FARMERS' CONGRESS. THE LAND AND ITS REQUIREMENTS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 27, 31 July 1907, Page 2

FARMERS' CONGRESS. THE LAND AND ITS REQUIREMENTS.

WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS DISCUSSED. The Agricultural Confeience continued it j sitting in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday afternoon, under the presidency of Mr. J. G. Wilson. FIRES. Mr. T. E. Upton moved: "That, in •view of the large and /serious losses sustained by farmers and graziers through fifes, the Government bo asked to pass a measure on; similar lines to the Careless Use of Fiies Act, 1906, of New South Wales." Speakers to the motion said the utmost carelessness existed along the countryside lsgarding fires. One delegate said he had been horrified in seeing men smoking cigarettes whil&t working on the top of stades of hay, etc. ' The motion was referred to a committee of Canterbury delegates for a report. INFERIOR STUD STOCK. The following remit, from Southland, was aUo referred to a special committee : ■ — "That the Government be asked to frame regulations in order to preyent'the export from this colony of inferior stud stock, by a system of grading or otborwiso, in view of the fact that the deputation of tho colony has suffered in the past in consequence of inferior animals having been exported as studs." MORE 'IJSLEPHOXES WANTED. Mr. J. G. Kutheiford (Auckland} moved"— "That tho Government be urged to encourage the extension of the telephone system in rural districts by granting local authorities or local residents powers to establish local telephone systems in centres wheie the Government cannot undertake to do so themselves." Speakers to the motion expressed surpriso at the lack of enterprise shown by Sir Joseph Ward in regard to tho extension of the telephone system into the country districts. Connection with tho telephone system was of the utmost importance to the farmer, and delegates could not under.vland the lack of sympathy on the part of the department with' the f rrmer. Perhaps, said Mr. W. C. Buchanan, it was duo to jealousy oh the part of tho department to private cntcrmiss. no stated that 20 per cent, of tile telephones in his own district in the South Wnminipa had been inetnllcd by . farmers themselves, because of the excessive cost imposed by tho department. Delegates quoted tho practice in Canada, Denmark, and p.u-ts of the United States of America to sliow that the New Zcalsnd department was behindhand in providing tho country with telephones. Mr. E. Hall (Auckland) was catisfied that if the motion was given effect to there would be an enormous increase in tho number of I6lophona connections. ._ One delegate said the department would" have charged, £35 to mike a connection which he did for £20. Mr. Studholme felt sure that no thing would do more to add to tho attractions of country * life, or would give greater satisfaction, than the extension of the telephone system at reasonable rates. Mr. Bunny (Mastertou) said ha was constructing a private- wire at a cost of £20 a mile, which was considerably below the department's price. The motion was carried. A small deputation was set Up to bring this question before tno i'ost-master-Oenerh!. TO PREVENT SHEEP-STEALING. Introducing a comprehensive remit in regard to sheep, J Mr. D. D. Macfarlanc (Canterbury), said sheep-stealing was prevalent throughout tho colony, and it was necessary that sprco means of preventing or checking the crime should bo fouttd. His society had had the question carefully considered by a special committee, and the result of that consideration was the following remit—"That it is desirable that the Government should revise the system of branding and ear-marking sheep : (a) That owners be compelled to oar-mark as well as brend their sheep ; (b) That owners should be allowed to register a tattoo or fire brand ; (c) That tho near ear of a sheep bo declared tha legal car on which only tho breeder's registered oar-mark shall bs placed, such registered mark to romain intact ; that is, neither to bo altered or added Id so long as the sheep lives ; and tho off-ear be doclaied the owner's ear on which to put suoh mai'ks as he desires ; (d) That all tools for branding and earmarking bd suppliod or approved of by tho Government, be stamped With a Government mark, and that it be a breach of the law to use branding tools other than those supplied or approved of by the Government." My. Mai farlane suggested the sotting Up of a special committee to make rocommendations regarding a uniform syststn of oar-marking. One delegate declared himself to be in the. happy position of not needing the mai'k, as ho got rid of his lambs at three months and passed his ewes on to his neighbour?. "Then you are only opening the way to Eheop-steaHng !" retorted a Hawera pastoiftlist. "Every farmer should, bo compelled to oar-mark hio sheep." "If we go on elaborating the precent complicated system of ear-marking, there will be no ear loft," was tho opinion of others, A northern farmer know of sheep with the marks of five breeders on their earo. Mr. J. D. Ritchie (secretary of the Agricultural Department) explained a system of eftr« marking which the department had de< vised. A small committee was appoint* ed to draft a report for the present conference. DIPPING AND TRIMMING. On the motion of Mr. Bunny, it was resolved to recommend that tho law regarding sheep'dippihg bs ligorously enforced. IMPROVEMENT OF SEED. Mr. Edwin Hall (Auckland) road $ paper on the' improvement of aeodt Tho paper contained comments upon and results of experiments made in Canada under tile direction of tho Commissioner for Agriculture. School children were- encouraged, by mer # *i^ of a liberal prlxo-list, to undertake exporinionts in the growing of grain and other cood», tho movement spread to farmers, a Seed Growers' Association was formed, and the movement extended into tho United States of Amorica, so successful wero the practical results. - Reference was also made to a famous Australian, Mr. W. Fa-rrar, a Lambrigg, a gentleman who had made a world wide reputation by his Successful attempts to raise wheats by cross breeding and selection that were better calculated to resist rust and drought, and were of a higher milling quality, than tho ordinary varieties. In hia youth Mr. Farrar hart taken a high degreo at hin University, yet ho gave 20 years of hia life in trying to benefit humanity by improving the cereals of his adontod country. Concluding, Mr. Hall said— -"Wo nro sometimes tokUhnt those conferences do Httlo good ; that wo meet, hold academical discussions, and that no vcsuitn follow. I cannot agree with that s but at any rate, here is ii lino of work that has been almost unlom-hod in this country ; we have here delegates from tho principal A and P. societies in tho colony, some of which numbei lUcfriy hundieds of mom- ' bjvvs. If any of these societies could

