FARMERS' INTERESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16072, 11 November 1915, Page 9

FARMERS' INTERESTS.

SCARCITY OF LIME. APPEAL FOR STATE AID. A nvmbee. of matters of interest to farmers were dealt with at the monthly meeting of th» executive of the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union yesterday. There were present: Mr. A Boss (chairman) and Messrs. J. E. Makgill, R. D. Duxfield, J. S. Montgomery, J. C. Allen, Major Lusk and the secretary, Mr. A Schmiit. Major Bennett, having been appointed a mounted officer in the tenth reinforcement draft, was formally congratulated by the meeting and granted leave of absence until the end of his- term of office.. In view of tha impossibility of obtaining satisfactory supplies of agricultural lime from Te Kuiti, and the heavy cost of railing it from Mauriceville, it was decided to ask the Government to extend to the Auckland farming community the benefit of the 100 miles free railage on lime brought by East Coast steamers to the Auckland whirves. 11 was reported that, the drainage of the Rangitaiki Swamp had so lowered the water in the Matata Harbour that boats carrying farmers' goods could not [ float in it. It was decided to request the Government to hasten the construction of the particular section of the East Coast line affecting the Matata community, ; and give the farmers there the benefit of railway communication. It was resolved that the Minister for Internal Affairs be asked to inquire into the matter of the representation of ridings on county councils, and consider the advisability of amending the Counties Act, so as to compel councils to fix the representation on a proportional basis. A letter was received from the Poverty Bay Farmers' Union asking support of its proposals that the Government release mutton and lamb from the operation of the system under which meat is commandeered : that the congestion of shipping in London be relieved by unloading meat ship" at other ports; and that objection be taken to the diversion of New Zealand meat ships to the Argentine. . The executive thought it would be unwise to interfere with the system pf eemmaadeeWßg meat. It supported the other two Poverty Bay proposals.