COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3136, 14 July 1917, Page 10

COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE

1 YESTERDAY'S BUSINESS, THE SHIPPING PROBLEM The conference of Affiliated A. and 1\ and Breeders' Societies was resumed in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Jllr. Jl\ W. Williams (Napier) presided. Marrio'd Labourers on 'Farms. Mr. W. D. Hunt moved the adoption !>f the following remit from the executive:—That tliis; conference urge tho government to /introduce some simple system of providing financial assistance to enable farmers to erect cottages on their farms for married workers. With the above remit was taken the following:—That the conference inquire into the housing problem on farms and the relation that proper housing has to the subdivision, and also to the aggregation of estates; also, as to whether the system- oij grouping of small farm colonies could be supplied to the backblocks, thereby securing for settlers and their employees the benefit of schools and tho like amenities of civilisation; and whether the 'extension of the Workers' Dwellings Act to rural communities would have a beneficial effect in this connection.

hi speaking to the motion, .Mr.-Hunt said: "I am satisfied from my own experience and observation, that if suit- \ able cottages were provided for married men it would largely solve the labour trouble on farms, and largely help, not • "only in stopping' the present'drift to the towns, but set up a return diift to the country. I will try and show the area of the field 'that' the suggested scheme has to work in. According to tho census of 1911, -we had in the Do-minion-19.954 farmers employing I'iboiir. ii'he hands they employed nimnerod 39,430,. or an average of' two each. In . addition, fihey. had (relatives' assisting •without wages to the number cf U.OS3. besides, there were 29,911.' fanners in business on their own account who did not employ labour. I am suron-any of . ithese could do with labour if they 'ci-nld get it. I, am quite satisfied that there -.is ample room for the profitable .I'se of 50 per cent, additional labour on our present farms, provided a supply can foe obtained that can bo relied oil, and " it would quickly be used if the supply ' could be obtained. There will be room when tho war is over for 20,000 cottages ' on our farms. A large number of married 'labourers on farms would be the vi-ry best possible sourco to keep up the future ■ supply of farmers to take- up unimproved 'lands and also to occupy subdivisions of larger estates being cut up." f -, The motion was carried. ' ... The Shipping Problem, The adoption of the following remit ''dealing with the shipping shortage was moved by Mr. Mncandrew (Otago):— . ■.. That earnest consideration should be given to the position and prospects of the agricultural and pastoral mte'rests in view of the siiortace of . shipping and the • operations of the Military Service' Act,— Following arc the suggested lines of ■discussion:— (a) Whether in view of the shortage pf shipping, space could not be sored in the works and in vessels by quart-jring

'carcasses of mutton and lamb before Ireezing. (b) Whether in view of the military authorities requiring mutton instead of u 'ii bearing in mind the. piobabio largo "carry over" to JiextS season of meat in thu works, with a russlblc further diminution of shipping space, it would not be wiser for sheep-fanners to fatten and kill more ewes and carry on lambs.

(c) Whether some serious attempt should not be made to ascertain hew much • of tho coming lambing ci-if be adequately grazed and carried 'through if freezing spaco\ becomes congested early next season. '

(d) Whether there is any possibility of shortage of turnip seed supplies for the coming season or tho following one. (e) Whether it . would not be bttter policy to throw overboard the •"boosted" attempts to grow sufficient wheat when we can import plenty from Australia and increas9 our stock-carrying capacity thereby.

(f) U'hether some arrangements cannot bo made with the military authorities / to exempt high-country shepherds. Several stations are being forced y>'sell oh" their sheep, leaving' their country baro ami filling up the more fortunate low country men, to the future detriI ment of the Dominion, aud especially so in view of the serious state of affairs immediately looming. , (g) Whether a little more definite intormation thita is at present available cannot be obtained by the Board of Agriculture regarding 'tho shipping position, and diluted wisely to preserve the military position, and yet be of the utmost service'to agriculturists iii deciding their future' course of operations. Such information to be supplied and distributed by a joint committee in each province; consisting of representatives of the,.A. and P. Society, 'Sheepowners' Union and Farmers! Union, the idea being that as conditions in c-ach province are different the local committee will be able to translate the information into the way most ..suitable for llieir province.

(h) Whether a congested state at the works and consequent stoppage of operations may not so- affect values of stock as. to cause, sufficient depression to seriously affect finance and create an unfavourable money.nlarkot genorallyi; or' ' (i) Whether some other means and channels cannot bo. devised to, deal with stock and its products than the present methods to tide , over business until a return-of-normal times.

. The -following' remits from Wanganui and. Canterbury were taken along with the above:— .

"That , - in view of the congestion of. meat,, cheese, butter, wool, and general cargo, an effort be made to accelerate the dispatch 'of boats,. p-rtioularly in the direction) of 'having cargo at Home loaded on each boat, for one New Zealand port only. Similarly the respective boats to load at it port of discharge in J>'ew Zealand."

lhat the storage capacity for foodstuffs be increased in view of a probable famine which may ensue during the lat'ter part of tho war and after the war is over."

