MEAT, BEES, TAXES, AND STOCK REMEDIES

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 221, 21 September 1934, Page 3

MEAT, BEES, TAXES, AND STOCK REMEDIES

Discussions of D.F.IL

The monthly meeting of the Dairy Farmers’ Union was held in Palmerston North yesterday. Present: Messrs. N. Campbell (chairman), P. V. Koehler, G. L. Wagstaff, W. G. Short, A. Carroll, W. B. Paulding, W. H. Gimblett, B. A. Norman, J. Boyce, J. D. Balmer. Mr. Campbell, reporting on tho deputation to the Minister of Agriculture, said Hon. Macmillan had been approached on the subject of a producers’ representative on the Meat Board. Tho Government had two representatives, and it was thought the least that could be done was to have one of those two representatives a bona fide farmer. Opportunity was also taken to express view's on tho bobby calf restrictions and possibilities of a quota on pork in view of the estimate that pig products would show an increase of 30 per cent, this year. Tho Minister had replied that the only thing to do was to go on producing.

Mr J. Boyce: And trust to luck. Mr. Campbell said the Dairy Commission was also reporting on tho need for representation of tho producers on tho controlling body, especially in connection with the pig industry. The Minister was quite sympathetic with the request for a representative on tho Meat Board.

Mr. Gimblett, the other member of tho deputation, said they had been assured that Mr. Jones had been sent Homo solely to look after’tho interests of the farmers. Their mission to the Minister had been very successful indeed. Mr. Gimblett assured the meeting that tho quota demands had come direct from tho British Government and had not come from the Meat Board.

Mr Campbell: That is so. The British Government cabled that we were to spnd no extra beet, but it was the Meat Board which decided what beef products were to bo cut. Mr. Boyce expressed the opinion that Major Elliot's scheme at Home would not last long. Mr Balmer could not understand how the price of bacon and pork kept up under the restrictions. Mr Short said it was plain the British Government desired to make tho Old Country more self-supporting. From tho New Zealand Grasslands Association came an invitation to be present at tho opening of the annual conference in Palmerston North on October 2, when the Governor-General, Lord Blcdisloe, would be present. The New Zealand Farmers’ Union advised that the Dominion executive asked that all branches assist wives and families of local unemployed during the winter. Stock Remedies. The New Zealand Farmers’ Union also advised that it was a matter of great satisfaction to report that an Act had now been passed by Parliament making provision for controlling tho salo of stock remedies. The chairman said tho D.F.U. could tako credit for laving had a big hand in getting the Act through Parliament. Mr. Balmer quoted from Hansard statements which showed material costing sixpence had been sold as a stock remedy for 10s Gd. Another so-called mammitis cure contained chemicals valued at cightpcnce, but was sold for £2 ,17s Gd. Members expressed satisfaction at the passing of the Act under which provision is made for compulsory analysis and registration of any stock remedy sold and for penalties for selling any remedy unless the approval of a Registration Board has been obtained. Getting More Members, The secretary (Mr G. D. Fraser) was instructed to attend a conference of provincial secretaries to discuss a universal scheme of organisation to suit the needs of the times and in order to get the majority of farmers of the Dominion as financial members of tho Farmers’ Union. Tho conference takes place in Wellington on October 9. Mr P. G. Dawson, union organiser, was present at yesterday’s meeting to discuss the question of securing members, and a plan of campaign was agreed upon. Motor Taxation. The New Zealand Farmers’ Union advised of tho investigation into motor taxation that was to lie made, and asked for any suggestions. The chairman said a burning question was the taxing of farmers’ lorries. There was also the question of lorries being allowed the monopoly of the carrying business on allocated routes. Mr Boyco said ho could not understand tho limiting of the number of vehicles on a definite route. Why cannot anyone who desired a license for any route get it It seemed monopolies were being created, and tliero was a further hardship when mail contractors in the backblocks were prevented from carrying parcels. Mr Boyco said farmers wero being taxed to cart their produce off their farms. If they did it by dray thero was no tax, so why when it was dono by lorry 3 Tho secretary said ho thought the limiting of tho number of lorries on a particular route came from the county councils.

Bot.li points mentioned in tho discussion are to be brought to the notice of the investigating committee. It was decided to donato one guinea to the funds of the Manawatu-Oroua Division of the Boys arid Girls’ Agricultural Clubs. Sugar Tor Bees. In respect of the endeavour by the Dairy Farmers’ Union to get sugar for bee-fodder into New Zealand duty free, Mr. Short expressed regret that tho Government had not only done nothing but also showed no indication of doing anything. The matter was important and in tho Fcilding area alono 23 tons of sugar were required for bee food. One apiarist was paying £75 in duty alone in tho feeding of his bees. The duty surely could be remitted on a statutory declaration just as in the case of benzino. Something further should bo done. It was decided to approach tho Minister again and also bring tho matter before tho Farmers’ Union conference. “A Very Live Body.’’ Complaints were voiced at tho score-

tary of the Fcilding branch of the Farmers’ Union allegedly telling farmers that tho Dairy Farmers’ Union was a dead body and that farmers should join up with the Farmers’ Union instead. After discussing tho situation and expressing the opinion that tho Dairy Farmers’ Union had dono more for dairy-farmers than tho Farmers' Union, it was decided to write Mr, Penney asking for an explanation.