FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 239, 22 September 1922, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION.

HAWKE’S BAY EXECUTIVE. A meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Executive of the N.Z. Farmers’ Union was held in Hastings yesterday afternoon. Mr. J. H. J oil (president) occupying the chair. CONDOLENCE. Before commencing the business, a motion of condolence, proposed by the president, with the widow and family of the late Mr. T. Clark, was carried unanimously. A deputation from the Hastings Chamber of Commerce waited on the meeting for the purpose of soliciting their financial aid in ciie advertising of the town and district of Hastings in the Christmas number of the “Auckland Weekly News.” Messrs G. M. Spenc© and Gordon Roach spoke in support of their application. Mr. F. Perrin, secretary, was also present. —The application was deferred until there was a larger meeting. CORRESPONDENCE. Southland provincial district forwarded copy of a petition to Parliament which was being largely signed in that district by farmers, with a view to having the farmers’ interests exempted from the Arbitration Court’s Act. They requested signatures. —Petition to "be supported, the t>ecretary to secure signatures. Blackburne, Smith and Co., Christchurch-, in a circular regarding the desirableness of legislation in the session of 1922 for the furtKer control of the rale of poisons, pointed out that cases of human poisoning through agricultural, pastoral and horticultural remedies did not arise from the mode of sale, but from misuse or carelessness after sale No legislation could prevent this. —Received. Dominion secretary forwarded the following resolutions passed by the Dominion conference for communication to the provincial executive: — (1) The conference is not m favour of the union entering party politics at the present time. (2) After investigating the position as regards binder twine, the conference strongly recommends the provincial executives to take such co-opera-tive action as may be necessary (3) The time has arrived when a substantial reduction should be made in the price of horse shoeing and other blacksmith’s work, which is still charged for at war rates, about double pre-war cost. The prime cost of materials has fallen and in the interests of farmers, carriers and the public, this conference requests the Dominion executive to investigate the matter and to see what arrangements can be made to lower cost on a fair and equitable basis. (Referred for local action;. (4) Conferences of branch secretaries should be held annually, and such conferences should be allowed to send a delegate to the Dominion conference. (5) That provincial executives and others to whom it may apply be recommended to give more publicity to farmers’ union matters (6) That the provincial executives be recommended to set nn sub-com-mittees of their own members to deal with the different branches of production, such as dairying, meat, wool and grain..—Resolutions approved GENERAL. On the motion of Messrs Elliott and the chairman, it was decided that the attention of Mr. Hesse, of the Agricultural Department, be directed to a report of a lecture on the “Grassing of Lands.” delivered by him. and published in the “Auckland Weekly News,” of September 14th. and that he lie asked if his instructions were meant only for a particular locality, or if they were meant for general application. NAURU PHOSPHATES. CHEAPER FERTILISERS NEEDED. The matter of the cost of manure came up for discussion in the general business. Mr. Ahsolom said that, as a result of enquiries made by the secretary, he had been informed that the union would not he allowed to sell manures under the merchants’. charges—that meant a ring. He pointed out that a shipping company were prepared to bring cargo straight to New Zealand, if they were guaranteed 600 tons cargo. Then why not import their supplies direct, the cargo need not necessarily to all manure? He under stood that the Government had the control of the Nauru manures and h« wanted to know if the prices of the«e manures were to accord ..with those of the ring. It was a very serious thing that they could not get manures at a reasonable price. Returned soldiers had told him that they could not afford to use the manures at the price asked. The secretary said that he had nhade enquiries and in most cases the prices were fixed by the manufacturers and suppliers. Tn some cases a commission was allowed, ranging from small to fair. Tie had asked what commission would be allowed on an order for 100 tons, but was told there would he no difference. He had written to the Government for prices of Nauru manures and was referred to the merchants. The chairman considered that they should either get their own crushing plant, or els© they should pool their orders and import direct. He read a circular saying that if farmers would use only the fertilisers mad© from Nauru and Ocean Islands phosphates they would find them the best and it would help to reduce the price. If they did not use the quota allowed them, then they would lose it. The chairman continued saying that Nauru phosphate was double the price of Japanese manure, but it was three times better. Mr. N. Beamish said that the Government had willingly allowed proprietary companies to get control of the phosphates on the plea that the Government could not erect plants to convenience the various districts. Mr Nosworthy had the power to control the companies m the interests of the department but he was not administering the island in the interests of the farmers. The rock phosphate could be brought to Hastings at £3 12s 6d a ton, hut it was sold at £6 15s, and the difference of, £3 2s Gd was charged for putting it through the grinder. Why did not Mr. Nosworthy offer inducement to people to erect works in the different districts to grind the phosphates? Regarding the lime area existing on the Maraekakaho station, he had interviewed Mr. R. D. D. McLean and Mr. Gascofne (the manager) on the subject of testing it ami Mr. McLean offered no objection to its being sampled. It was sent to Wellington and it was found to contain 92 per cent of manurial properties. The position now was that if the area where the deposit is is pointed out. Mr. McLean would do what he could to assist the farmers. The farmers should get the rock from Nauru Island at the cheapest rate, and make arrangements to have_ it crushed at the lowest rate per ton. He thought that a local firm would be prepared to grind it at a price that would break up the ring. He asked the meeting’s authority to make further enquiries. Mfl. George Priest said that the directors of the Whakatu freezing works were alive to the fact that a good deal of the profits was taken bv those who ground the rock, aid it wa“ certain that a plant would be erected at the Whakatu works within a year plied to the fanners at the lowest possible price. He suggested that a deputation wait on the directorsOn the motion of Messrs Priest and Ahsolom it was decided that Messrs Ahsolom. Beamish and Pnest wait on the directors and th© H.B. Farmers Meat Co. and place the position before them.