A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 9489, 11 August 1891, Page 6

A. & P. ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OP THE COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the Committee of this Association was held yesterday, at 2 p.m.5 present-Mr S. Garforth (President) in the chair; Messrs W. Henderson, J. J. Kinsey, W. Boag. E. G. Staveley, G. Goold H. Overton, H. D. Buchanan, P. Duncan, D. M’Millan, A. W. Money. H. P. Mnrray-Aynaley, and the Hon E. Gray/ Apologies for non-nttendance were received from Messrs G. King, J. Anderson, rjuar., J. J- Ferguson. E. H. Ehodes, P; Cunningham, and J. T. Ford. The President, before the minutes were confirmed, mentioned the matter of the fence between the trotting track and the paddock, saying that he had learned frOtn'-the caietaker that they could secure the necessary length; of track without removing the fence. As Mr King was absent at the Supreme Court; and it was stated that the matter was still in Mr G. M’lntyre’a hands, no action was taken. THS SCAB. The’letter from the Chief Inspector of Stock, ' relative to declaring the Colony free of scab ‘(which has been already published in these columns) having been read, the Hon E. Gray said that he thought it'would have been more satisfactory if the date had been stated, instead of the expression , “at the close of shearing.’* The matter then dropped. THE* OSTRICHES. Mr John T. Matson wrote, presenting the Association with a photograph c£ a group of his ostriches, which was accepted with thanks. - ■ PRIVATE PRIZES. •Mr Murphy read over the special prizes given since last meeting, which were approved, and votes of thanks accorded to the donors. the o.t.c. 'Captain Wright, of the C.Y.C., applied for’the use of the Show Grounds on the occasion of the annual encampment, from October :1 to October 14. The request was granted unanimously. THE CLOVER STRIPPER. Mr Murphy explained that the trial of clover strippers had not been held, as when the Committee, had secured a quantity: bf Vl cldver'‘the machines were not in readiness, and would not be till the end of the month.' Meanwhile the clover had been disposed of. It was thought desirable to leave the trialin abeyance this season. ' . EAR MARKING, BHEVP. The Sub-Committee appointed to consider the ear-marking of sheep reported—(l). That ear-marks should be registered for. one ear only,- the two sexes to be marked in opposite ears; (2) that it should he illegal to use an unregistered mark on a legal ear; (3) that a heavy penalty be imposed for altering the breeders’ ear-mark; (4) that a list of legal car-marks be’&greed upon, and included in a schedule as part of the Branding Act, power being reserved to register new earxnluks' by Ordet-in-Couneil; such earmarks should not include tattooing or the affixing of metal clips. The Committee also suggested that travelling sheep should baar some travelling mark, to bo applied before leaving the sellers’ premises. With the exception of the latter clause, which the meeting considered to require explanation, the report was approved, and it was thought • that, as a copy had been sent to the Minister, nothing further could sow be done. GROUND COMMITTEE. Mr Henderson said that the Ground Committee was replacing the trees that had failed last year. The Committee wished instruction as to metalling the road leading to the centre of the ground, with from twelve to fifteen cubic yards to the chain. It was resolved to empower the Ground Committee to have the metalling done at a cost not exceeding £SO. THE TAXATION PROPOSALS. Mr Deans asked if the Sub-Committee to which other matters had been referred, had taken into consideration the taxation proposals of the Government. Being replied to in the negative, he said he noticed that the Chamber of Commerce had expressed itself, and now the Farmers’ Cooperative Association had done the same. Be considered that the Association would be warranted, as the representative of the farming community in Canterbury, in raising its voice against the proposed taxation, which was calculated to injuriously affect the interests of the tillers of the soil. He moved the adoption of a resolution similar to that passed by the Farmers’ Co-ftperative Association and piibhshed that morning. •The President agreed with Mr Deans in his remarks, as they must all feel that the taxation proposals, if given effect to, would press very severely on the farmers, and he thoujght the Association was quite right iu going out of its lines to consider the question and to pass such resolutions as had already been indicated by other institutions. Mr P. Duncan would second Mr Deans’ motion, as, not being a farmer, he could speak, without bias. He considered the proposed taxes were against the best interests of the farming community, and would be found to be very oppressive. *The Hon E. Gray remarked that a great many similar associations and bodies of Representative farmers had agreed that the • taxation proposals of the present Government Were most unjust and unfair to the farmers, and that nothing short of disaster ■ could follow. Ha heartily supported Mr Deans’ proposals. Mr M'Millan thought that farmers would, as they always did, look quietly upon matters, and be tbe last persons to agitate in their own interests; therefore when their interests were in jeopardy it •was necessary that such an Association as ,theirs should not be lax in its duty. •-Mr Deans then read the following resolution; which he bad prepared:— That the "Committee of the A. and P. •Association of Canterbury respectfully submits to the Government that the taxation proposals as at present before the House are against the prosperity of the country, and that they are likely to cause widespread disaster and suffering to the working classes, and that thia Committee strongly protests against these proposals, wad that a letter be sent to kindred Societies asking them to express their opinion in similar terms.” Mr Boag looked upon the.progressive taxation as iniquitous aud disheartening iu the extreme, aud calculated to do harm to employers and employed alike. He considered that the Association was fully . justified in considering questions of such vital interest as this, as farmers themselves did not make a study of politics as they should perhaps do. . Mr Overton supported the motion with pleasure, as they had been suffering for a Jphg time from the gathering of the people into the towns, while everything had been done to try and persuade people to occupy the land and to become producers. Now this Government was doing all it could to -force the people back from the country into the towns by oppressing the farmers with increased taxation, and thus crippling .the best industries of the country. 'Mr Buchanan objected to the words working classes in the resolution. The Association was purely a farmers’ representative institution, and they should speak for those they represented. .Mr-Deans thereupon amended his resolution to read: “ Likely to cause widespread disaster to ail classes.” ‘ The President, before putting the motion, tobfc exception to Ministers dragging the names of respected settlers before the country as, he said, had been done lately. He thought the small party which was working m the interests of the farmers, by opposing the Government proposals, was deserving of their best thanks, and ho thought that, though that party was iu ■rich a terrible minority at present, by Which the Government was taking a mean advantage, a change for the better would soon take place. The motion was then carried unanimously. "It was resolved that a circular letter, -embodying the resolution, be sent to each nember of both Houses of Parliament and o all kindred Societies.

JUDGING. The Committee then proceeded to elect Committees for the purpose of selecting Judges. Mr Overton raised the question of single judging, which he considered the most satisfactory method. The Committee decided against the introduction of such a system this season. Accounts amounting to £132 3a 4d were passed for payment, and the meeting closevV