find one man only, vho would Lake up this work and do for Now Zealand what Mr. Farrar did for Australia, viz., raise" some heavier yielding, finer quality, and more disease-resistant varieties of cereals, v.-c should have made a great step in advance. An additional sixpence per bur he 1 on our cereal crops last year would have increased the income of our farmers by over £500.000. The man who can raise a new variety of wheat that is worth 6d per bushel , more than the ordinary kind, may create more wealth for his countrymen than the finder of a Mount Morgan mine." In proposing 'a voto of thanks to Mr. Hall, the chairman said farmers in Now Zealand had done a great deal of work in connection with stock and dairy matters, but they had rather neglected experiments in grain-growing. He rocoinmended ths matter to the attention of Canterbury growers, with Government assistance. The experimenter should be quite distinct from the work of the teacher, and therefore fanners, not collegians, should undertake' the work. If ten farmers would set aside 20 acjres for* such experiments, great good should result. Mr. Studholme (South Canterbury), in seconding the motion, bore out some of the statements made by Mr. Hall,, the seconder referring lo what he had seen during a tour of America. The vote of thanks was carried. EXPERIMENTAL WORK. Mr. Cuthbertson (Southland) moved — "That the G6vernment bo urged to establish experimental State farms in Canterbury, Otago, and' Southland." The mover declared that the outlay on such an undertaking would be returned to the colony a hundredfold. The motion had the support of tho societies of the threo provinces named. Mr. Patullo (Otago) said that whilst they could not yet expect that thero should be farms in each province, tho South Island certainly was in urgent^ need of one farm immediately. They had the assurance of the Minister of Lands that tho South Island was to have an experimental station or farm. Mr. D. D. Macfarlane hoped to see an impetus given to experiments in graingrowing, and trusted the Government would provide a thoroughly skilled expert to direct such operations. If Governmont would get such a man, he (Mr. Macfavlane) Would undertake to got tho land and the farmers .for carrying on experiments. The Nelson, delegate (Mr. Chisnell) said his district desired an experiment farm, and had an ideal site •arid climate for such a farm. Nelson would have very little show if the motion was adopted. The Blenheim dolegate (Mr. A. M'Callum) agreed with the last speaker, and urged that cxpsriments in barley should be conducted in Marlborough, in fruit, otc, in Nelson, and wheat in Canterbury. Mr. Clifton (Director of Experimental Stations) felt sure that the Government would agree to tha desire of delegates by providing an export director if groups of farmers would undertake to carry on experiments in grain-growing. ' Mr. §tudholma did' not aprreo that teaching and experimenting should not go on together, and he thought Lincoln College would bo a suitable and economical place for Carrying on experiments, provided the Government equipped the institution with a highly-qualified export. Tho chairman pointotl out that his view was that Lincoln ColJoqc could not carry out experiments with its present staff. He thought Mr. Clifton's offer was too good to be refused by Canterbury farmers. In the Rangitikei district experiments in growing turnips wcro about to bo made, under tho rJircrfion of a depßrtmental expert. No doubt if Marlborough and Nebon farmers would provide tho land, etc., for special experiments, tho department -would assist. Mr. Bucharwm hoped, the Government v/ould not be discouroj*'* od by tho failure of experimental work in the pr.st. There had . be°n mistakes and extravagances in regard to experimental farms, but he thourht the Government would overcome theso and get good work done. On the suggestion of Mr. Macfarlanc, it was recoived to add to the motion — "That, pending the establishment of such experimental stations, tho Government bo asked to assist farmers to make oxpsrimonts in such cereals, turnios. and fruit as may be suitable to th? district." The motion was then agreed to on the voices, and at 5.10 n.m. tho conference adjourned iui(il 10 o'clock this moniing.