FARM PRODUCTION

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 14 February 1930, Page 7

FARM PRODUCTION

A COMPETITION SCHEME DISCUSSED BY SPECIAL MEETING VIEW'S OF INDIVIDUALS TO BE SOUGHT. A mixed expression of opinion was voiced at a meeting convened in the Hawera Borough Council Chambers by the Hawera, Chamber of Commerce to discuss the establishment of a small farm competition. ‘There was an attendance of twenty-two. The proposal was discussed at some length and _it was ultimately decided to circularise individual farmers in South Taranaki in order to ascertain their views and the meeting was adjourned for -a month to enable them to bo obtained. A questionairo was di-abvin up and is to be sent out within a day or two.

In introducing the subject, Mr B. C. Bennett, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, said that the proposal had the support of the chamber and that most present would be alive to the possibilities of it. There was no saying to What lengths the scheme could be carried and extra production was a present day essential and a matter that would greatly assist the country's prosperity. Taranaki, especially on account of the good quality of the soil, was adapted for such a scheme. The meeting would be pleased to accept any suggestions that .might be offered and a strong farmers’ committee might be set up to consider it fully. It was a big matter and w(ould take some time to put into operation and entail a failamount of subsequent work. In the interests of the proposal and the object in view, Mr Bennett suggested that a man with farming knowledge should preside over the meeting, Mr H. G. Dickie, M.P., being voted to the chair.

Having expressed his pleasure that the meeting was so representative, Mr Dickie said that the suggestion, which had come from Mr L. A. Ablett (editor of the “Hawera Star”), would no doubt present some difficulties, but there were big possibilities in it. Possibly the slogan “Produce more goods for export” had promoted Mr Ablett’s suggestion. The idea, was to arrange competition’s among farms of different sizes -and to evolve a scheme of management of them.

The Department of Agriculture would support the movement and give any assistance, stated Mr .T. Palmer, of the HaWera staff of the department, who also apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr J. M. Smith, officer in charge of the Department at New Plymouth, and who was very keenly interested in the proposal.

THE SCHEME OUTLINED It was only a nebulous scneine so far, stated Mr Ablett in an outline of his ■suggestions. The Chamber of Commerce was not professing to know ■ all about the details of such a scheme, or how it could be conducted, 'and the assistance of the farming community was essential to evolve a working and satisfactory basis. During last season and the one previous a number of articles had appeared in the “Hawera Star” giving details of farm production in Taranaki, Mr Dunbar’s farm at Ilurleyvillo being one of those mentioned. .'There had been previous des-| criptions of other farms, but the .article concerning Mr Dunbar’s property had brought a ne,w interest out because Mr Dunbar had been carrying IS cows on .20 acres. Mr W. Hawkins, of Hawera, had brought along to the speaker some farmers who Sad said that they doubted the possibility of such a carrying capacity. The farm had been inspected and it was established beyond doubt that the statement was correct. Other farmers had been mentioned who had been doing very well on small holdings and it had been thought that a competition would have a- goad effect in extending the carrying capacity and the production on small area farms. At the time one place had been carrying 80 caws an 140 acres -and, through one season, one farmer had carried 14 cows on 10 acres. Apart from any other advantages the scheme would provide an educational interest—a very valuable point. A similar scheme had been in operation for some years in 'Southland for farmp up to 250 acres and over. However, production was no't the main point of it and it Was more or less complex. He suggested that there should bo four classifications in the scheme, one for farms up to 25 acres, one up to 50 acres, one for areas over 50 acres, and ai household competition for residents .with areas from to. 5 acres. Touching on the question of the control of the competitions, Mr Ablett suggested that there might possibly be a separate body running between the Chamber of Commerce and the Farmers’ Union, ,as considerable work would be entailed, -and for that reason such a committee could work more satisfactorily independently than by calling I meetings of the two bodies, both of whom to bo represented on the committee. He did not think that the prizes should be silver cups or anything of I that nature, but something that would assist further production —manures for instance. There should n-ot bo any costs, but it would be necessary to have a few enthusiasts to do the judging and to conduct the s'eheme. Perhaps the Department of Agriculture would supply any forms needed for the collection o’f the information. The scheme in its present form was not by any means complete, but was a collection of ideas which needed elaboration. There would, it was recognised, be. difficulties in securing a common basis for the judging of the various types of farm's -and suggestions on that point were awaited from farmers.

