RURAL AFFAIRS

Evening Star, Issue 21508, 5 September 1933, Page 5

RURAL AFFAIRS

MEETING OF FARMERS'UNION A meeting of the Otago Provincial Council of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was commenced this morning in the Public Trust building, Mr M. A. Kinney presiding over an attendance which comprised the following :—Messrs J. Miller, 0. R. Sheat, E. EL Murney, J. D. Revie, W. Bradfield, A. Craig, J. S. Elliot, C. W. Hallum, A. C. Leary, R. H. Michelle, W. J. MTvenzie, T. Stockdill, R.'J. E. Smith, A. Spoor, E. Waite, Wm, Lee, John Christie, John Clarke, A. Grant, J. Henry, R. B. Tennent, A. C. Cameron (secretary). APPOINTMENTS. The appointments to the Provincial Council of Messrs A. Grant (representing Taieri brandies) and J. Henry (Peninsula, Dunedin, and Green IslandTaieri Beach) were confirmed. The Chairman extended a welcome to these members. Mr Spoor was appointed a member of the Flock House Committee. YOUNG FARMERS’ VISIT. The Chairman expressed appreciation of all that had been done to make the visit of the young farmers to Dunedin such a success, paying a special tribute to the energy and enthusiasm of Mr A. C. Cameron, the secretary, and to those who had billetted the boys. Ho understood that both Southland and Canterbury were following the good example set by Otago. On the motion of Mr Miller, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to those who had organised the movement and helped it along. FREIGHT ON HAY. Mr Cameron reported that he had conferred with Mr Roberts, of the Railway Commercial Department, regarding obtaining a reduction in the railway rate on hay. Mr Roberts had taken the matter up with Wellington, and had received detailed reasons why they could not reduce the rate. Mr Cameron submitted these reasons to the meeting. The department’s letter stated the returns on hay were substantially less than the average return derived from all classes of traffic. The head office had advised that their existing rates were not sufficiently remunerative to afford any margin for a reduction. Mr Elliot (Middlemarch) said the position was unfortunate, but he did not see that anything further could be done.

Mr Christie (Warepa) criticised the general policy of .the Railway Department, and staled that if it was losing custom which was going to the lorries it had nobody to blame but itself. The letter was received. DELAY IN AUDITS. In reply to a Milton complaint re-' garding what was deemed unnecessary delay in the audit of local authorities’ accounts, tho controller and AuditorGeneral wrote stating that the financial year of all local authorities ended on March 31, and immediately afterwards tho audit inspectors fixed certain dates for particular audits, having regard in most cases to what experience had taught them would be the probable dates when the particular local authorities’ accounts were ready for audit. If the clerk of a local authority had not notified tho audit inspector by the specified date thAt his accounts were ready for audit it was necessary for tho inspector to proceed with other duties, and in this wn.y frequently a local body which had been temporarily passed over had to wait until the other work had been performed.

It was decided that the-letter be sent on to the Milton branch. DISEASE IN HOGGETS.

The secretary reported that at the last meeting a remit had been received from the Tapamii Sub-provincial Executive asking the council to get the Agricultural Department to investigate the disease termed Scabby mouth in hoggets. Mr Cameron said ho had taken the matter up with Mr Dayus, and had received the following reply:— “ I may state that the condition referred to is stomatitis, which is not uncommon in hoggets, especially in the autumn, though actually as far as this year is concerned it has not been specially reported to me. The specific cause of the disease is not easy to define, but there is no doubt that the condition is due to an ultravisible virus, therefore highly infectious and difficult to prevent, any more than one can prevent an outbreak of chickenpox. The lesions on the lips and mouth cause irritation and difficulty in feeding, and therefore there, is some falling off in condition.