That in view of the shortage of shinping: and to conserve space, farmers be recommended to bring their stock to the ;°!! owin ff weights:—Ewes and wethers, bOlb.; lambs, 421b." •Mr. W. D. Hunt suggested that- the question raised should be referred to the Board- of Agriculture, and that the executive, should keep in close touch with that body upon the whole subject. Sir James Wilson (president of the Board of Agriculture) said that tho Board of Agriculture had come to tho the Government was bound to see that all cheese was properly stored at a low temperature, The outlook for shipping was absolutely. uncertain, and without cool storage cheesewould not keep. Cool storage could bo provided at a cost of 5 per cent, of the I value of the product. After the war tho storage would probably be required in I the ordinary course of trade, but in any I case tho expenditure would only mean. I an insurance policy of 5 per cent, on the year's output of cheese. The board strongly recommended that storage accommodation should be provided equal toa total of 600,000 crates, and that the offer of the Harbour Board of storage for 60,000 crates on condition that the Government subsidise the expenditure by--..£3250 should be accepted. The board regarded the matter as of extreme urgency. In regard to butter, he understood that the freezing companies were not averse to storing this commodity. The board had passed a resolution requesting the Government to have fi per cent, of the available shipping space allocated to butter, and arrange some method of financing the butter companies. There was every chance of the British Government buying the butter, but there was no definite information on that ; pouit. A resolution had also been passed to the effect that it was imperative that additional freezing stores should be built as soon as possible, in view of the possible shortage of ships, and that the Government should, assist in financing. The output of cheese was likely ,to be much more this year than formerly, a considerable number of companies having gone over from the manufacture of : butter to (hat of cheese. There had been 900,000 crates last year, and probably there would be a million thi3 year. . Sir Walter Buchanan said that he did

1 not think that tho statement made by Sir Damos Wilson in regard to tho freezing cost of storing butter should go out without soiiio qualification. As regarded tho Meat Export Company, from the beginning of tlio dairy industry the company had boen storing at Biich a low rate that a. protest was niado in inoro than ono local centre that the charges were so low as not to permit of competition, lie thought it right' that this should lie stated authoritatively.' As Sir James Wilson had said, it was a most urgent-necessity, if there was to bo a shipping shortage, that all danger to the dairy industry should be averted. They know that largo areas of land had oeon taken up at high prices, and that many taking up land had had to lean upon financial institution?. These, people needed assistance, and it was not difficult to nichiro what the situation would- be if the fears of a shortage of shipping ■were- to be realised. .If-the ■Government would only purchase ships to provide for our export trade they would be ablo to make money out of the purchase, and at the same time confer considerable benefit on New Zealand. Nobody knew how long tho war was going to last, and the Union Company of the past and the P. and U. Company would be hand in hand in regard to all shippijig work for the future. Now Zealand was absolutely at tho. mercy of this combination as to whero ships should go and what the charges should.be. He thought it would be a great advantage to New Zealand if'the Government were to purchase at least two ships and immediately after the war dispose of them. He did not believe in Government management except in emergency, but he thought it should 'be a matter for the consideration of the conference whether a recommendation should not bo made in this direction.

The president pointed out that that matter was apart from the question iniinwliiiWy before the conference. >

Mr. Gl Hunter, M.P., considered that pressure should be brought to bear ok the Government in order that it might deal effectively with the shortago of snip, ping. Mr. G. Eiiss»ll, Wnnganui, thought that a situation had now been reached when the matter had got beyond the farmers' interests, and was one of urgency for the Whole community. The suggestion of Mr. Hunt for rererenco of the remits to the Board of Agriculture was agreed to. ■ Other Matters. In addition to those mentioned above, the following remits were carried in the course of thu day:—. "That the present system of earmnrking aud branding is mo.it unsatisfactory, and that tho Government be asked to devise a better method of identification of stock, and one less cumbersome than the present method."

"With a view to making A. and 1 , , shove more instructive, societies be urged to hold judging competitions, and that the judgo who adjudicates on these classes gives a demonstration of the various points leading up to bis decision."

"That the Government Veterinary Department be requested to issue life certificates for horses, seven years or over." "That this conference endeavours to ascertain definitely tlit class of horse required for remount and artillery purposes." "That the Government bo requssted to go into the matter of taking special measures to endeavour to find a cure for dry rot in turnips." "That the Government be asked to bring in a Seeds Bill to provide for tho re-dressing of imported seeds, wherever necessary, with the power to prohibit tho importation of seeds' from which it is impossible to eeparat-) weed seeds. "That the Government be. requested to pass some law whereby farmers would have some guarantee of the purity and percentage of germination of the seeds they purchased, and to check the importation and sale of unclean seed. "That the Government be asked to take measures to control the spread of blackberry in districts, in which it has not yet attained a pood hold." "That in view of the very large amount lost to New Zealand farmers through the allowanc. of draft on wool, this conference protest against tlve charge and request that, the Government take action to have this allowance abolished. "That the draft allowance of one per cent on all wool sold by the Government on the English market be not al"Th'at the allowance of -21b. on all frozen sheep and lib. on every lamb be not allowed on mutton and lamb sold by the English Government." "That this council again approach the Government with a strong request to introduce legislation, exempting bona tide Agricultural and Pastoral Show Giouuds from tho local bodies' taxation." "That there :is i.eed for some official booklet on the symptoms of and remedies for the principal diseases and ailments of stock." "That.no lambing ewes bo allowed in any public or private saleyards." "That the Government be asked to

give immediate effect to the recommendation of' the Efficiency Board \in reptard to curtailment of i-on-essential industries and diverting; labour to tlm production of clothing and foodstuffs." The followi us members were elected to the executive: —ISTortli Island Messrs. •T. TT. Perrett, 0. Hi.nter, jr.P., ami D. Si'Greaor. South Island: J. Turnbitll. R. A. Kni»ht and .T. Deans. This concluded the business of the conference.