CONCLUDING DAY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 12

CONCLUDING DAY

LIME AND ITS USES ,

Sir J. (i. Wilson presided at tho fourth '.; Jay's'sitting of the Farmers' Union Con- . -forence at thi} Chamber *o£ Commerce yesterday, v "Lime and Its Vees" was the subject . of an address', by Mr. A- M'Taggart, in , the course of'.\vhich ho dilated upon tho ~... various properties of limo.in relation to ... different soils. .Briefly, Mr.' M'Taggart ■: pointed out that: (1) Lime neutralises acidity in soil, enabling baoteria to oper- •:> ate more -freely in tho production of' nitrates' for plant .'.food; (2) ■ .-limo releases potash, . -• providing leguminous plants with- the ' sustenance tkey required; (3) lime-also .released phosphates; (4) lime opened up stiff olay soil; and enabled air to •pene.trate and sweeten up the:soil; (5) limo . r also killed fungus diseases. Two tons of "■? carbonate of;lime was a fair supply per acre. There were laigo in North Canterbury, and al6o in tho Mokau and JTe Kuiti districts.-''' Ho suggested the : formation of a limited liability company to develop these deposits and- provide ; farmers wth.burned limo at 20s. per ton , or at 15s. per ton for carbonate of lime. ' ; :It had to be; ground fine, even as fine as ■/.Jbosio slag, -to;, be of the utmost utility. ■ - Mr. M'Taggart further elaborated his ..' theme in answering questions put by Messrs.- J. Boddie (Te ICuiti), P. Whiteman (Nelson), 'J. Bell- '(Westland), R. / Erans'(North Canterbury), and'A. Eraser fOtago). ' •/ , Major Lusk'movod a vote of thanks "to Mr. M'Taggart for his address, which • was carried unanimously. ' . Noxious Weeds.

Major tusk moved, the following remit from Auckland:. "That the Government 'be asked to give rabbit and noxious weeds inspectors' full power .to .prosecute offenders and act iii conjunction' with ,Vigilance Committees.',' Mr. J.. M'Queen seoonded the' motion pro forma. '-. ; " Mr. J. Begg. (Otago) said the Act was .now permissive, and that' was a wiso provision which had ..not • Operated unduly jiarshlv. ;;• Mr. F. S. Pope, of tho Agricultural Department, explained how liberally the '.Act had been.'administered,, and while tho Department., desired to exterminate noxipus weeds.it endeavoured to do so with as little', friction and annoyance to farmers as possible. Several speakers complimented the Department upon the prudence of its administration.'... • Subject to its being applicable to Auokland only, the-remit was adopted on tho .voices. 'V... : The following remit was moved by Mr. G: A nderson, < Pelorus: "That as • noxious weeds are being allowed to flourish and spread on unoccupied Crown • lands to tho detriment of adjoining settlers, this • union, considers j that, the tiino has ar- ' i-Lved when the-Government should be .'placed in the same position as the settlers and be compelled to keep all noxi■ous weeds in check."' , Mr., J. Bell,- (Westland): seconded the motion, "which was spoken to by Mr. A. . E. Eoss (Auckland). , ( ' ■ Mr. Pope said tho Department could ; not do more than it was doing at present—dealing, only with , the worst'cases. • Mr. M'Queen said none of the weeds , mentioned had: ever; ruined any country. Weeds jvere an incentive to good farming.' The motion was lost. Mr. J. Begg moved that the Government bo requested to' strike Californian thistles out of the Noxious Weeds Act. , Mr. R. Dunn (Taranaki) seconded the motion, which, was supported by Mr. G. L. Marshall, of Wellington. - Mr. . Geo. Sheat (Dunsandel) opposed