While recognising that, there were difficulties confronting the schelnc, Mr 11. G. Dickie did not consider them to , be insurmountable. He moved that the small farm competitions .as advocated be instituted in the district, Mr Hawkins seconding the motion. UNION EXECUTIVE’S VIEWS The matter had been fully discussed by the executive of the Farmers’ Union at its meeting on Thursday last, stated Mr Betts (president of that body) and had been turned down., The Farmers’ Union was pretty generally against the small farm scheme, which was not thought to be an aid to the Dominion in any form at all. There were many serious difficulties in the way •of it and he did not see hoiw they could be overcome.

Mr JR. Symo (Department of Agriculture) asked Mr Betts if tho executive had known that the competition was to include farms up to l'oO acres, Mr Betts replying in the affirmative. Agreement with Mr Betts’ views that, as far as small farms were con-

f cerned, the scheme was not practicable, ! was voiced by Mr S. J. Bennett. He expressed the opinion that very few farmers could equal or ,beat. him in obtaining a maximum production from 50 acres, but he had proved that it was not possible for a farmer with a family to give his children a. proper education out of his income from a 50-acre farm. He was against the com-, petition for the reason that it would lend itself to a lot of unfairness and there -were a number of loopholes that would have to be guarded. Mr H. Wells agreed with Mr Bennett and thought that the scheme would have a* decided tendency to' put up the price of land 1 , and who wanted such a happening? A voice: Everybody does! “I think that the gentleman wlio have spoken in opposition to the scheme have n'ot taken a very broad view,” said Mr Wards. Throughout the Dominion small areas from 150 acres down avere being farmed more successfully than any others. He did not think that the question of a living entered into the competition, the idea being to show how much could be. produced from small farms. If the good land around Taranaki were, cut up into' small holdings it ( would be only a few years before Hawera would have doubled its population. Tf production could' ]bo materially increased it would have a decided bearing on the prosperity of the Dominion. He would like to akk Mr Betts if the branches of the Farmers’ Union had been asked for an expression of opinion on the subject and he thought that- the executive had taken a lot on themselves to express an opinion as they had done. Mr Betts: I challenge that statement.

Proceeding, Mr. Wards considered that the scheme .could very well be put into operation and there might be very many small holders who would welcome the opportunity to enter into it. It might be an advantage if there .were a competition for a yearly and three yearly term respectively, and such a course would eliminate anything in the nature of “boosting” returns for one year only. Personally, he would like to see the scheme adopted. ,

“NO COMPULSION”

Mr Palmer stated that he was not in a position to criticise or give an opinion to 'any extent, but Messrs Deem and Smith, of the Department of Agriculture, and himself were in favour of the idea. Possibly, on account of the various sc.il conditions met with, there would have to be a number of groups, and the point was one worth, consideration. Tf a man were against the idea he did not have to come into it, but he thought that those who did not enter the competition would watch it even more keenly than those actually participating. Mr Palmer stressed the progress that has been made with, boys’ and girls’ elubs, and the advantagesl that have been gained. He was of the opinion that the scheme should bo put into operation. There were not too many farms in TaTianaki over ISO acres that were owned by one man and, if they were over 150 acres they were usually neglected to some extent. Large holdings could not be as efficiently managed as small holdings. The Department of Agriculture, as he had previously stated, was willing to help the sehc-me. Classes could be arranged to suit the various sized farm s and he presumed that the butter-fat returns per acre would form a prominent part in the competition. Mr Palmer, in giving details of small farm returns, quoted an instance of a man on ai five acre holding who, last season, had averaged 2401b5. of fat per acre.

“He must have grazed his cows on the long paddock,” (the road), interjected a voice.

'“He did not,” replied Mr Palmer, who added that from results obtained the possibilities of big productions from small holdings had .been realised and something could be learned from such a scheme as proposed. '“lf a man lias paddocks somewhere away from his farm and shifts his stock, how are you going to adjust that on his returns?” asked Mr Thrush.

■“By making a debit against his re turns,” ansjvyered Mr H. G. Dickie.

‘“lt might be a good scheme for town sections up to 10 acres, but I can’t .see how you are going to get over the difficulties,” added MiThrush. “A farmer will be found to enter the competition one year and drop out the next. I would like to know how many farmers in South Taranaki are not producing as much as they can on the finances they have.”

