N.Z. AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1029, 13 April 1894, Page 3

N.Z. AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

May, 1894. To the Chairman Olutha A. &P. Ass., Dear Sir, — 1. In accordance with the following resolution passed at the meeting of delegates from the various agricultural associations hold in Christchurch in May 1892, I beg to hand you the following resolution which was uuanitnously agreed to. " Resolved — That the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association be requested to arrange for the next Conference to be held within three years at Wellington, and that Mr Murphy be requested to act as Secretary." 2. It has therefore been resolved by committee of the Canterbury A. and P. Association, that arrangements be made for the next conference to be commenced on the 29th May in Wellington, and the Wellington A. and P. Association has been requested to act with the president (Mr John Grig") and Hie vice-president Mr A. E. G. Rhodes) of this association in conjunction with the chairman (Mr Overtoil) of last conference. All other associations which may elect to join the conference are respectfully requested to forward, at their earliest convenience, a list of any subjects that they may wish placed upon the order paper. 3. It is proposed that where practicable the leading subjects shall be introduced by reading a short paper thereon, the time to be restricted to fifteen minutes. Members are hereby invited to prepare papers, to be forwarded to the secretary not later than 14 days before the meeting. 4. The -following reply has been received from the Minister for Agriculture with reference to the attendance of delegates at the conference — " I have to inform you that the Hon the Minister for Agriculture has authorised the payment of train and steamer fares of delegates duly appointed to attend the Conference. I trust you will see that each society is limited to a fair representation according to its standing— l should s.ay the large centres such as Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill, might send two each and any of the others— one, (Signed) J. D. Ritchie, Secretary for Agriculture." 5. It will thus be seen that the Government is prepared to pay the expenses to and from the meeting, of two delegates for each of the Metropolitan Associations and one from all others. 6. It will, however be optional for any association to send additional delegates at its own expense, but in no case may the number representing one association exceed fouv. The voting will be taken on the same basis ag that agreed upon at the last conference — viz. , that each society may vote according to the number of representatives present. 7. With a view to covering the cost of printing, postage ond other incidental expenses, the Committee has resolved that each Metropolitan Association shall pay an entrance fee of L 3 3s, and all others L 2 2s such subscriptions to be paid in advance. 8. The objects of the conference maybe briefly stated as follows : — To provide a common platform from which agricultural and pastoral interests may be con-sidei-ed. 9. British farmers, recognising the importance of such meetings, established a " National Agricultural Union " in 1892. At their last meeting in December, held at St. James' Hall, London, the Chairman, Lord Winchilson, moved the following resolution :— " That this Congress being deeply convinced that a closer combination between all classes interested in the land is essential at this crisis urges all land owners, tenant farmers and labourers to join and support the National Agricultural Union, which has been formed without distinction of party in order to promote their common interests." It will not be disputed that the farming interests of New Zealand, like those of England, are passing through a trying crisis, brought about in a great measure by the same causes. 10. It is therefore all important that subjects affecting the future prospects of agriculturists and shGepfarmers should be considered with a view to more conserted action. As Parliament will probably meet in June, any matters discussed at the Conference requiring legislation may be submitted to Ministers without delay. 11. The Last Conference.— Seeing our last conference was only a beginning of these periodical gatherings, it is very gratifying to know that the meeting was not without good results in many ways, and although the resolutions passed may not have led to much direct legislation, still they appear to have had decided indirect influence on several measures and reforms, such as the Adulteration of Manures Bill, the Dairy Industry Bill, the appointment of fruit experts and veterinary surgeons, also improvements it the quarantine regulations, &c. Mr J. R. Mitchell said that the question of appointing a delegate t( attend this conference was a ver^

