following was the programme provided by the New Zealand Farmers' €oK>pern ; tivo Choral and Orchestral Society :— Selection, "The Groafc Divide," Ofcihestra; parfc-song, (a) ''The Fun is About to Start," C%oral Society, (b) ."He! That Hath-a .Pleasant .Face," Quartet' Party.; cornet solo. "Australis," Mr W. Timms; recifcatiou, 'Tho Baby,'' Kathleen Brewins; solo and choniSj •'Sons of New Zealand," Mr -Ai, E. 'Behdall; selection, "Silvery .Beils." Orchestra; vocal duet, "Nocturncj" Misses J. DiifF and F. M. Gulliver; humorous part-song, "Old Mother Hubbard," Quartet Party; selectipn : "Fraiica Gavotto." Orchestra; recitation, selected,, Flbrenco Bifewiris: part 4 song, "Hail, Smiling Morn," Choral Society; selection, "Rendezvous," Orchestra; song, ''Hod, White and Blue.' Miss J. Biiffj four-part (a) MWhen Evening Twilight/ , . Quartet Party, part eoug,. (b) ""Good-bye, 5, Choral Society; . National AniKeias, "llussiaii Hymn, 7, "La Marsoillaiso," "God Siivo the King," Choral Society. Mr A. W. Jamiesori was the .conductor. LADBROOKiS. On Tuesday evening the final gimes in connexion With tho progressive euchre tournaments Were held in tlie" Public Hall. There was a lafgo attendance-. Thp winners were: Mrs l'% Leathern and Mr F. MeycrhofF, whilst tho "booby" prises were awarded to Mrs E. Tucker and Mr McElroy, junr. After tho ball had been cleared a very onjoyhble.dance was held. Throughout the past few months tliesb tournanieiita liavo been A source ct pleasiifc to lh*i residents of the district, and with the proceeds the Hall Committee hae been able to nuike very substantial additions to the Hall, thus making it- an up-to-date building in every r,espoct. The success - of these social functions is greatly due to the energetic secretary, Mr F. Meyers, who was ably supported by a strong committee.