TARIFF CHANGES OPPOSED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22344, 7 March 1938, Page 15

TARIFF CHANGES OPPOSED

EFFECT ON POTATO GROWERS VAIMATE FARMERS’ VIEWS ,/fv feel that the action of the Government has sealed the doom of potato growers as far as getting the embargo on potatoes lifled is concerned,” said Mr W. J. Fletcher, referring to the rocent tarifT alterations during a meeting of the Waimate branch of the Farmers' Union. “Mr Sullivan assured us that he was anxious to help farmers generally,” he said, “but the larif is a severe impost on farmers as they will have to meet those costs.” Mr W. We 11 wood said that New Zealand potatoes were -not wanted in Australia. The Australians knew that New Zealand could grow 10 tons of potatoes to their three, and they were determined not to admit New Zealand potatoes on to their market. Mr G. Barclay said he believed some of the leaders of the Australian Government were from potato growing ditricts. "There is something else underlying it,” said Mr Fletcher. “The potato growers in Australia represent only a small portion of the voters.” The New Zealand Government had not helped the potato growers; it had jeopardised their interests, he said. Reference was made to a section of the minutes of the last meeting of the South Canterbury executive of the union dealing with the tests carried out with Chapman sacks imported from Australia. The sacks would hold 1541b of dreadnought wheat and 1611b of solid straw, Mr Fletcher said. Mr Dempsey said that Mr Trotter, of Fairlie, had packed 1821b of very small wheat into one of the sacks. The wheat ..had gone 621b to the bushel. “I don’t think there is any chance of squeezing in three bushels,” said Mr P, McNeill. ' The chairman: Not a chance.

Members spoke in support of the protest made by the South Canterbury executive against the price of Cross 7 wheat, which it. was said should oe fixed on the same basis as Hunters wheat. Some members said it was felt that the millers were getting a first grade wheat at a second-grade price.

The resignation of Mr R. J. Runcxman was accepted with regret. The secretary (Mr A. J. Hoskins) reported that he had written to the No-; 4 Tranport Licensing Authority enclosing a schedule of carriers’ prices ruling in .Timaru and suggesting that a similar schedule would be acceptable to the Waimate branch of the union. The reply from the authority acknowledged the "list of prices agreed between your branch and the Waimate Carriers’ Association.” The reply had evidently been forwarded under a misapprehension that an agreement had been reached, he said. “That is very strange. It is no answer at all,” said the chairman (Mr J. Dempsey). The letter was received and no action was taken.

The secretary of the Waimate Winter Show wrote asking for better support for the wool and agriculture sections of the show. • Several members said that the exhibits last year had been very few, but that it was rather late notice for the forthcoming show, especially for the wool section. The mj&t'ng decided to mention the mat,lj£ as many members as possible. /j3 i may i DAY PARADE AT fr "" WAIMATE iEVERAL ALTERATIONS MADE This year the parade from the drill hall to the Olympia Hall during the Aiwae Day celebrations at Waimate will not be held. The various units taking part. in the parade will march separately to the Olympia Hall for the service, and coming from the hall the parade will halt at the South African War Memorial. These alterations were mgd’e at a, meeting of the Waimate Returned Soldiers’ Association. The. War Relief Society advised that Mr J. L. Menzies had been appointed Waimate representative on the committee of the South Canterbury War Relief Society. The secretary reported that since the last meeting 24 members had become! financial making the total to date 155, compared with 246 at the end of the financial year. COUNTY AND BOROUGH PICNIC FUNCTION AT WAIMATE The employees of the Waimate County end Borough Councils held their first annual picnic at Knottingly Park, Waimate, on- Saturday. There were about 150 persons present and during the afternoon Captain N. A. Rattray spoke for the County Council and thanked all those who had helped to make the function a success. He apologised for the absence of the chairman of the council (Mr John Bxtchener), who, he said, was on holiday. WEATHER AT WAIMATE -The total rainfall in Waimate for February was not as heavy as that of some of. the surrounding districts. Rain fell on 15 days during the month, the total being 2.24 inches. The heavi- , est fall on any day was on February 27, when .71 inches fell. The total hours of sunshine lor the month was 117.8, the average for the month being 4.2-hours. The highest maximum temperature for the month was 75.7 degrees and the’ average reading was >2.5 degrees. A north-easterly wind blew on six days, a south-easterly on flve_ days, and no degrees of frost were registered during the month. SHIPPING y ■ PORT OF TIMARU ' ARRIVALS , Saturday Waimarino. from Bluff. Union Steam Snip Company, agents. Gale, from Dunedin. D. C. Turnbull and Company, agents. Wainui. from Oamaru. Union Steam Ship company, agents. DEPARTURES - , Saturday Waimarino. for Lyttelton. Gale, for Lyttelton. EXPECTED ARRIVALS Holmlea, Dunedin, March 8. Breeze. Dunedin, March 8 Cambridge, Port Chalmers, March 10. Karu, Oamaru, March 10. Waipiata, Dunedin, March 14. ■Waipahi. Oamaru, March 16. Kekerangu, Lyttelton, March 17. Karetu, Oamaru, March 18. Benvenue, Lyttelton, March 21. Lyttelton, March 21. Fort Chalmers, Wellington, March 22. Port Alma, Wellington, March 23. - PROJECTED DEPARTURES -Wainui, Lyttelton, this day. ffolmlea, Lyttelton. March 8. Breeze, Lvttelton. March 8. Karu, Lyttelton. March 10. ■Cambridge. Wanganui. March 11. Waipiata. Lyttelton, March 14. Waipahi, Lyttelton, March 16.