BETTER YEAR FOR SHEEP FARMERS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21121, 23 March 1934, Page 14

BETTER YEAR FOR SHEEP FARMERS

CANTERBURY A. AND P. ASSOCIATION AN NT AI, MF.KTINi; The annual meeting of Hie (Au.teibury Agricultural and Pastoral A c.ation was held last night, with dm attendance of approximately 50 members. Mr C. G. Jarrnan presided. Reference to farming conditions in 193.5-34. as well as to the affair- of the association during a cwrcspniidins period, was made by the chairman, and retiring pi'e.-idcni. Mr .farman. m moving the adoni.on of ike annual report and balance-;-i-.ect. "At this time last yeai drought Conditions ruled, and a very dry v. inter followed, which found the ;hcon farmer short of grass feed." bo said. "To make matter? woi'se, there was m almost total failure of the luriuperop—Canterbury's mainstay for winter feed. However, a abundance of oat sheaves, a fair C|uaniit> ol hay, and mild condition - enabled stock to winter w;thoin a ureal loss, except weight of wed, «•>!•,mated cue :ulc ' a half tu two pounds a head. Appreciation of l.inroln ( oilegi"The winter enabled a valuable lesion to be learnt ivs dry feeding stuck. On the lis liter land--- the Diainonct Back m Ircady made .-.cnou; inroads on. tiie crop. We appreciate the wors ci L.»:co!a College in. investigating dry feeding. The information and dani the college supphed were extremely valuable. "The spring was very iir>. but at amount oJ i-eud to grass. green v n.»p>. and grenn. Prices of wool mipiovrd, and prices for both wool and lamb are approximately double those of last year. * To-day the sheep farmer can look forward hopefully to adequate returns, and although much adjusting will have to be done. 1 feel sure ways will be found to surmount our duticuliies. and tiic whole community must bener;t. Fariinne, I always think, is a mass of contradictions. ami it appear;we live on faith, hope. and. of hue.

Lessons to bo Learned j "One would have thought that farm- | ers had learned Mime lessons during | die last three years, but anyone atI tending the ewe fairs tins year must j dc astonished at the high prices paid j for breeding ewes. The buyer is cei - I tam.ly very optimistic. However, this i wiil probably be the means of saving i many good ewe lambs from the f butcher. It is a shame to see so many of our line thive-quartcrbred lambs slaughtered, and replaced by th.e culls troni other parts of New Zealand. "Although the dairying aidu: "iy not of first importance to Ca'itcrburv. all will sympathise with the farmer j dependent upon this class of farming j fer iiis l:\ehhood. The dairyman was j fortunate tnat the decline of his prices was not so sudden as for v. uol prices. _ fairly satisfactory year, and though there is a slight falling ot!" m the number et members as compared with the previous year, the receipts from members' show a gratii} gig mereasc. The balance-sheet • shows a fairly substantial .sum owing j still m unpaid subscription--, and th.s lis after writing the amount dov. is. The { association during th.e year altered its ! rules to allo.v of junior ruembei.s bej ir.g aumit'ed. and I would appeal to i members to interest young people m j the association. j "Th.e balance-sheet show -- that 'heie | has been an improvement duimg th.e ; ) eag the loss after allowing for deli rcciatiou amounting to j:i-t 17s !!d. j compared with a loss of C 1004 !K- Bti | for If-'i- It may be pointed ou< that th.e expenaiUire upon ground maiuI tinance iiaci been materially mcrca.-cd j last year. In considering the balancesheet it is fan' to mention thai the I i evenue has been helped bv the rejceipt of 18s 3d, the half share |of th.e -it-cumulated profits of winter ! .-hows before the Canterbury Mmui- ! iaetui'ei's' Association and this j tion dissolved "partnership.

I Breed Quality Maintained ] "The annua' miow in iflli.'i wa ■; j highly sueec.«lul." 'Air Jarm.au conlikid'ci. "It served to demons; rate that j the breeders <T the Smith island arc j rot allowing their studs to tall away I quality, but rather are they doing | everything possible to advance the I enahtv of their respective breeds. The j association is indebted to las Excel- ! Kney the Governor-Geneial for the | provision of prizes for the wheal comI petition, which opened up a new and j interesting field for the association to i work in the interests of agriculture." Mr J, O. MeGillivray seconded the | adoption of the report and balanc--I sheet, commcnimg on the improved • j financial situation of the association. Tile annual report and balance- | sheet Wds adopted. Election of Otlicri s The election of officers resulted:— : President. Air Gordon Fulton tAmberley vice-president, Mr W. 11. Nicholson ( Sumner >: honorary treasurer, Mr J. O. MeGillivray; general committee, Messrs John Brooks tlrwclD, J. C. Chamberlain ' Ellesmerc*. F. Coop lAtaahliai. John Fleming i Baieairn >. G. H. Grigg (Kororata>. Robert S. Guna (Racecourse Hill', George Hartl j 111 iCulvcrden), M. E. Jenkins 'Courtenay>, David Jones ißryndwn. H. S. Lawrence 1 Christchurch >. C>. R. Macdonaid iLourv Hills), R. T McMilian ilrwell", \V. W. Mcßae i\Vaikarii, R. A. Oakley ißakaiai, 11. Olive 'Hororata), Robert Beach (AshIvy Bank), John Barlane (Ilalswelb. Jas. Reid i Darlield). W. O. Ronnie 1 Doylestonh G. O. Rutherford iLoeh;el. Culvc'-den'. T. A. Stephens ■lrwcll>. Thomas Stevenson iSpotswood), E. S. Taylor (Woodondi, R. C. Todhunter (Mcthvonh i Change of Ofliccs On die motion of Mr W. Hav- . ward, seconded by Mr W. II Nicholson it was decided to thank the Canterbury Automobile Association for Its unfailing court c.-y during the niimv • years the a -oeiation had had u- ' oficos m its building. The secietary. Mr M. K. 1.y.,n,. -,„r! that the next meeting v.-ould bo held m the new ofl'.crs of the association. : There bad been no breach in the rolai'ons between the association and the automobile organisation. The chance would m.c;ei a saving of approximate!;JJ'iO a year to '.lie association.