FARMERS' UNION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 264, 31 July 1908, Page 4

FARMERS' UNION.

ANNUAL CENTRAL.CONFERENCE. THIRD DAY. Tho Sevonth 'Annual Conforenco of tho Now Zealand Farmers' Union was resumed yesterday at the National .'Mutual Buildings, tho President (Mr. J. G. Wilson, of Bulls) in the, chair. Mr. J. D. Ritcliio (Secretary for Agriculture), Mr.''E, Clifton (Chief Inspector of Stook), and Messrs. Buddo, Barr, Laurenson, and r Hall,'M,P. , 's, wero also present during tfio' sittings. ROADS THROUGH NATIVE LAf/DS. ' -Major Bell (Auckland)'moiicd"That tho '1 Government, be strongly urged to j assist lo»cal bodies in taking land for necessary roads through Native lands, whero such roads havo not been provided • for by• tho Nativo :LandCourt." ■ ' Mr. Flangan (Auckland) seconded. Carried. ; RURAL FRANCHISE. Major Bell (Auckland) moved-" That only ratepayers be empow-ered to . vote on local government matters in counties, road boards, and.''roral this Conference protests' in _-tho most emphatic manner agaiinst- the proposal to extend the Parliamentary Franchise for tho purpose of electing thoso bodies.". . . ; .. . Mr..,fMjddletou (Southlpnd)' seconded. ". Carried. ... \ :i SU BSI Dl ES-tO-UO.CAJL'-BO.D IES; Mr. fW.B.Matheson (Wellington)moved:—■. "That'isubsides to local bodies; should,be on a graduated scalo in; proportion -to tho rate struck as ieconimended by, tho Land /Commission."-. ; Mr: : 'H. J. Richards (Levin), seconded. Considerable; discussion took place on tho question : whether special . rates should be included j or only' rates for the general requirements of settlement, such as roads and bridges. ... • . . . , ' Tho general desiro was to excludo special rates,'arid on this account the motion was defeated by 10 votes to 6. Mr. H.. J. Richards (Levin) gave notice; to move "that- the, subsidy .be on a graduated , 'scale on the general rates only." - ' AUCTIONERS* FEES FOR CHARITABLE : - ■ ;;V' . aid. ; '! Mr.-D." Jones, (North Canterbury) moved:; the Government to pay auctionfeers' liconsft .fees into • into a fund to be used for Hospital and Chiwitabla Aid pnrposes." ' ' ' . Ho said objection was felt to the that auctjoneers' fees, .which'were earned in the country, went'.to the cities., ' . Jlr. v O. F. Clothier (North' Canterbury) seconded, and said tlia u motion would strengthen the hands of Mr. Witty, M.P., who'had a motion; on tho' r qupHibhybef6fe'th'o House. . . V The motion was carried. .< : ; v; : . v, charitable ;aid boundaries. Mr. G. W. Leadiey (North Canterbury) moved: —"That'wherb 'facilities are. provided, 'in order to seciire tho more equitable administration and distribution of hospital and charitable aid, the boundaries ; of hospital and - cbaritablo; aid;distriots, v should-bo 00-terminqus.;, with >- ; 'i.'county He said',in j-'his. district .tho're'wasr up.'.'One who could give' an order for'admissionlto Ashburton Old Men's Home; Applications had to go through Christchurch, and this caused unnecessary difficulties. They desired to be allowed to manage their own affairs '.where tho facilities .existed. ■ :

