FARMERS’ UNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 238, 5 September 1928, Page 3

FARMERS’ UNION

MANAWATU EXECUTIVE. MEETING AT LEVIN. The monthly meeting of tho Manawatu provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union was held on Saturday at Levin. The president (Mr 0. P. Lynch) was in the chair. FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. The Dominion secretary forwarded a correction of the statement erroneously attributed by a Press report to a member of the Manawntu A. and P. Association that some cattle "quarantined on Somes Island were suffering foot-and-mouth disease. Air Gower, handed in a Press report of a- meeting of pig-breeders at Palmerston, at which the'danger of the introduction of foot-and-mou'th disease was discussed. The chairman said that, this being election year, one could not say what pressure might be brought to bear by outside influences on would-be members of Parliament, who in their turn might influence Alinisters. In a communication to the council of tho New Zealand Pig Producers’ Association, the hope was expressed by the National Pig Breeders’ Association in England that the time was not far distant when the Dominion Government would agree to remove the embargo on the importation of stock from tire Old Country. The two associations, between them, might overbear tho -Minister. At a meeting of the Alartou A. and J’. Association held later, it was contended that every, effort should be made to keep the Dominion’s stock clean, and the prohibition of impoitation was considered the greatest safeguard. The matter was also brought up at a meeting of the Sheep-owners’ Federation, and the need for extreme vigilance was urged by several speakers. Instances were given of stock having had to he slaughtered after shipment although a clean veterinary certificate had been given. A motion was carried at that meeting urging that the importation of all stock, including caude, sheep, horses, pigs and Angora rabbits, also of bulls and plants, from all infected countries be prohibited, lu the face of this, the local executive of tho Farmers’ Union ought to do something also. Tho Dominion Conference had passed a strong resolution on the subject , but the trouble with such representations was that, six months afterwards, the Minister torgot all about them. The pig industry was going to be an enormous business in this country; in ten years vivo uld heat the dairy industry, as it had done in Denmark. In New Zealand at present there was an abundance of good herds of well-bred pigs, and every farmer could replenish his herd from them. Australia, the United States and Canada were clean countries to draw upon. Air Bond knew what a scourge the foot-and-mouth disease had been in tho Old Country when Ire was there. Rigid regulations were then brought in, which entailed the killing of all stock on infected farms. If such a disease ohtained a footing in New Zealand, tho farmers would not be able to rope with it, but would all go under. The best course for the executive was to pass a resolution supporting that passed by the sliev?p-b’’coders. Air Fl.' McLcavey remarked that no euro had been found lor tiro disease, because its cause was unknown. Air J. A. AlcLeavey: . Iret it go forth from our own union, as our opinion, that the department should be extremely careful not to relax the ‘regulations in any. way. Mr Gower mentioned that photographs had been published in the Press showing tho measure taken recently in England, where stock on certain farms were slaughtered, piled in a heap‘and burnt. Air Gower stated that the Rabbit Board in his district had written to Air Linidater, ALP., protesting emphatically against rabbits being imported into New Zealand to breed for fur. This country had spent millions and lost millions through rabbits, and it was wrong to allow the importation of rabbits of any kind. It had been said that the fancy rabbits would not live in the open, but that referred to England. In this country it might be found that they would not only live in the open but would cross with the other babbits and perhaps make them even more healthy and prolific.

A motion on the same lines as the resolution of the Shcepowners’ Federation was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. VALUATION OF FARAIS.

Tho Dominion secretary wrote stating that tho last conference the following remit was referred to the incoming execu'Jvo : —“That the Government he asked to appoint a board •of at least three men to value all farm lands oocupiod and farmed for 20 years or more; such value to be permanent anti based on ilie production of the unimproied value.” This remit had originated from Air Jensen; and the secretaiy reported that he had replied to the Dominion secretary stating that it had already been before this executive and that as a result it was placed on tho Dominion Conference agenda paper. The chairman said it lay with the mover to bring the matter before the Dominion executive, whose business it would be to discuss it.

DIFFFR ENT lAL RAILWAY

FBEIGHTS

Tho question, which Iras been discussed at previous meetings, of the impost placed on certain imported goods through . differential _ railway freights was revived by. Air Kent, who remarked that the railways were not paying, having shown a deficiency of a quarter of a million last year. He went on to say that if a tariff was to be imposed on imported goods, it should be done through tire customs only, without making an additional charge through the railways. Air H. AlcLeavey: Wo have been fighting it for a long time. Air Kent: What is the good unless wo bring pressure to bear on it? The chairman: Bring on your Country Party. Air Bowling: We want to encourage local industry, and not bring in stuff from outside.

Air Kent: Wo ought to bring pressure to bear on it.

Air H. AlcLeavey: They are using tho railways for tariff protective purposes. Air Kent: Isn’t the proper place for protection through the Customs ? Mr AlcLeavey: Certainly. Air Bond: I think it will not be long before we get redress on the carrying of Australian hardwood; we have got to have it here. The freight on hardwood is an imposition. —Chronicle.