FARMING INTERESTS

Manawatu Times, Issue 6848, 1 March 1929, Page 5

FARMING INTERESTS

D.F.U EXECUTIVE MEETS. The executive of the Dairy Farmers’ Union met yesterday. Present: Messrs. N. Campbell (chairman), M. Richardson, J. D. Balmer, W. 11. Gimblett, F. J. Legg, J. H. Mason, L. Poupard, W. Faulding, J. Boyce, G. L. Wagstaff, and P. J. Small. Weighing of Stock Mr. Poupard asked permission to contradict an impression that ho said was general amongst farmers. When pigs were sent to abattoir for killing by private companys, farmers had the idea that a Government official checked the weights whereas he had been informed such was not the case. The chairman asked if the position applied to pigs alone. Mr. Poupard said he didn’t know about sheep or cattle but he supposed the same conditions existed. He suggested writing the Agriculture Department to find out if there was an official to check the weights. Mr. P. J. Small assured the meeting that there was no government official checking weights. Such was not their job. He thought that it wopld not pay a company to give incorrect weights for the sake of a small gain. Farmers should have as much faith in the companies as they had in their factory managers. Mr. Mason stated that all that was wanted was to clear away the impression amongst farmers that a government official was checking the weights.

Mr. Poupard moved that the department be written to asking if they had representatives at various freezing works and abattoirs checking weights of stock killed. The motion was carried.

Electricity Charges. The meeting discussed the proposal of the Power board to increase the price of potver for water heaters. The chairman stated that if the board carried out its proposals, it would seriously effect the dairy farmer who must have boiling -water. Mr. P. J. Small, who was also a member of the Power board, produced a chart showing the fluctuations in the peak load. There was a big strain on the load between 11 a.m. and noon whereas there wa3 power to spare in the afternoon.

Mr. Boycp stated that the elements in the water heaters in cow sheds were too small to allow of the current being cut off for too long a period. Mr. Mason suggested that the Power board should increase the size of the clement and put in clock switches. Mr. Small stated that the board bought on its peak load—the- big load during 31 a.m. and noon —and yet that load w’as only required for an hour. The result was that the board was paying about £2OOO per year more than it need do.

It was decided to ask the Power board to consider the dairy farmers and not make it too hard for them.