1 important one. This conference had been held for two years, and many o£ the subjects there discussed were of great importance and interest to fanners, and their discussion and consideration would, he had ho doubt, result in a lot of good. He would move that Mr T Mackenzie, M.H.R., who previously represented this society, do so again (his year. He would also move that tin* society join the association, and thp.t the fee of L 2 2s be paid. Mr J. Findlay seconded the motion. Mr John Henderson said that he thought thftfc this appoinhnont should fall on the president of the society, and he would move to that effect. He presumed Mr Mackenzie would be in Wellington anyway about the same time and he could also be appointed. Mr J. Rutherford seconded the amendment. Mr T, Mackenzie, said that he would not allow the matter to come to a division if the president was agreeable to accept the position. There was a certain amount of honor in being appointed delegate, and it was an honor that was rightly attached to the position of president. Mr Dallas said there was this consideration that if they sent a second delegate it would mean an expense to the society of L 7 or LB. Mr Mitchell said he was agreeable to withdraw his motion if the president would accept the position. ! Mr Findlay expressed himself to a similar effect, and added that he thought the president should be appointed. Mr Henderson would like to see both the president and Mr Mackenzie act. The President expressed his willingness to accept the appointment, and thought that a < committee should be appointed to consider and report as to the matters that this society considered should be brought forward at .the conference. The. question of the cost of sending two delegates having been mentioned, it was pointed out that only the cost of one would bo. borne by the society. Mr Mackenzie said that if the}' appointed the president, whose expenses would be paid by the Government, and himself, then his expense would only be a matter of his steamer fare from Lyttleton to Wellington. He would not think of isking anything further. Several members expressed the opinion that in that case the society should send two delegates'. Mr Mitchell then moved to the effect that the president (Mr D. Bryce) and Mr T. Mackenzie be both appointed delegates, the society refunding Mr Mackenzie's steamer fare from Lyttleton to Wellington, the president's expenses being paid by the Government. Mr J. Findlay seconded the motion, which was then put and carried. A conversational discussion ensued as to the subjects which should be dealt with at the conference. Mr T. Mackenzie, in giving a brief resume of the subjects dealt with at last Conference, said these Conferences were of the utmost importance to the farming community, and the opinions expressed and resolutions carried must have the greatest weight with the Government. The result of the meeting at christchurch in 1892 was most encouraging, and furnished a reliable guide to the minister upon questions affecting the agricultural interests. Some of the resolutions carried there were now the law of the land. He personally had the honor of moving resolutions re The Dairy Act, which were carried urging the Government to deal with and regulate the dairy industry ; to prevent adulterations of manures ; to open the doors of Lincoln Agricultural College to our lads who had won scholarships in our primary schools. These questions were afterwards taken up by the Government and were now the law of the land. The Government had also dealt with other resolutions dealing with the extention of the functions of the department, the employment o# a competent veterinary surgeon, and bills had been introduced to prevent the spread of noxious weeds, the regulation of brands, which, however, had not passed. These Conferences representing as the didy the opinions of ihe agriculturalists of New Zealand were of immense service to the farmers and the Government, They furnished in a concrete form the wants of the people. The Government after all was but the executive of Parliament, and could not originate everything. Ifc was from outside that ideas were required to enable good work to be done. There were still a number of other questions which might come up, which it would be well for the society to give an opinion upon : The collection of agricultural statistes was very faulty, the sheep tax, the introduction of elementary agricultural education and farm book-keeping in the state schools to be substituted for some part of our present syllabus of less importance. He believed there was not a single chapter upon agriculture from the first to the sixth standard. It was not given sufficient prominence. Noxious weeds and brands require dealing with, and the question of freetrade between the colonies should be forced forward. He felt sure that this important matter couid only be secured through the agency of farmers' associations. The Hon. the Minister of Lands was in favor of such a system.

and also his friend J. G. Ward. Railway freights on lime manui'e should be considered, and also whether wire, netting fences should be macle a legal fence. He believed the lime kilns should be nationalised, abettors should be estabilshed. The question of one-man-one-vote in county elections, was also likely to be discussed, also the the propriety or otherwise of rating on unimproved values for local purposes ; the purity of seeds would also be dis-. cussed. Mr John Findlay said that the question of establishing one or two peripatetic dairies was one the advisability of which should be urged upon the Government, At Home an instructor went to a farm house in the centre of a district ancl stayed a week or two, and got all the young men and women of the neighborhood to meet him there, and take lessons from him. The result was that many valuable hints were given, and a lot of good derived. Peripatetic dairies would, he believed, be of vast importance to the dairy industry as a whole. In the course of a short discussion 1 on the subject, it was pointed out that there was at present a dairy instructor appointed who went round to the different factories, ancl complaint was made that the new instructor had never visited the Inch Clutha dairy factory. Mr Dallas, however, mentioned that he had heard, with what amount of truth, however he could not say, that the last dairy instructor did not receivo a very good welcome at the Inch Clutha factory on the occasion of his last visit. Mr Dallas moved that the president and vice-presidents (Messrs John Findlay and W. S. Mosley), and Messrs T. Mackenzie, M.H.R., John Johnston, J. 0. Anderson, J. W. Wilson, John Henderson, and the mover be a committee to consider and report on matters which this society considered should be brought forward at the con ference. Mr Mitchell seconded the motion, which was carried. It was agreed that the committee meet in the county hall the following Friday, 13th inst., at 3 o'clock.