Farmers’ Conference

Northland Age, Volume 28, Issue 53, 22 June 1928, Page 4

Farmers’ Conference

Sub-Piovmcial and Provincial Report to Kaitaia Reporting to the Kaitaia Branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union on Monday evening respecting the Bay of Islands SubProvincial conference, Mr George Hodgson said the enthusiasm prevailing betokened a great measure of progress for the Union. This branch had several remits before the conference and among the number was one that the Government take over the cattle dips, He said that the farmers, by signing a “joint and several’' at the bank, had paid for these dips, but when this had been done the regulations enforcing dipping had been lifted and the farmers who had pledged themselves for the cost of the dips were left with the dips on their hands. This meant that the guarantors had to pay the interest on The money involved. The Government paid for the destruction of deer and kea, where these were a menace to the farmers but the Goverement declined to step in and help the farmers to eradicate the cattle tick so far as the maintenance of dips was concerned. The remit before conference, calling upon the Government to take over all cattle dips was carried. Mr Hodgson stated also that a remit in favour of the Union taking direct political action was carried. With regard to the matter of swamp drainage this branch had sent on a remit to the conference, asking the Government to legislate so as to provide for farmers being able to appeal against the classification of their land for rating purposes, and this was carried. Mr Hodgson stated that the present system of rating on the County valuation was wrong in principle and should not be tolerated as it was unfair.