A. AND P. SOCIETIES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 July 1924, Page 6

A. AND P. SOCIETIES.

COXFKI’.ENCK AT HAWJSKA

A conference of the Taranaki A. and P. Associations was held at the Egmont A. and P. rooms, 'Hawera, yesterday.

Present: Messrs Washer, J. S. T. Short, H. E. Johnson, G. 'Ford and F. Gillanders (Egmont), Parr, L. T. Avlward, and E. H. Linnell (Stratford), H. C. Sampson, P. J. Peterson, F. T.

Davis, and W. Grant (Ntuv Plymouth). Mr. Washer extended a welcome to the delegates, and on his motion Mr. Gralit was appointed - chairman Mr. Grant said they were only too pleased to come from the northern end and to do what they could for the common welfare of the associations. He was pleased to see among those present representatives of the breeders. He thought it a good move to hold such meetings, and hoped the next would he

held at New Plymouth. Mr. F. AY. Court, representing the AYanganui Fresh Food Company, waited upon the conference and explained the conditions of competitions proposed by the company for certain cups which they were prepared to' present to A. and P. Associations. There were to be four cup's, one each for the AYanganui. Egmont, Stratford, and Taranalci

Associations, and the value of each cup was to he 25 guineas. Mr. Court said there was no need for him to stress the reason for giving the cups. They knew that the condition of hundreds of farmers could only be benefited by economical increased production. In New Zealand production averaged 1701 b of butter-fat ’per cow, whereas in Denmark it was 2701 b. It was hardly creditable to New Zealand to be so far behind. The quickest way to get at the trouble was to induce farmers to go in for individual testing. • They wanted to get clown to bedrock. There 'were hundreds of fanners who were milking herds with an average of 1201 b, while their neighbours were getting up to 3001 b per cow. By offering cups for butter-fat they hoped to

assist and encourage the owners of grade herds.. His directors had at first objected to giving anything for cows outside purebred, hut that would not help production;- and they wanted to get at the ninety per cent, who owned grade amh mixed herds. If the cups were open to purebreds the competition would be kept within very narrow limits, but if they were confined to ■ grade animals there was every probability that a large number would compete. The proposal that the test to which the competing animals would submit should extend over the two days of the show only had been objected to on the ground that owing to temperament varying the best' cow might not get the cup. It had been suggested that several of the butter-fat spmpe-ti-tions that had been held had not been a shccess and had been unworkable. His company proposed to simplify the test by having the cows milked at the show, and so that freak cows would not get away with the prize 25 points out of a total of 100 were to be awarded for type. The association would derive a certain amount of revenue from

'■the competitibns, for they would receive the entrance fees, and in addition his company proposed that the milk from the cows should be separated, the company purchasing the butter-fat. The butter-fat should give the association a return of £2O to £25. An additional interest would be given to the show, and benefits would be derived in this way also. They would get a new class of exhibitor. Replying to Mr. Grant, Mr. Court said that a cup would have to be won three...times, not necessarily in succession, before it could become the property of the winner. -They wanted to make the competition as broad as possible ; but a man who won a cup at one show would not be allowed to compete for a cup at any other show, and a beast which won the cup one year would not be able to compete the next. If the owner wished to compete he would have to do so with another cow. The whole of the competitions would be run by the associations, and his directors were mainly concerned with giving the cups. His directors had suggested that 100 points should be given for type only, but he had pointed out that the best dolled-up cows may not be the best for production, and if production only' was considered the cup might go to a freak. The whole object was to get men who at present were not taking much interest in the matter to improve their - herds. The idea was to have the competing, cows on the sho\v grounds the day before the show', and there coilld be four milkings. On the first day the cows could be judged on type. Mr. Gillanders: You w r ould not give the cups for production alone. Mr. Court said that -if they did, a cup might go to an uncouth beast; but they were prepared to leave this matter to the A. and P. Associations. Air. Gillanders: If judging is partly on type a large number of cows wiil be disqualified. Air. Court said lie would much prefer to see the award made on production only, but he had understood, from different members of the associations that they preferred to. have 25 points for type. *

