FARM CONGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1190, 27 July 1911, Page 6

FARM CONGRESS.

DOMINION UNION; V

A LAW THAT IS GIVING TROUBLE

NOXIOUS WEEDS ACT.

"DIFFICULT ONE FOR DEPARTMENT." ;■'■••'■■■■ Tho, tenth annual Dominion Confere'nco of tho .New Zealand Farmers' Union was continued in 'tho Rational Mutual Buildings yesterday, morning, Mr. .1. G. Wilson,' .president, occupying the chair. - y The Grass Grub. The North "Canterbury Union moved: "That tho Domi'uion Conference impress upon farmers the necessity tor lighting fires in season tor tne destruction of. the beetles that afterwards turn into grass grub." Mr. i Cockayne, biologist,' guve on address on tho life history of the grub and ! the various means which had beeu resorted to abroad to copo with it. ..The whole subject, JXr. Cockayne said, was one that should be carefully investigated experimentally. In reply to' a question as to tho grass '. most likely to be attacked, i Mr. Cockayne ';Baid that ground that was closely grazed Was not so liabloto attack as other i ground. This, ho believed, was due to tho fact that birds wero able to get at 'the grubs. - ■ Mr.: M'Queen remarked that he had known tho grass, grub for'.4o years past. .It was no new affair. It disappeared from a.paddock after it ran it's course. In reply "to another question, Mr. Cockayne,stated tho grub was "universal" in practically every soil in New Zealand. .A vote of thanks was passed to jrr. Cockayne for his address, and the mo-; 'tion was carried.

Noxious Weeds. The Southland Union (Mr. M'Queen) moved: "That as.the .Noxious Weeds Act has been-a. total failure in so far as the eradication of- noxious weeds was concorn*cl,and more- particularly in connection Iwith Californiau thistles, the Act bo reIpealed." ■•■•.■-.' The mover said that thero were any /amount of laws and inspectors, but set•tlers often found it muro profitable to pay tho lines than to remove the weeds. A man spent, say, 4:20 to remove weeds and seeds which were blown on to his iland from unoccupied Crown land*. Tho whole question was disgusting. Many of 'the weeds were friends to farmers as they 1-coinpellcU more intense cultivation.

i Theunotion was seconded by an Otago '■delegate. I Mr. Vavasour did not think that tho 1 motion was a good one, but ho also 'thought that a neighbour who kept his Iplaco clean should bo protected from | neighbours who did net keep the pest l down. The Government should also take more care of its waste lands, .which in ' many cases were doing great harm to the •■settlors. Ho thought that the Act should be improved, but not wiped out. Mr. W. J. Birch (Martou) expressed tho opinion that tho Noxious Weeds Act would becomo unworkable.

Mr. J. Talbot (South Canterbury) agreed that tho law was not effective, and ho did not,think that it.over could be effective. If the act'wero to bo enforced, however, it should bo enforced on Government lands. Tho Government . should show that tho Act could be enforced by. Applying'it to their own lands. Mr. Horrell (North-. Canterbury) "thought-that tho motion should be thrown out at once without a further thought. Mr. Sheat (North Canterbury) was of opinion that it would be ■a - mistake to repeal the Act. Tho greatest sinners were the unoccupied Crown lands. Mr. Maxwell (Taranaki) commended the Deportment for the steps' which it was taking in regard to noxious weeds. Where it was .reasonable to expect a man to eradicate thi weeds,- ho was pressed to do it. _ Otherwise, they gave plenty of time, if all that was possible was done. It was not fair, however, to allow weeds to spread from Native lands in the way' that was done. ' Major Lu3k moved that this conference appoint a committee to consnlt with tho Minister for Agriculture with a view to amending the Xoxious Weeds Act in such directions as may be desirable.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie stated that the Act was a difficult one foT the Department and, if tho people did not want it, tho Department would not be very sorry, ho could assure them. The question was: Were they desirous of having tho Act on tho Statute Book? (Cries of "Yes."). And did they want it enforced? (Cries of "No,"; and'.'"ln'a reasonable; manner"). ■ The Minister proceeding, admitted that many Crown lands were, infested; If they pnt the Act into forco for Crown lands, it would cost £ 10,000-a year.