“It seems to me that the Farmers’ Union has been viewing the scheme from the angle of a small farm settlement policy,” said Mr H. G. Dickie, “the sort of thing under which they might ,be hunted down into a class of peasantry. That is not the idea ,at all; it is a question of production comparison. There is no compulsion for a farmer to take part in ir, the suggestion being simply to encourage efficiency and production. Similar schemes ha’ve previously been put into operation, the new idea in this one being to compare the amount of wealth taken from given pieces of land. There are difficulties in its way, but the aim is to get ,do|vvai to a basis on which to give every competitor a level start.” NOT NECESSARILY “SMALL”

tMr Syme thought that most of the oppostion had come through a mis understanding of the small farm idea. Ho considered that the word small should bo loft out. The competition was not restricted and can be made to include farms up to 500 acres if necessary. “jl think that all will agree that Mr Ablett’s idea is economic production, and I have always thought that to be the result of intensive farming. !l consider that Mr Ab'lctt’s suggestion is too important to pass over lightly because there happen to be a few difficulties which, however, can be guarded against. I would be very sorry to see the idea go by the board on account of that fact. The scheme could bo improved and extended from i time to time and I think that all will 1 agree that it would be ideal if it eculd bring about further economic produet.'on.” •

Mr Owen Jones said that he had been reluctant to have his production returns published, but he had finally made them available to a “Haiwsrs. Star” representative after several requests. He had obtained 4053Jhs of fat from 9 3 acres. He was in favour of tho suggested «eheme being put into operation and, although it would need careful handling, it could be carried out successfully. It had been stated that there was a likelihood of returns being “faked,” but he for one would not stoop to such an. action. Mr E. K. Cameron (provincial secretary of the Farmers’ Union), who said that ho was present as a citizen and a member of t)he Chamber of Commerce, considered that the meeting had got away from tho point. The idea was to see what production could economically be- obtained and there was no suggestion of an endeavour to intro-

duce smaller holdings. A good idea would be .to extend the competition over a period of t|wio or three years in order that a farmer would not. “thresh” his farm for year in order to get production. He certainly thought that nothing but good could come from the competition. 'When the boys’ and girls’ clubs had commenced there had been innumerable difficulties in their way, but wonderful results had been achieved and they h,ad been enthusiastically adopted throughout the Dominion.

'The farmer’s natural reticence aibont publishing his returns wa-s to Mr C. D. Dickie’s mind a stumbling block to the scheme. Another was that the accuracy of his returns might be doubted by his neighbour. "There was no question that anything th,at would result in increased production would be a benefit to all concerned. Some speakers had said that increased returns would inflate land values and that was correct, Under present conditions If a farmer did not get the best out of his land someone else would. He.' could < see very big difficulties ahead of the scheme. . U T'f ( ‘* If you can get up a s’eheme to cure and prevent ma'mmitis, vaginitis and every other sort of 1 itis ’ it .'would put a 1 lot of money in the cookies’ pocket's, ’ ’ said Mr S. J. Bennett. The publication o’f the results of economic production in order that they might be of educational value was the main point of the scheme, added Mr Ablett, and it was not for the purpose of causing the cutting np of land' and the inflation of land values. It had been absolutely necess'ary to have a full discussion of the proposal and it was not desired to try and teach farmers how they should eondbet their own affairs, but to have their assistance and, eo-peration to further elucidate the .possibility of greater eeonmic production. If desirable the suggestion could be called; “the Economic Farm Production Scheme.” It would be for the experts who would guide the scheme to. state how much information was necessary and it would not be essential to publish the details of 'a."farmer’s financial affairs. It was evident from the discussion that there iwere some present who were equally as keen to see the scheme started as others were opposed to it. However, he believed they would! be ill-advised' to force the scheme through at that meeting in the face of the opposition coming from some of the farmers present." It; was known, however, that some farmers in South Taranaki were in favour of the scheme ,and he would like to see,everybody given an opportunity to express their opinions before turning downthe idea. " ..

Mr Cameron said that within ja day or tjwo he would l be sending -out a circular to every individual, member of the Farmers ’ Union in South Taranaki, and that meeting could, if it liked, Include a question'aire in the- eirculwrr for the purpose of testing the feeling of members. 1 ■ '• Mr Ablett then moved an amendment that the meeting be adjourned for a m'onth to allow further opinions to be obtained. This was seconded and adopted.* A sub-committee consisting of Messrs H. G. Dickie, Ablett, Syme, Palmer and Cameron was appointed to draft the circular. ' " ;

:Several of the farmers present- suggested information which might be included in the circular and these suggestions were noted. '“Tell them who is going to 7 run the Scheme,” said one farmer, “for some of them have got an idea there is going to be expense attached to it and someone is going to get a fat job out of it.”

* ‘ There will be no paid jobs for anyone,” said the chjairman. It was further explained that those'who attended the meeting could select their ofwn. representatives to run. the scheme. There was nothing “cut and dried” about it.