In replying to Mr. Ford, Mr. Court said that the conditions would be ,the same at all shows, and Wanganui was quite prepared to fall in with anything the Egmont Association might decide. Mr. Washer said that his society had accepted the cup on the understanding that' the conditions were tp be fixed bv the conference they were holding. Mr. Court said lie was quite willing to vary the details to meet their He fufthcr pointed out that under the proposed conditions no animal eligible for a herd book could compete .and any mriVi with five animals entered in a herd book could not compete. They wanted to reach the man who had not started to build up his herd. If a man had five pedigree cows they could he sure the remainder in h ; s herd would be pretty dose up. He considered that there were from 86 to 90 per cent, of the dairy farmers who had not done much to improve their herds, and the cups would' an a long way towards arousing them ,to action. Another condition suggested was that po man with less than 10 cows should be allowed to compete, Mr. Washer said he ha f l 16 or 16 pedigrees in his herd totalling about 180 cows, and this would bar him from competing. Mr. Court.: Men like Mr. Washer are already doing much to increase production. and it is the others we want to get at Mr Johnson asked what the position would be if a man bad two herds on different farms, one pedigree and one grade.

Mr. Court: He would be excluded from the competition. Mr. Johnson saw a danger in the competition. A cup winner might use a bull from his successful cow and it might lead him anywhere. Mr. Court felt sure that in getting at the raw product thev were on right lines. If the competitions proposed proved successful, he would not say that something on narrower lines would not be done later. A purebred bull

in a herd would not disqualify. His company would go further and would provide purebred bulls for those who wanted them.

Air. Ford suggested that two of the cups be given for grade cattle and two for pedigrees. Mr. Linnell said that pedigrees were Fairly-well catered for at all shows.

Air . Court said be was rather up against it in that many of those pfes r ent were pedigree men. He urged that what he proposed was worth a trial, even if it did not get at the best animal.

Air. Peterson pointed out that under the rules laid down it would be almost impossible for any mail to win the cup. A man who won one year would have to enter a different cow' the following year, and the competition was to be a perpetual advertisement for the Fresh Food Company. Mr. Court admitted that the cups would advertise the company, but pointed out that, they would cost 100 guineas and would benefit the associations. He was prepared to make any alteration to the conditions within reason.

Air. Peterson: The difficulty in becoming the owner of a cup would lessen the desire to compete. It was eventually decided to consider each of the conditions separately, and after several alterations had been discussed it was found impossible to arrive at a basis that would be satisfactory to hot hparties. The view was expressed that the competitions would he in op position to the lines along which pedigree breeders were working and led nowlierS, It was decided to write to the Fresh Food Company expressing regret that the cups could not be accepted for competition under the conditions proposed, and suggesting conditions that would be to the associations. One suggestion put forward by Air. Job son was that the cups be offered for classes in which, the entries shall consist of yearling crossbred heifers, any. breed, provided the sire is a. registered pedigree... Another suggestion was the best two dairy cows in milk, to be. judged on dairy type, no. test to be taken and the sire to be a pedigree. CONFERENCE REMITS.

The remits which are to come before the. New Zealand Council of Agriculture at Wellington on. July 16 were con-, sitlered as follows:

Hawke’s Bay.—That all matters dealing with the welfare of agricultural societies requiring to be placed before the Government be taken first on the agenda paper, and deputations appointed to the various Government departments at some suitable

hour during the conference. —Agreed to. Alasterton.—That the free place and bursary system he readjusted so as to

give more encouragement to agriculture and technical education.—Carried. Executive.—That the authorities controlling the. New Zealand University Colleges be urged to arrange diploma, courses in agriculture at the universities 'in which the subjects taken for the entrance examinations shall not necessarily include a foreign language.— Carried. » Masterton.—That the Alinister of Education be urged to amend the constitution of the universities and colleges of New Zealand by giving agriculture and other interests a greater say in the election of the senate. —Carried. Canterbury.—’That lands planted with timber for milling purposes should be exempt- from all taxes.

Air. Sampson said the idea, was to get people to plant trees. They knew that if they continued as they were going there would be. a. timber famine. He thought that for a short period (say ten years) the country might forgo taxation, and he would move that the remit be amended so. as to give protec-t-iqn to that extent. The owners by that time would be deriving some- revenue from the timber and would be in a position to pay taxes. Mr. Peterson, in. seconding, said they should discriminate between the private owner and companies. Air. Davis said he did not see what. taxation' could be imposed apart from the land. Whether they looked-at it from a national point of view or that of the individual they could not overlook the fact that timber was grown with a view to making a profit, and if land ■was occupied he saw no reason why one should escape’taxation more than another. If the land tax should he abolished he would favour timbered land coming under the same heading. He suggested that they pass over the remit without expressing an opinion. It was finally decided to leave- the matter to the discretion of the delegates the suggestion being made that there’mav be facts and arguments of which those present- had no knowledge. Taranaki—That land tax should be abolished and income tax substituted Mr. Davis,-in moving the remit, said that though they had had a taxation commission, that commission could only judge the- position on the evidence placed before them, and wdien the matter came before Parliament members Avoulcl want to know the considered opinion of those who had not been before the- commission. Mr Johnson said that if the remit was. given effect to they would not bring about any radical change. The fuimei would still pay. The motion was carried.

