FEDERATED FARMERS

Evening Star, Issue 25769, 16 April 1946, Page 6

FEDERATED FARMERS

OTAGO COUNCIL MEETS A meeting of the Ofcago Provincial Executive of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand was held this morning. There was an attendance of 21 members, with_ Mr J. S. Hunt (Wanaka) in the chair. The appointment of branch secretaryorganisers was discussed, the Chairman reporting that he had approached the Dominion Executive on the matter. Speakers were all in favour of the innovation, but it was considered that the question of finance was the main drawback at the present time. FARMERS' TRANSPORT PROBLEMS. A report on the sitting of the tribunal at Alexandra, dealing with transport charges, was made to the meeting by Mr C. L. Calvert. " I think there is going to be some increase in transport costs." he commented, after traversing the work of the tribunal. "I think an increase is inevitable, although you will get a fair spin from the tribunal. The Chairman expressed the view that he was concerned only to beep the wheels of the transport industry moving, and though I stressed the stabilisation factor and that farming was the most stabilised of all the indusries. I think there will be an increase. We were going over ground traversed previously in Gore and Invercargill, and the tribunal knew all the answers." A protest to the licensing authority against the delays in notifying principals in court fixtures of the dates was moved by Mr J. S. Mosley (Stirling) and seconded by Mr W. Denford (Wingatui), but was adjourned until this afternoon to enable additional data tn be brought forward. IRRIGATION MATTERS.

A report on a recent conference on irrigation was given by Mr Hunt, who said that # it had been a most successful meeting. His remarks were endorsed by Mr W. Denford. A letter of appreciation was sent from the executive to Mr Weir (Ranlfurly), who had offered to give 100 acres of land, chosen by the Government and fenced by himself, for experimental purposes in irrigation. CATCHMENT BOARDS.

A strong protest, voiced by Mr G. Skinner, referred to the possibility of a catchment board being established over a very small area (the Clutha basin), where the adult population was less than 14,000. It would be a burden imposed on the area, a large part of which would derive no benefit. The matter, of combating soil erosion affected the whole province, for a gain for the country generally was a gain for the city.

Discussion was deferred until this afternoon, when a remit bearing on the subject from Lawrence and Waitahuna branches was to be considered. The remit urges that community of interest should be the guiding factor when fixing 'the boundaries of a catchmen board area in Otago. and considers that this area should be (a) served by the Port of Otago; (b) served by road _ and railway services based on Dunedin: and (c) served by the financial and business interest's of Dunedin, This area would cover the whole of Otago, with the exception of the Waitaki basin, which is served by the town and port of Oamaru, and embraces an area of 12,600 square miles, a population of 106,000, and a capital value of £44,341,000. Similar remits were sent in from Upper Clutha and West Otago.