Voices: VWhy can't you scttlo the land?"

The Hon. Mt. Mackenzie explained that they now had every surveyor that they could employ at work, aud they were actually employing mon who hn/J not passed their final examinations. A great.Work was going on in getting Native "lamia brought in. They would like to sec more done, but they were, doing all that they could with the facilities available. He realised th.i hardship* that settlers had to put up ivith, and that the'position Teached was such that there were areas of lands which almost had to bo abandoned. It was a difficult' thiiJg to say what was a reasonable method in enforcing the Act, but, in clean districts which were being threatened, ho thouglit. that the Act (should ho strictly enforced. (Hoar, hear.) Tn districts where the pest had gone t(io far, other means would havo to bo adopted. He would be glad,to get tho benefit of the counsel, and ttio advico of the conference'in-enrrying out the work, of checking the .weed pests. Mr.- Maekay (Marlborough) asked the Minister if. he would try to bring about an amendment of the Act so that, by the Tesolution. of a Iload Board; or Counfv Council, I bey could make it operative or not. as they, thought fit. ' •

The Minister said that 'he had an amendment prenared to submit to the House-on something like the lines su"gesfed.

Major. Lush's amendment was carried. Pure Seeds Question. The-Hon. T. Mack-jnzio stated (hat ho had drafted a Pure Seeds Bill, which was the beginning, at least, of an effort to deal with iliis problem. Cabinet, hnd not considered the moa-oire, but it would be lirouiht before the House that session. If they had an Act dealing with the puritv of seeds and (to n certain extent) with the quosH'vi of germination, it would he thought, be.just about as far as thev could gy _for a beginning. Afterwards, if 7)iil.lic opinion became strong onoiHi they j-iiu'ht- 'm further, and insist that the brei-dMi? „,„] election of seeds should also K ' _ o. reliable, naturr. • Fe wanted a ? 1 > •.. .rieafion of seeds'into "clean." and :hn--e not --i regarded. They might allow I tht ci!n f . of: b.nrn'le«s 'weeds in clean f*ed. but it should bo n-verv small perr»nta?c of noxhus weeds, such a« f'nlifor-r-inn' thistle. It had been held that the nen-w;,rranty clause in invoices was of i"; .avail.-and no protection to the sell»r. This had be«n decided years ago bv M'% Justice William*. ' • On (he motion of the president, seconded by Mr. Birch, a formal motion was p?.s=«l remiestiii" the Government to introduce a Pure Seeds Bill. Agricultural Colleges. On behalf of the Southland Union. Mr. Jf'Qu<Y?n moved: "That it is desirable to establish agricultural colleges in other districts on lines similar to Lincoln ColOpinions differed as to tho value of Lincoln College, one party Considering it ono of th emost useful institutions in the Dominion, whilst another took exactly the opposite view. The motion was carried. Registration of Stallion 3. Mr.. W. .1. Birch (Marton) moved: "That the Government bo strongly urged to bring tho Stallions' Registration Bill before the House in the coming session." The mover urged that tho faet that wo exported so many horses, and would continue to do so, was a strong reason for the Bill, which would ensure tho soundness of the stock. Mr. Campbell.seconded .tho motion. Mr. Ttcnlccs said that tho lines of the Bill \ycro that it should only apply to what they would be. In tho camps of tbn {uteo it would be the tone of tho

colts two years old at the time of passing the Bill, but it provided that owners of older horses should be nblc to present them for examination. Thoroughbreds were exempted, which would mean that the measure would apply almost solely to draughts, Tho motion was carried.

Residential Requirements. In moving tint tho residential requirements, regarding Crown lunds lx> morn strictly enforced, Jfajor Lusk stated I hat there had.been a considerable amount of grumbling in Hie Auckland district at the fact that, in many cases, people that had taken up land on L.I.P. or O.K.!'. had bceu allowed to livo practically olf tho land, and do little in the wnv of improving tho land. 'L'hcy asked that fewer exemptions should be granted to persons living off (be land, when the conditions were that they should livo on it.

