FARMERS’ PROBLEMS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 July 1925, Page 11

FARMERS’ PROBLEMS.

DISCUSSED BY UNION. TARANAKI EXECUTIVE MEETS. Personal insurance of farmers assisting each other at harvest time and arrangements in connection with a proposed “drive” of cull cows were two matters discussed by the Taranaki Executive of the Farmers Union today. There were present at the meeting Messrs R. Dunn (president), W. Carter, W. Lyndon, W. T. Seed, E. J. Betts. L. Babingtoiij D. Cameron, H. Hodge and J. D. Piercy.

A fatal accident which occurred at Manga t-oki last season, when a farmer who was assisting a neighbour in the harvest field was killed, was referred to at a previous meeting of the executive, when it was pointed out that the owner of the farm on which the unfortunate man had been working was refused insurance money on the ground that the deceased had been paying back time and had not been employed on wages.

Mr W. E. Carter at to-day’s meeting pointed out that but for the unfortunate accident .farmers would be going on taking out policies believing that such insurance - covered neighbours who were working in the policy holders’ harvest fields. The insurance companies had been taking the money, and the farmers, not being lawyers, had been under the impression that they were covered.

The president pointed out that the owner of any farm on which operations were being carried out was not covered unless he took out another policy covering himself.

The secretary of the executive (Mr E. K. Cameron) said that the matter was being brought before the Accident Underwriters’ Association. STOCK DRIVE.

Tho executive also discussed a proposal to organise a cull-cow clriv<§.. Hr H. Hodge reported on his visit to the AA'uirarapa, where he had seen the scheme in operation. He had seen one drive from South Featherston to the works about 30 miles-away, and on that occasion 250 head of cattle had been collected. Each man branded his cull cows before turning them into the drive, and when the animals got to. the works they were s’aughtered and the owners paid on grade and weight. A herd of 250 cattle disposed of in this way had brought in £4OO more than the market value in the sale yards. One member of the executive pointed out that what one man might consider a cull cow would be a good cow to another man. The average for the Dominion was 180 lhs fat per cow, yet some farmers cubed out all animals under 250 lbs fat.

Mr Hodge said that as far as the actual lrive was concerned, it was a man’s own “funeral” if he culled out a good con - . It was decided that a. circular letter ho sent to the' branches drawing attention to the scheme and asking for suggetsions regarding' working. It was stated that the drive would be open to any farmer, whether a member of tho union or not.