the .motion, saying the farmers nf Canterbury dreaded the California!! thistle; and this view was supported by Mr. A. Garland, -whoso instructions, ho said, Wero to denounce the excoption of Californian thistles,from tho Act. Tho motion was put and lost. Agricultural .Education. Mr. CI. L. Marshall (Wellington) moved: "That tho Board of Agriculture bo urged to vigorously "phsli on tho development of agricultural education, as on it .depends in a large measure tho futnro prosperity of tho Dominion." Ifo urged that the best way to assist ngriculturo was for teachers to encourage tho brightest boys to go to tho land instead of into offices. Teachers should show, that u boy's best prospects we're on tho land, and not in town. , Mr. I?, Ilunn (Taranaki) supported the motion. Ho s suggested that inquiry should be made with regard to tlio methods of Denmark. That country had by education brought itself to a' high state, and there was no reason why Now Zealand should not do so as well. Sir James G. Wilson said tho Board of Agriculture had already done something, in the direction indicated. Tho Asliburfon District High, School had boon converted' into practically an agricultural college.. v - The : motion was. carried. Medical Attendance. ■ Mr. R. Evans' moved.: .".Thi>t tho law. be .'6O amended that ; all hospital and charitable aid hoards should undertake tho duties of making satisfactory arrangements so that all parts of the district from wtehh their revenues are derived may bo suitably provided ' witii medical attendance and nurses."

-This was seconded by Mr. Garland, : and carried. ...... Hospital Boards. Mr. Mackay moved the following Marlborough remit:—"That local authorities should have full, power to elect the members of the hospital and charitable aid boards." Tlio mover regarded this as an important, matter, because of the in- ' creased cost .of hospital and charitablo aid. Mr.-.R. -Evans seconded 'the motion. . Mr. E. Maxwell (Taranaki) oppose*! centralisation, and the casting of administration upon tho General Government. He was opposed -to any alteration in the 'Act. \ Mr. Boddie objects to their going back to the old system of election. He_ considered ratepayers ought to have the Tight of electing their representatives to charitable aid boards. v The motion was lost. Forestry. ; ■ The following remits were, on tho motion of Mr. J. Begg (Otago), passed and referred to the Forest League of New Zealand, and complimented Sir James Wilson on the part he had taken in tho formation of that league, a compliment that was endorsed by the conference:— "That the recommendation of the Forestry Commission, 1913, regarding tho necessity, of conserving our forests, and planting large areas, be considered by Parliament with a view' to an extension of the work of afforestation." ;. "That this conference point out to the Minister ofTjands tho necessity of starting forestry operations for future requirements of fencing and shelter.' 1 "That 'the. conference urgo upon the Minister of. Lands the importance of continuing forestry operations in suitable districts in the Dominion, and in order to encourage private planting, suitable men be appointed to visit and instruct farmers in planting, and" also provide pure seeds at a reasonable cost." "That remission of taxes for areas planted in trees, or areas of native bush conserved, should bo. retrospective, -and apply to areas planted or conserved be-, fore the Act came into force." "That in view of the desirableness of re-afforestation both for timber and shelter purposes, the Government be request ed to encourage it in every way possible, such as exemption from taxation of alj properly planted land." "That the conference urge the planting of all badly broken, weed-infested land with pines, preferably pinus insignus, as the most effootive means of suppressing weeds of all kinds," and that all taxation referred to should bo- local and general taxation."

Harbour Boards. Major Lusk moved :-"That for the purpose of electing members of liarbour boards the counties should be grouped seuai'ately from the boroughs, each group having equal representation," which, being seconded by Mr. E. Maxwell, was carried. . ' . .•, Mortgagee's Indemnity. Mr. D. Jones (Canterbury) moved: "That when an employer has insured liis employees in any reputable accident insurance office in the joint names of the mortgagee and, mortgagor, Sub-sections ' 1 and 5 of Section 41 of Workers'. ; Compensation'. Act, 1908, should not' apply." This was seconded by Mr. Sheat. The- vice-presidcnt spoko of it as a constant source of irritation. . The motion wa3 carried. Mr. Jonos also moved: "That the Mortgagees Extension Act be amended to tinpower executors to,call up overdue mortgage moneys when necessary to wind up doceased estates," which was seconded by Mr.- Whitwell, and carried. Farmecs' Representation. . It was resolved: "That, the Farmers' Union bo officially represented on all con - ferences convened'■ by the Government dealing with'matters vitally 'affocting the fanners' interests."

