Use Of Roads As Stock Routes Criticised

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 19

Use Of Roads As Stock Routes Criticised

' Any farmer who used a : public road indiscriminately 1 as a stock route for taking ■ his cattle from one part of the farm to another, should be barred from carrying on this practice, Mr E. S. Cutler said at the annual provincial dairy conference of the North Canterbury Federated Farmers. He was commenting on a portion of the chairman’s report. In his report, the retiring chairman (Mr J. W. Overton), said it appeared as if the Counties Association ‘ had “shown interest” in cases 1 where a farmer who could use his own farm for droving ' purposes used the road inJ stead. The association thought ! that a farmer should use his own farm where it was pos- • sible, Mr Overton said. ; “If this were rigidly en- ’ forced it could mean a severe ‘ blow to production at a time when there is such a need for overseas funds.” He suggested that the association could instead, ap- ’ proach the Automobile Asso- ' ciation, “with a view to en- ! couraging a little more courtesy between drover and • motorist.” ■ Future Prospects - Discussing the prospects for 1 next season, Mr Overton said . the outlook was brighter than : for some years past. The ! quota system of 163,800 tons ’ of butter annually, that has ! been introduced by the i United Kingdom was as much as New Zealand could sup- ■ Plyi “The quota system has i helped to stabilise the market ; at a more realistic price of i 335 s per cwt. This has pre- : vented France and other Con- • tinental countries from . dumping butter at prices as

low as 2265, only to sell on their own markets at about : 6005,” he said. With the United Kingdom milking 100,000 cows less last season there was the question as to whether New Zealand could supply more dairy produce to meet any further de- ■ mand from the United Kingdom. Mr Overton thought that . if the incentive were given, this could be achieved. Mr S. E. Chappell was elected chairman for the ensuing year. He was unopposed. Mr Overton did not seek re-election. Mr F. H. Eggleston was elected vicechairman. Messrs Chappell, Eggleston, Overton and A. D. Oliver were appointed the four delegates to the provincial conference. Mr Chappell and Mr Eggleston were elected delegates to the Dominion Dairy ; section conference and to the North Canterbury provincial executive. Mr Chappell was appointed the delegate to the ■ Dominion Dairy Council.