CANTERBURY FARMERS CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1496, 19 July 1912, Page 8

CANTERBURY FARMERS CONFERENCE.

REMITS AND -ADDRESSES. ißy Teloßraph.-P:-53s Christchurch, July 18. The first. Provincial Conference'of Hip Agricultural and Associations of Canterbury opened to-day. Mr. J. D Holl, president of the Canterbury uwliun, was elected chairman. Tiio chninnniL gave a brief address on Hip- anus and objects of the conference ami now they were 1 o be attained.! Tho aims were to ascertain whether there wen any means, methods or measures which ccnltl be adopted to improve the conditions under which the associations worked, help them, to attain a greater djgreo of clhciency in improving their stock, and crops, and enable members to carry «>n the particular branch of industry in which they were engaged in a. manner profitable to themselves and the community. The fanners of Canterbury were engaged in the production of the necessaries of life and their products were disposed of in the world s markets. The question whether tho filthier was able to make his operations pay depended on markets very distant irom Ins sphere of business, and hs had no more control over them than lie had over clinuttic conditions. It was essential and desirable that anyone ■contemplating embarking in the business'of farming should bear in mind Hint his financial success must depend on such uncertain factors ns-(l) the demand in markets of rhe world for his produce, and the wherewithal on tho part of those requirin" such produce to pay for it. (2) The influenw ot weather and depreciations of such noxious organisms as smut and rust in ■ crop* grub and turnip blight, nnd micro-organ-isms responsible for contagious disrases and abortion in cows. (3) the cost of land and of the stock and implement-; necessary to work the land-, and the rate of infest on capital required to carry on business. There were other factors which ought not to be uncertain, but they niisht cften be de scri-ed as "varying. . These included:--1) Jhe knowledge and skill with which Ins farmer carried on his business-. (2) The information wJiicli the farmer possessed with.regard to tho state of the various markets which required his produce. (3) Information which tho fanner possessed with regard to the factors which determined the cost to him of stock, implements, and appliance. ..1) The amount ot labour available to enable him to carry en his farming operations. The 'conference should concern itself with the last Kroiip of factors, Mr. Hall made a brief reference to tho subject of scientific farming, and then went on to say that with legnrd to the amount of reliable information available to Canterbury farmers as to markets for th?ir produce, they appeared to be in a position which resulted in their having to accept what merchants ond dealers hero considsrsd a fair price for their iproduce, or they'had to send it away to be sold at Hie other end of .the world under conditions of ' which they knew little, and were often' somewhat suspicion?. There was no . reason" why farmers should not press for. information, not only us to English prices, but also as to prospects of supplies for those Inarkcts from Home and other sources which would naturally 1 affect prices in the future. .Tins farmer should acquire knowledge"as 'o scientific methods of farming.-and .busi-liE.-s, and also endeavour to promote fcc-' twesn farmers:and farm workers feelings fo sympathy and' mutual cMdence. He suggested that. something in the nature of a-Mationn.l A. and P. Association, was desirable for the purpose of dealing with matters of common interest to the .industry; It-might liiect periodically, and in the interim bo represented by a permanent executive consisting 'of two small .committees in the ;.North and South Islands, : which . could confer ' if iisees.vary. The National A. nnd P. Association might deal with such an import-, ant matter as 'conferring on county councils power to provide funds for the purpose of instituting agricultural. and pastoral stations for experimental -re-. >.\ireh, and''.also for providing lecturers, legislation'would bo influenced if. • the legislature ■ bad the opinion, that. > wich legislation was practicable or desirable. If the. prosperity of the. Dominion. ;depended 4 on'alic'/pros'pef.it.v of those iron-' gnged in working tho land they shouldbo helped with such information as would enable them to work the land to the best advantage. . Amongst the remits ■ agreed to were those affirming the urgent necessity rfor the. establishment of. State experimental, farms in Canterbury, one in South and the other in North Canterbury, and a committee was set up to confer with and assist the Minister for Agriculture in the matter; approving of the introduction of agricultural education into tho curriculum of the State schools and the desirablcn-sss of Government veterinary surgeons giving lectures to farmers-dur r ing the slack season of the year; the desirableness of Parliament passing a Pure Seeds Bill; of dairy farmers being encouraged to weigh ■ and t-fsl milk from each cow in the herd-with n. view tp grading and selection; recommending the. Government to import regular consignments of fertilisers and queens, of bronze and red-tailed bumble bees; the desirableness of the introduction of a Stallion Bill; tho necessity for all oversea sheep, being inspected at t.he place of landing nnd quarantined till dipped if infected, with lice. Addresses were given on pure seeds by Dr. F. y\ 7 . Hugeiulorf, D.Sc, and on "Soil Moisture" by Mr. E. E. Alexander, Director of Lincoln College. At the evening sitting, Mr. A. L. Josephs moved that in the interests of the Dominion it is highly desirable that tho slaughter of pregnant ewes be prohibited after April in the North Island and May in the South Island, and no lambs be killed and passed if less than 281b. in-weight after the month of March in any year, and that legislation be passed to enforce these measures for the good of New Zealand.' He said it was high timo something was done in the direction indicated. It was against the interests of tho Dominion to export second-class meat, and gave a powerful lever to the detractors of New Zealand meat. Mr. C. J. C. Eeakcs said it was imperative that an endeavour ba made to keep up the high standard of the Dominion's meat on the Home market, and the killing of ewes in lamb was not going to help that. Tt would bo a good if inspectors were allowed to decide if meat of the description described was fit for export. Ultimately it was agreed that the Government inspectors l>» given more extended powers in the direction of preventing the export of inferior carcasses which, though healthy, are likely, owing to leanness, to present an unfit and unmarketable appearance after being frozen and defrosted. Several additional remits were agreed to, including one urging that a practical scheme for building homes for farm workers Iμ forwarded to Parliament, also urging the Government to tako immediate steps to import farm workers and domestics. Tho conference has concluded.