FARMERS’ UNION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 121, 20 April 1940, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION

NEW YEAR BEGINS. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The annual meeting of the Feilding branch of the Farmers’ Union was held yesterday, Mr H. D. Richardson presiding. The meeting observed a moment’s silence as a' mark of respect for the late lit. Hon. M. J. Savage. The chairman made reference to the loss the country had sustained in the death of the late Premier. The financial statement showed the branch to be in credit to the amount of £43 10s. The report (already published! and the balance-sheet were adopted aftex a brief discussion. The election of the following officers was announced: President. Mr H. D. Richardson; vice-presidents, Messrs Leo Knight and H. A. Stewart: committee. Messrs J. H. Mason, V. B. Short, W. G. Booth. B. McLeod, R. H. Buchanan. J. Colcjuhoun, T. M. Henson, W. D. Marshall. J. B. Bradley, I). L. Younger, and C. G. Dormer (the last mentioned filling the only vacancy) ; delegates to provincial executive, Messrs A. Campbell. C. G. C. Dormer. W. G. Booth, B. McLeod, R. H. Buchanan, D. L. Younger, J. B. Bradley, W. D. Marshall, I. Colquhoun, J. J. Tbomassen : delegates to provincial conference, Messrs D. L. Younger and Leo Knight. Mr Richardson acknowledged the confidence shown in him bv his reelection as president. He had hoped that there would have been a change as he had held office for a, term of three years. He would, however, continue to do his best in the interests of the union. EROSION AND DRAINAGE. Mr Knight spoke of soil erosion in New Zealand, being of the opinion that the damage being done was greater than most peoole realised. Mr Ivnight said that at the present

time, when there is a call for more production, some consideration should bo given to the matter of draining land properly. It was suggested that the Government’s machinery' could be made available to groups of farmers to assist them to scientifically drain their-farms. The jost of drain digging was in many instances prohibitive to most farmers. It was decided that a remit be drafted for consideration by- the annual conference, to the effect that the Government be asked to provide mechanical appliances for digging drains. IMPROVING PRODUCTION. Mr AV. G. Booth inferred to the fact that farmers were not receiving their supplies of manure at the proper time. He said deliveries were over six weeks behind. Mr B. Short considered that the labour question was the stumbling block to increased production. He also felt that the costs facing the farmers made it difficult for them to increase production. Mr Short said further that when labour was available it was possible to improve production. _ Mr A. L. Brown said that in his experience some of the farm labour offering resulted in a farmer being faced with a liability rather than an asset, •and he felt "that the Government should see that the men were qualified for farm work. Regarding the manure supplies, Air Booth said that unless these came to hand soon it would be too late to put on the land this autumn. It was decided to forward a remit asking that the Government speed up the delivery of supplies of manure in view of the appeal for increased production. The Feilding Young Farmers’ Club wrote inviting members to a lecture on Denmark. —Accepted. BOBBY CALF TRADE. Correspondence regarding the bobby calf trade in the Feilding district was received from the Feilding branch of the S.P.C.A. in addition to mention being made of letters to newspapers concerning it. It was contended in tlio correspondence that a large percentage of calves from the Feilding district were slaughtered away from Feilding. This was denied by the secretary of the Feilding branch of the Farmers’ Union, who stated that fully 90 per cent, of the calves were dealt with locally-. The secretary (Mr Jewell) said lie had nothing to say about the letters in the newspapers. Regarding the letter from the S.P.C.A., he could only reiterate that the information he had supplied in reply to a previous letter from-the society had been correct. He did not propose to answer the second letter. He had informed the S.P.C.A. that 90 per cent, of the calves in the Feilding district had been killed at Feilding. That, he said, was correct. Such places as Halcombe. Apiti, Rangiwahia. etc., cited in the S.P.C.A.’s most recent letter were not in the Feilding pool. Various pools had been formed and boundaries defined. Further discussion was taken in committee and later, in open meeting, on file motion of Mr Dormer, it was decided to refer 1 lie S.P.C.A. to the respective pool committees. The secretary was congratulated byMr Booth on his explanation.