Mr. M'Queen (Southland) -seconded pro forma and opposed, /believing the chango -would croato more difficulties then it would remove. • Tho motion was. rejected.--j, LAND BOARD MEETINGS., Mn'Hookley ■ said tho deputation rwlncliwaited on the ; Minister as -to, fortnightly meetings'-'of 'Land "Boards, '■ had gained approval of the proposal an regard to large land boards, and it"would'bo-piit into'praetico. Tho deputation suggested'-that'the; remuneration of the mombers ..'should be;;increased to'.'fil'- a day> ! 'expenses, and tho."Minister concurred, but -said"the/ amount was fixed by statute. If possible ~io would get-an increase provided for, ■ The Conference considered tlio report very satisfactory.' ' BIRD PESTS. Mr. ■ M'Queen (Southland) moved:—"That in view of' the 'marked success that has attended the, introduction of .small; owls .in-tlio destruction of small birds,;it is .desirablb'to make some united effort for;.tho-importation' of ;, *a sufficient ' . number . for .'distribution throughout Southland, and -that . the 1 ioeai • bodies who have the power'to- mako-a rate for. ,such purposes' bo urged' to: tako united action accordingly." < He considered poisoiicd grain the . best ~bird , ; killeiy but farmers did not- use it;sufficiently. /. . Mr. 11.: Scott (Otago) seconded, .and said Mr. Iyerson of Alexandra, Otago,,had found" tho owls perfectly,'harmless, and-iisiful for destroying, both birds, and young" rabbits. . '.A-member.:, Chickens? ' : ' , . - Mr. Seott: Oh yes, I supposo they would, take chickens., (Laughter.) ' ... • Mr., Clifton; said the, Department was: obtaining reports 011 the work of-these.birds: ; > , Mr.i Ritchie said there • would probably; bo provision on tlio-Estimates this year-for importation of .birds. •■ . . The motion was carried. ;' ,i . SHEEP DIPPING. . _ Mr.- M'Queen (Southland) moved; —'"l'hat in view of the present system of annual sheep, dipping without any. strenuous attempt to exterminate the vermin, it is desirable to consider what . methods can be adopted, for securing: the; absolute extermination of all slieep parasites." ■ Mr. Middleton (Southland) . seconded pro forma. . ■ : . ... .. ....

Tho motion was carried unanimously' ' '• CHAIR OF AGRICULTURE. A Wellington;,remit thfi. Government j bp'asked to set aside as an. en-, -a suitably .• area of land ,011 tho Main Trunk • lino for an agriculturalvcollegfr. forvthe North Island." - Tho President''(Mr. J.G. IVilson) suggested tlie''substitution of-the' following:;— • "That tho' Government bo asked to endow a chair, of'agricultural science in one of tho Universities of the Dominion." This "was assented . to and . carried "unanimously.- . EXPERIMENT FARM' FOR "CANTER" BURY.' Mr. 'Leadley (North' Canterbury) moved:-r?, "That this Conforcneo urgo upon the Government . tho .-.necessity, for .establishing anexperiinental farm in; Canterbury.": He urged' that .the North Island Had live'; experiment farms, and tho South had none. A member: Lincoln College, Sir; Leadley;':, Lincoln Oollogo isn't, an experiment farm, and not, a. penny of Goveminent money has ever gonp into it;-- - Mr. Evans seconded. .A delegate: We.want it in Nelson. Mr. D'Arcy Ch'aytor (Marlborough), thought the proposal was just, as parochial as the proposal concerning the South island railway. _ ■: ■ Mr. Richards proposed that tho proposal be restricted to the South Island. Mr. Jones: We are promised two already. ' Mr. Clifton. (Director of l Experiment Farms) said there wcro four'' oporativo ■; experiment farms in the north, besides tho smaller establishments.' .'There Would .bt a .larger, grant' this year for district experiments. Mis.' Evans (North Canterbury); said coln College, if made an experiment farm, would do'more; good to : tho country than all these; other schemcs, . -'C The President spoko in favour of district