“ There are various secondary bacterial invaders of the primary lesion, chief of which is Bacillus Necrophorus. This organism is an anaerobe, and grows best in oxygen free tissue. Therefore in bad cases the first thing to do is to remove all scabs that help to keep out the air. The affected parts can then be swabbed with tincture of iodine. Later, while healing is in progress, a useful ointment to apnly daily consists of: Lard 21b, sulphur 2oz, Balsam Peru 2oz, carbolic acid 2 drams. Fortunately there is a natural tendency to spontaneous recovery, which a change of feed will also materially assist.” CAWTHRON INSTITUTE. The following remit from Clinton was carried; — That this branch, realising the importance to the fanning community of

SYDNEY WOOL SALES FIRMNESS MAINTAINED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, September 4. At the wool sales 13,774 bales wore offered and 12,717 sold, while 1,172 wore disposed of privately. There was very keen competition from Bradford, Japan, and the Continental sections. The market continued very firm at last week’s closing rates. Greasy merino sold to 22d. The average price of last week's auction sale was £l6 19s 6d a bale, or 12.7 cl per lb.

LONDON WHEAT MARKET Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 4, (Received September 5, at 10.50 a.in.) With the reports of frost from Argentina wheat cargoes are firmer. Sellers raised their limits -‘ld to (kl for Australians and Plates, and buyers were more interested. Bradfyno 2(3s sd. Parcels are fully steady at late rates, and .‘ld advance. There is good inquiry for near Atlantic Manitobas. Futures —London : September, 22s !)d; December, 25s 8d; February, 24s Old. Liverpool : October, 5s 4Jd; December, 5s 6sd; March, 5a BJdj May, 5s 10|d,

the research work at present being carried out at Cawthron Institute, urges the Dominion Executive to make a donation to the institute in keeping with the importance of the work, and thus prevent the activities therefrom being curtailed during the time of financial stringency.” Similar remits were received from South Taieri, Greenfield, and Berwick. Several speakers expressed their appreciation of what was being done by the institute. The Secretary said that the Farmers’ Union should try and assist to the extent of £2OO for two years. He understood that about £9OO was required for important special work. On the motion of Mr Sheat, seconded by Mr Christie, it was decided to urge the dominion executive to give liberal financial support to the institute, and that other bodies associated with the farming industry be urged to assist similarly. FARMERS’ UNION PAPER. The Secretary read a letter which he had received from the dominion president (Mr W. J. Poison, M.P.), asking the Otago Council to assist him to make a success of the new monthly journal which the union proposed to publish in Stratford. The dominion president asked for summarised reports of provincial and important branch news. They also asked branch secretaries to supply them with material, and intimated that they were prepared to pay a moderate charge for good articles likely to be of interest to the farming community. The matter was discussed in committee, and the following resolution was carried:—" “ That this council endorses the action of the dominion conference in starting the publication of a journal for the union, and agrees to give it practical support.” NEW SHEARERS’ AWARD. The Secretary reported that a new agreement had been reached with the shearers and shed hands on August 23. The agreement appeared to be satisfactory in every way. The award came into force 'oh September I, and would continue until March 31, 1936.

Tho following rates of pay had been agreed to:—Shearers, 1933-34 season, 18s per 100, with rations. In case of shearers finding; themselves, the rates would beincreased by 5s per 100. Prossers, £2 5s per week, or Is 3d per hour; shed hands, £2 per week,, or Is Id per hour; youths, over 16 years of age and under 18 years of age, £1 5s per week, or 9d per hour; cooks, cooking for 12 men or under, £2 16s jxer week, or 10s per day if employed foxless than 7 days. Where over 12 men are employed, wages to be fixed by agreement, with a minimum of £2 16s per week. Cook’s assistant, £2 5s per week, or 8s per day, if employed for less than 7 days. Beginning wjth the 1934-35 season, the rates would ho on a sliding scale, and would be adjusted in accordance with the movement of wool prices, as determined by the Government Statistician’s index numbers for export prices of wool, calculated on the basis for the year ending June 30. This sliding scale provided for a minimum rate of IGs 8d per 100 and a maximum rate of 27s 6d per 100. The wages of shed hands, cooks, etc., were adjusted accordingly. A perusal of the award would shoxv that, apart from the alteration in wages and provision f the sliding scale, the other conditions were practically the same as before. It was" decided to congratulate the Shcepoxvners’ Federation on the results of its efforts.