SHEEPOWNERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18241, 27 November 1924, Page 11

SHEEPOWNERS' UNION.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. The. executive of the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union met yesterday. Fr.esent: Messrs- E. E. Guinness (president), H: D. Atland, E. Hay, L.'.r' C. ■Macfarlane, A. J. Murray, K. M. Morten, M; Bethellj G. H. Grigg, H. •E. Jessep, G. Fulton, B. Tripp, and H. Ensor. Apologies for absence were received from Messrs D. G. Wright, W. Hanmer-Atkinson, R. B. Neill, D.- W. Westenra, H. Acton-'Adams, P. ActonAdams;" J: F. Maef&rlane, G. 0. RutherfjOfd,. N. D. Campbell, G. Murray, and J. D.. McCracken.

: A copy of the Shearers' Accommoda-tion-Act Amendment Bill vvas received from. Wellington, and after discussion 'it Tyas. referred to the Federation Executive to be dealt with. A letter was received .from Dr. C. <T. lieakes, Director-General of Agriculture, regarding the appointment of woolgrowers' representatives, on the new Wool Committee. .It was'resolved., to .'request the Federation Executive , to nominate Mr'B. E..H. Tripp, of .Timaru, for appointment to the committee.'

The Director of the ..Tima.ru Technical College wrote stating, that . the'blade,'shearing classes at the'.College, had been successful, : and the had expressed their satisfaction at the quality of the instruction and the class of work done by the students. .The letter was received, members stressing the necessity for every encouragement being given to learners by sheepowners, in view of the shortage of blade shearers. Mr - A.-- J.--Murray, chairman of the sub-committee set up to deal with the question'of research work in connexion with rabbit destruction, reported that the committee had commenced its work, and the collection of data was arranged for with a view to the committee completing its report at the next meeting of the executive. It was resolved, on the recommendation of the committee, that the Department be asked to provide a competent man to investigate known cases of disease among rabbits when brought under the notico of the Department by any responsible person. Arrangements were made to test the scouring qualities of various woolbranding materials, the matter being left in the hands of Mr Morten and the secretary.

, Mr Bernard Tripp, who has .jnst returned from a visit. to Great 'Britain, gave an interesting address on matters affecting producers on the British markets. He stated that in hi 3 opinion the decisious come to at the Economic Conference in .London would shortly be given effect to, and that great benefit to the Dominions would result. It was pointed out that in return the Dominion must make some effort to do its share-in absorbing a proportion of the surplus population of the Motherland. Britain was uAdoubtedly suffering through an excess of population, especially' in the cities'; the position was a serious one and would have to be dealt with on a'practical basis. The benefits to New Zealand from Imperial Preference would not necessarily require to be obtained by direct taxation of our products on reaching Englarfd, but by a sys'tem of rebates and licenses. North Island lamb showed a marked improvement'in quality, and more of the Down cross was evidently being used than was formerly the 'case. The New Zealand Meat Board was doing good work in tho interests of sheepowners by regulating supplies, etc. It was interesting to note that, the, British sheep returns wero made in dune of each year; this meant that' all lambs were included, and instead of there being approximately 25,000,000, sheep in Great Britain, as shown by the official figures, there would only be possibly half that number carried throughout the year. . The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to Mr Tripp for his address.