'Taranaki.—That if the land tax he not abolished, then the following alterations in the method of taxation should be adopted: (a) The valuations should be made by three persons, one nominated by the Government, one by the local body, and one by the owner. The valuers should actually have local knowledge, as provided for in the Valuation Act. (h) Appeals from valuations should be allowed to an Assessment Court, consisting either of three persons appointed as in (a) or of a magistrate alone. The personnel of the court not to consist of those making the valuations. Mr Davis dealt at length with the reasons for the remit, comparing the high valuations in Taranaki compared with oilier parts of New Zealand. The’ remit was carried. \\ averley.—That Government valuers when making a valuation of farm lands he compelled to give a report setting forth how their valuations are arrived at, such capital valuations on farm lands to he computed on a producing basis. Also .that owners should be notified when valuers will vsit their farms for the purpose of making a valuation. —Carried. Feilding.—That owing to the shortage and high prices of timber the Government he urged to remove the import duty on all timber, and that the railway freight on imported timber be brought into line with the New Zealand timber rates.—Carried. Masterton.—That the attention of the Minister for Railways be drawn to the unfair practice of charging passengers attending A. and P. shows by excursion trains ordinary fares up to 60 miles, and the conference asks that excursion fares be made available to passengers up to any distance.—Carried. Timaru. —That the Minister of Railways he requested-to run trains on show day at one-day excursion rates. —Carried. Stratford.—That the Government he urged to, reduce freight charges on stock travelling to and from A. and P. shows. —Rejected. Hawke’s Bay,—That the Minister he

urged to grant stockmen in charge of show stock reduced ‘railway fares from any station similar to those granted to show judges.—Left to delegates. Stratford.—That the Government he asked to take into consideration the granting of freight concessions on stock exported from this country on lines similar to those given on stock imported.—Withdrawn. f V' averley.—That all stock slaughter- j ed for export be graded by graders appointed by the Meat Producers’ Board. Also that quality claims in regard to meat .sold c.i.f.e. be enquired into by the board, and that an arbitrator be appointed by the board in London.— Left to delegates. Executive.—That the Royal Agricultural Society take over the functions, assets, and liabilities of the New Zealand Council- of Agriculture as from July 1, 1924.—L05t. Methven.—That the Government be requested to assist herd testing associations in the South Island, and that cull cows be compulsorily branded.—Lost. Methven.—That the dehorning of cattle lie made compulsory.—Lost. Feilding.—That the conference is of the opinion that the time is ripe for bringing into effect the resolution passed at the 1914 conference regarding earmarking and branding sheep and cattle. —Lost.

Taranaki.—That in view of the continued spread of foot and mouth disease in England, and the grave danger of its being carried into this Dominion, the department he urged to investigate every avenue through which it might be introduced, and that the most stringent regulations he framed and enforced. Further, that the penalty now imposed is entirely inadequate in pro- ! portion to the. enormous financial loss which must follow even a minor outbreak in New Zealand.— Carried.' Canterbury.—That the Government be asked to carry out experiments with regard to the extermination of rabbits, especially in regard to the most suitable poisons.—Carried. Hawke’s Bay.—That the Government’s attention be called to the serious spread of blackberry on Heretaunga Plain. —Carried. Waverley.—That where back country grasses have weakened and given out, and the ground- is covered with fern and second growth, some practical method of instruction be given to occupiers which will assist to re-establish the pasture by the introduction of suitable grasses.—Carried. Hawke’s Bay.—That the Government be asked to pay one-half the ‘cost of erection and repairs to a boundary fence where Government property bounds on soldier settlers’ or other lands.—Carried. Feilding.—That each association affiliated to the conference lie supplied with a list of the names and addresses of judges who have left ’ their respective districts or are deceased, and further that they be asked to report on the competency of some of the judges appearing in the list. '

Mi- Washer said that'nurebred breeders made it a condition'of gifts offered as prizes that' the judges shall be selected from lists submitted by them. It was decided to strike out the latter part of the remit, which*- was then carried.