DAIRY FARMERS’ UNION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 246, 16 September 1932, Page 9

DAIRY FARMERS’ UNION.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. ■V meeting of the executive of the Dairy Farmers’ Union was held yesterday afternoon, the president, Mr N. Campbell, being in the chair. Others present were Messrs Poupard, Gimblett, Seifert, Boyce, Bond, Mason, Bickers, Dewar, Morcom, Noman Wagstaff, Fauldmg, Koehler, Short and Legg. An apology for absence was received from Mr Balmer. Mr Mason reported on the provisions of the Act regarding the supply of stock foods stating that the committee appointed to investigate the matter had not completed its work. Consideration of the matter was defeNotification was received from the New Zealand Farmers’ Union that the next meeting of the Dominion executive would bo held in Wellington in October. MARKETING OF PORK. The Dominion secretary of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union wrote thanking the executive for the remit in connection with the suggestion for applying the principle of the Paterson scheme to the export of pork, and stating that he had plaoed the matter before a special committee on pigs which is making investigations into the marketing of pork. . The Director-General of Agriculture notified that the points regarding the grading, etc., of pigs, set out in the executive’s letter, would be brought before a meeting of the Pig Industiy Advisory Committee. The president said the Australians had obtained a much better price for butterfat than New Zealand because of the Paterson scheme and the exchange rate. There was a scheme in now for the export of pork—a committee had been appointed to go into the matter of a system in connection with the export of pork similar to the Paterson scheme. The president added that most matters had been arranged; the only one to be decided was in connection with shrinkage. There would be a uniform allowance mado in this respect. FARMERS’ LORRIES. Mr Gimblett asked if a remit had been forwarded to the annual conference regarding the exemption of farmers’ lorries from the fees imposed by the Highways Board of £7 for a oneton lorry and £l7 for a two-ton lorry. The president said the matter had come before the conference and proposals for exemption had always been defeated. Mr Gimblett said the fee was an imposition. The farmer had to pay county rates which business people did not have to pay. He thougnt it was not right to have to pay for the use of lorries to cart the farmers’ own products. It was a penalty on the cheese industry . in some cases, as a farmer might nave to pay £l7 for his

lorry. The farming industry was entitled to exemption from this tax. Tho president said it had been pointed out that some farmers carted other things besides milk. The Manawatu County Council had turned down the proposal for exemption because of the difficulty of making a difference between a farmer carting only for himself and those also carting for their neighbours, Mr Boyce said. Dir Bond expressed the opinion that the farmers should pull together and get the concession. He thought another vigorous protest should be made to the Farmers’ Union.

The president said he had told the Dominion Conference that the tax was going to mean ruination to tho cheese industry. “A 3 an industry we are entitled to some privilege,” said Mr Gimblett. He added that 110 know of a district where people desired to supply to a cheese factory, but the tax was a handicap. “Is it possible to have an exemption just for the dairy farmer?” asked Mr Poupard. The president said the wool farmers were carting their wool by lorries. The man supplying the cheese factory was dealing only in his own produce, Mr Poupard said. Mr Gimblett said that the matter should be again brought before the Dominion Conference asking for an exemption for farmers’ lorries exclusively carting milk for cheese factories. The suggestion was made by Mr Bond that the Dairy Board bo communicated with, asking it to support the proposal. Mr Boyce said a farmer should be able to cart manure for his own use without paying the traffic fees. It was decided, on the motion of Messrs Gimblett an Bond, that a. remit be forwarded to the annual conference of the Farmers’ Union asking that lorries exclusively used by dairy farmers for carting milk to cheese factories be exempted from the tax and that the support of the Dairy Board be solicted. GENERAL. The president suggested that a meeting of the Ashhurst branch of the Union be called and that somo of the members of the executive attend. This was agreed to, and it was decided that Messrs Campbell, Bond and Koehler, and two representatives from Poliangina and the secretary attend the meeting. Mr Koehler moved that the Dominion secretary be asked to invito the cattlo breeders’ association to join the proposed Primary Producers’ Federation. This was seconded by Mr Poupard and carried. Accounts totalling £1 18s 9d were passed for payment.