: experiments/;-: 'jHoyjwjfahed moro cncourage- > iriont'lworo tgivoii to #hd Department wljen lands for settlement woro sot aside. Th'c'President'fiiaVii'd if tho demands of different . districts '„conflicted tho Government would ibei -to ;say; "You havo not yet settled 'where you "want it." ; , Cliftoiij,' (Secretary for Agriculture) said -if .ono .cxjicritnent farm could bo established in Canterbury, and another south of Waitaki, that: would do for a time. In . addition,., a .series of experiments could bo carried out oil suitable farms, nominated by tjio ;Farraors' Unions. A sum of £1500 was available for tho work this year. Finally it, was' resolved to ask for experiment'farms'for tho South Island. .; ' : TURNIP BLIGHT. Mr. Leadley (North Canterbury) moved:— "That tho prflvalonco of-tho turnip blight is .a, serious menace' to the success of tho agricultural and pastoral industry, and that tho Government be asked to mako further experiments with "a view, to ascertaining what can „be .done, to cope with tho post." ' Mr. T. W. Kirk (biologist) said the tur-nips-were-attacked by four troubles—dia-mond-backed moth, turnip aphis, pboma (a fungus),.'and a'new disoaso (baotennl) which appeared around D lined in last season. The, piioma 'was spread very much by the ins'ectsj and could ,bo.:.prevented fcy destroying tho?.insecfjs by'sprayings of weak keroseno'emulsion early in the season. The bacterial disease attacked chiefly tho white turnips,• and ]was less injurious among > tho swedes. Farmers should look out for varieties that,were resistant.. Tho Department ,was arranging to experiment. . Sir.; Richards said ho lost 40 acres j of turnips last season from aphis. ' ' Mr. Evans said it-had been found that'lmperial green -globe was the . most . blight,resistant. and .'satisfactory variety of turnip. 'He grew 600' acres of turnips. Mr. Scott confirmed this testimony to green .globe.''-;': i ; ,„;„Tho motion was withdrawn. ( V , TREATPyifeNT.OF-DAIRY HERDS. 1;A. Taranaki' remit" proposed 11 ' That "inspectors have; power to. order dairy harps, infcluding •' bulls, to be treated for contagious r.borlion'/.-noticn to bo given to havo herds so treated,'where considered necessary by inspector.!- 1 ' :~ v - ~ , . •Referenco was niado to the sproad or contafion by the sale' of infected bulls. iMr. Ritchie said a Bill to deal with abortion, mammitis, and other troubles was drafted,"arid would, perhaps, bo passed, not ili the present, session, but in the next. The' 'rhmit :wis■ withdrawn.

; THE DAIRY ACT. r» ; A , ''Tarah'aki'"remit 'proposed:—"That the owner'-, of land;-' where Compensation "is riot provided for, he liable for improvements demanded .under tlio Dairy Act, providod that tenant .-pays iritorest ' on outlay with 5 per "during terra : '..of occupancy."'! .. .• Mr. Evans said if tlio Department was going, to'enforcej»the< Dairy Act as'it had been enforced upon Dr. ' Lovinge, they were kill the industry in Canterbury. :Mr. Clifton said the. Act would bo administered with common sense, and with due regard to tlio welfare of tlio industry. ' 'Mr. Ritchie said he had gono through tlio oyidenco..oLJ>r.-.Levinge's case. A good many .people went to seo Dr< Levingo's place after it was put in order. It was therefore unfortunate that had been mentioned now. The Magistrate was. nuito clear that the inspector had only'dono ; his duty. Mr. Maxwell (Tarariaki) said many dairy farmors wero costly improvements under inspector's 1 "'advice, contrary to. their own judgment as to what kind of improvements wero best.. There was a fear also that when .the new .regulations camo out thoso'old 'improvements . miglit bo found ' to. noedtfurtlier -cliangcV-o Tho prolonged uncertainty was very regrettable.' The regulations should-bo issued-'speedily, and sample plans issued With them. motion was carried, i i ' accommodation. "!Mr. Elliott (Poverty. Bay) moved:— I "That tlio Sh'eirfei'S' Accommodation Act'. bo amended, to exempt sheds'where Natives only aro omployed, from operations of tlio Act." Mr. Richards (Levin) seconded. jMr./I^adlcy,.(North Canterbury) said tlio Afct was' aii Attempt' to got behind tlio 'Arbi-tration/-Court and givo'effect to tlio demands of. the Shearers' Union for spring mattresses, fire=placos—m-crory—bedroom in tlio- middle of summer,'otc. ....... , Members unanimously attacked the "Bill. ; oiscussiQ,Ai'^s's;Bdi9jirned.• . -, i

SEPARATE.a ! AND BOARD. ; : iJIr. Elligtj; moved the •' to establish "a I soparifewsffir'Bff^ ",-;Tliis w&^£a£riefli";*:; '.- ARBITRATION LAWS. v ;Mr. MftjlieSgji'/%s 'given notice of a motion in favour'.Sof the- adoption of a' schemo 'on the Caiiadjtitf lines, .-which facilitato tho "without- compulsion. POLITICAL; ATTITUDE. : ■, Tho sat'"two/' evenings in committeo. i\ikiii'ssing:.the course to be taken ;on the numerous proposals''to take a more -aotivc part in party politics. The question ■will probably'.bo discussed openly this morning. ■ \