FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19940, 29 May 1930, Page 9

FARMERS' UNION.

CANTERBURY BRANCH,

EXECUTIVB DISCUSSES MONTH'S ACTIVITIES, The monthly meeting of tho Canterbury District Executive of the New • Zealand Farmers' Union was ; held yesterday afternoon, when the presi'dent, Mr C. Mcintosh, occupied the chair. There was a full attendance of delegates. A letter was received from the New Zealand Farmers' Union head executive, advising that at a recent executive; meeting it was decided that representation be made to the Police Department stressing the necessity of every constable's residence.in the country being connected with the telephone. The Minister for Justice had replied that the matter would receive consideration, but he was informed that practically, every police station in the Dominion was already connected. The letter asked that in view of the seriousncßs of sheep-stealing in. some districts provincial secretaries should ascertain if all police stations in their district were linked up. Mr Little, the secretary, said that he bad telephoned the Superintendent of the Christehurch Police-station, but he had said that no one but the Commissioner could give the information sought. Mr C. Mcintosh said that he knew of an instance where only one of two constables in a country district was on the 'phone, and if he were out it was impossible to get in touch with tho other one until "tho bird had flown." It was decided that members make investigations. Land Values Conference. The Canterbury A. and P. Association advised that Messrs L. B. C. Maofarlane, James Deans, and E. Hay had been appointed to represent tho Association at a conferenco between the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union, the Farmers' Union, and the Canterbury A. and P. Association, at which the securing of more equitable land valuations will be discussed. Messrs C. Mcintosh, J. D. Hall, and K. Murchison were appointed as the Farmers' Union delegates. Weed Killing Experiments. A report was before the meeting from the Department of Agriculture explaining the results of recont experiments with sodium chlorate and calcium chlorate as a destroyer of ragwort and other woeds. Mr C. Mcintosh said that it was very gratifying to farmers to see that the Department of Agriculture had reached some finality in the matter, and the killing of ragwort meant a lot to the men on tho land.

Mr C. D. Hawke: There is a solid patch of three acres on the banks of, the Selwyn I have been told,' and we on the plains below are getting the seed washed down in increasing quantities every year. Bussell's Flat is a heavy sufferer in this respect. "Mr. E.G-Wells.(Oxford): In regard to destroying weeds I would like to draw attention to the fact that there is a microbe in our district which is apparently killing the Calif ornian thistle. The plants are covered with an aphis which has a similar appearance to that which attacks rose trees. The thistles are completely blackened, while the rape leaves surrounding them are untouched. Mr Mcintosh said that ho did not want members to be buoyed up too much in that way. He thought the blight that Mr Wells referred to was merely a seasonal thing, and did not kill the roots of the thistles. Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf, of Lincoln College, had made a report on this blight, and had said that the blight was not fatal to the Calif ornian thistle. Oxford Recommendations. The Oxford branch wrote stating that it had decided at a recent meeting to suggest that provision be made at the freezing works for "boned mutton," on the same principle as "boned beef," and also that an analyst's certificate be given with all lime sold for agricultural purposes, in regard to percentage of pure lime and percentage of moisture Both these suggestions were referred to the agriculture committee for investigation. Donations Supported. The matter of making a contribution towards, the Agricultural Boys' and Girls' Clubs in Canterbury supervised by the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, was referred to tho finance committee. Several members spoke stating that the movement was one which deserved all the support possible. It was also resolved to make a recommendation to the finance committee that a donation be made towards the funds of the newly-formed women's branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union in Canterbury. Freezing Works Dispute. The chairman reported that he had represented the Union at. a-hurried , meeting summoned by the South Island | Freezing Companys' Association called to consider the position at the com-, mencoment of the recent freezing works trouble. At that meeting, he said, the representatives of the various farmer's bodies were asked for their support, and he, on behalf of the Union, had pledged it to assist tho companies and man the boards with volunteer labour if required. He had considered it his duty to do that, and asked that the meeting approve or disapprove of his attitude.

It was unanimously decided that the chairman's action be approved.