Loans to Local Bodies. Mr. 11. Maxwell moved, and Mr. J. Begg seconded, and it. was carried: "That legislative provision be mado so that in. tho caso of local bodies banking institutions, in charging up interest on all ac--(Jountd in debit, shall place all credit balances in i particular accounts against all dobits in other of>tho samo body." : Tare on Wool. Mr. D. Jones moved:—"Thai the tare of lib. per cwt. on wool be abolished, and that farmers- should bo paid for tho actual weight delivered."—Carried. Hawkes and Quail. - . "That,this conference protests against protection of hawks, except in districts 'where - such protection is desired."— Curried. "That tho importation of stubble quail or other grain-eating birds, - by the Acclimatisation Societies, ,be prohibited by tho Government."—Carried. "That Acclimatisation Societies and others bo debarred from introducing- or transferring to other districts. any birds or 1 -animals- without -first obtaining the consent of the Board of Agriculture, and that tho tjoard be asked tq submit ; any such proposal to the"Farmers' Union in the disfrict concerned."—Carried. Commission. , Mr. J. Begg (Otago) moved:—"That full commission shall.not be charged.on 'mortgaged properties, but only on' owners' interests." Mr. Hos3 seconded-tho motion, which was carried. , '» Native Dogs. It was resolved:—"That -the Government should bring in legislation that-all Maori owners of dogs be required to register tho dogs and . pay dog tax io the local bodies, as required •of European owners." • Education. Mr. BojJdie, 'Auckland, moved'"That in view of the demands of educational development, the result of changed conditions and.'national progress, tho time has now arrived for a modification in the. public school syllabus, and that the Education 'Department bo to revise the, syllabus, so that after the age of twelve the child's education be specialis r ed, so that it will prepare him or her for their future occupation." With the consent of the conference, the words "the age of twelve" were'struck out, and "a certain ageiof cfdvancement" inserted." Major. Lusk seconded .the motion, which was carried. ' !' 1 - Purchase of Land and Railways. Mr. A. A. Koss moved:—"That the 'Government bo urged! to purchase more land ahead of vaitway construction, and thus retain its enhanced value." Mr. : Koss said that if the Gbvernment did not adopt a policy of that kind, individuals and not tho country, would bo enriched. The motion,,was carried on the voices.• Mr.'Boss also moved:—"That a com- ■ mission should be set up by the Government, outside nf all political influence, •to decide, as to which of. the railways should be goue on with, in view of the fact that there will be a great difficulty in raising loan mney in the near future." This was seconded by Mr. Bell. Mr. D. Jones moved as an amendment: "That this conference strongly support tho proposal made -by Mr. Hiley, Manager of th© New Zealand Railways, to fully investigate the financial and other prospects of proposed . new lines before construction." Mr. Begg seconded .the amendment, which was carried, and tho motion lost.' Miscellaneous. On the voices, the following resolutions were agreed to:— . ' "That tho-Government be urged, while shipping space is limited, to see that the necessities of life—farm produce and farm requirements used - for producing the necessities of. life—should have first call, and come before shipments of motor-cars and luxuries." "That no porson under tho ago of twenty-one years be allowed to yoto at a school committee's-election on a miner's right." "That no-'person be allowed to voto lit local bodies elections on a miner's right unless ho holds a mining privilege three months prior to the election." Sir James" Wilson moved: "That tho Farmers' Union recognise the necessity for extending and organising scientific research ia. New Zealand, as. this will inevitably benefit' the primary industries, and hopes that the committees set up ■ by tho Philosophical Societies will be able to suggest practical" methods in which this union can cooperate and assist." This was seconded by Mr. Boddie, and agreed to. Mr. J. Bell moved: "That on account of the scarcity of dyes at the present time Hie Government be asked £o consider tne advisability of getting .expert opinion as.to the dyes that could be ex-, tracted from New Zealand, timber, which has been stated to contain enough dyes to -supply tho Southern Hemisphere." ' Mr. .E. Maxwell seoonded this motion, which was carried c thu voices. Mr. J. Bell moved tho following remit from Buller:—"That where any rural land or farming property is 'to te valued, no land agent or broker bo appointed a valuator, and in the matter of farming land it is in the interests of settlors that the valuator be a practical farmer." Mr. W. A. Cox seconded this motion, which v;as agreed to.Complimentary to Sir James Wilson. On tho. motion of Mr. Boddie, a heiarty voto of thanks was. accorded Sir .Tames Wilson for the able and excellent address delivered by him at.the opening of the conference. The resolution was , carried by acclamation, ajid in acknowledging the voto of the conference, Sir James Wilson said he was gratified with their appreciation, and stated that his services would always bo at their disposalVotes of thanks to Mr. R; F. Goulter, to the vice-presMent (Mr. G. W. LeadJ-ey), to the Press, and to Mr. E. C. Jack, ifo\ his good, and loyal sei-vice as secretary, were accorded by acclamation, and tho conference closed. <j