Several speakers urged that the exemptions fl-er'o 100 severe already, and Hint the residential clause should bo waived, so long as a man did bis improvements. There were, it was said, many cases where it was advantageous to let a man reside off-the property until ho."got his legs." Tho motion, was lost.

Land Board Representation. Mr. Hockley moved: "That all land boards consist of five members, two to bo elected by the Crown tenants, the Government to appoint two, and the Commissioner of Crown Lauds in each district to bo the chairman. And that members should be elected for three years instead of two years." The chairman, said Mr. Hockley, had informed them that a Bill to give .the Crown tenants two representatives was going to be brought down this session, and tho remit should strengthen tho hands of the member who was moving in the nlatter. The motion was passed. 1 Land Ballots. The Hawke's Bay Union moved: "That all applicants for Croivn lands who are landless and qualified'- by law to ballot for land be passed for. tho ballot without any other test than the declaration."

The motion was carried. Repealed Liberal Legislation. On behalf of the Hawke's Bay Union, Air. Lano moved: "That the Government bo urged to restore to the Statute-book the Liberal legislation recently repealed which empowered the purchase of lands by the State at the price indicated by the value produced." Mr. Ensor remarked that it appeared to him that, the man who made his land the mast productive would suffer most under this motion. This was not the class of legislation which they should urge.

Mr. Vavasour thuught that tho motion was ridiculous. It would stop all enterprise, as it wouM debar a man from going in for improvements, Tho motion was lost.

Valuation of Land, Mr. Mackay '(Marlborough) moved: "That the present system of valuation of the laud is unsatisfactory inasmuch as it docs not depend on the 'using' value of the land but is arbitrarily fixed by tho valuer."

Mr. Mackay said that it had been found that tho present system was most unsatisfactory, this being frequently owing to the ignorance of the valuers. He had no doubt that tho instructions that the valuers got were to keep up tho unimproved value, and write down the improvements as far as they could be got. Mr. Vavasour seconded tho motion.

Mr. Hockly moved: "That tho following words be added after tbo word 'inasmuch':—'As it is based on the selling value instead of the productive value.'" Mr. Sheaf seconded tho amendment.

Mr. Ensor said that ;tho man whom they wished to get at was the man who was sitting tight, and waiting for his neighbours' improvements to increase the valuo of his land before selling, and not the man who increased the productiveness of his land.

Mr. Campbell stated that he had been a Government valuer, but ,ho had never beoii given an instruction as to the value which he should put down in any direction whatever. At.tho same time he did not;.think that /sulfieie'xt^allowance was made for improvements, the valuers not being competent to gauge them. Th'e chairman thought that, if tho motion or the amendment were carried, they were voting in favour of the capital value taxation.

Mr. Hockly said that ho did not wish taxation on the capital value, and, if the chairman ruled that his amendment meant such, he would ask that it bo withdrawn. The mover of the original motion took up a similar position, and it was decided to withdraw the motion and amendment.

Needs for Reform. '. On behalf of the Auckland Union, Major Lusk moved: "That the.'present system of valuation by which draining, manuring, water races, and construction of roads aro included in the unimproved value of tho land, is unjust and needs reform." • 'After some discussion, the, motion was withdrawn, and the following proposition by Mr. Makgill was'carried:—"That the Government bo asked to havo tho system of the valuation of improvements defined iu relation to the valuation of land for taxation purposes in such a manner that owners shall receive credit for tho unexpended value of all improvements made upon their Jands, aiid also, for allowance being made for improved value caused by tho expenditure of loan and moneys expended by local bodies.

Practical Valuers. Mr. Shcat (North Canterbury) moved i "That the conference protest against tho present unsatisfactory method of land valuing and considers that one practical farmer should be appointed for the duty in each county, to acd along with the Valuer, such farmer to bo resident in the county for which ho values" The motion was agreed to. At' tliis stago tho conference adjourned until this morning, the evening being spent'in committee.