ON THE LAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18578, 10 December 1923, Page 14

ON THE LAND.

CATTLE TICK PROBLEM.

FORMATION OF BOAHDS. tfEEB FOR INFORMATION. |TE PUKE SUGGESTION. The formation Trtte tick board to deal with the tick question was .urged by « deputation at Te Puko to the llon. W. Nosworthy, Minister for Agriculture and Acting-Minister for Lands. Mr S H. McDougall said they were very interested in the tick question, and S maintained that a tick board would be 'an excellent thing. There were four dips in the district within a d.stanc , o 15 miles, and three were absolute y use less. That made a very heavy tax on the community, and if there were a board, there would be only one, dip. Mr. F. F. Hocklv. M.F., said that Parliament had enacted legislation for the setting-up of rabbit boards, and that policy was a good one. They thought the same* principle might, be employed in regard to tick. He could see no insuperable objection, and commendeo the suggestion very strongly. Another speaker said they understood that the tick was similar to that in South Africa, where it. had been exterminated. He suggested that an officer should go to South Africa for investigation purposes. There was no doubt the tick would spread all over the North Island, and the latest information was what was needed. The Minister said the Government had already done a good deal, and to a great extent had been t fairly successful. If a board were established it would have to force individuals to do the reasonable thing. As far as he knew, the tick had not been exterminated in South Africa. He was willing to discuss the possibility oi; working the thing by boards, but he was not one of those who become uneasy over a little, thing. There had been other scares in the country, and he did not think the tick was going to spread any further south than it was at present. Everv precaution, .however, was being taken and would be taken, in the future.

BREEDING DAIRY HERDS

HIGHER STANDARD DESIRED. PLAN FOR IMPROVEMENT. ESTABLISHMENT OF BOARD. The need for improvement in-the quality of dairy herds was mentioned by the Mayor of Whakatane, , Mr. D. C. Chalmers, in a deputation to the Hon. W. Noiiworthy. Minister for Agriculture and Acting Minister for Lands, and the Hon. R. F. Bollard, Minister for Internal Affairs. Mr. Chalmers said the herds were very, very much below a proper standard, fiedetailed a scheme for improvement, urging the establishment of a board of five members, representing the Government and the farmers. The board could be entrusted -with a sum of money, say £12,000, for purchase of 10 efficient herds. The board would have to be given very drastic powers, and all details had been ■worked out carefully. .. At present they could not make the pastures payable because of inefficient dairy herds. Mr. Nosworthy said" the matter required a good deal of thought. He recognised that dairy stocks should be improved. The scheme, however, competed against private individuals, and he did not know -whether it was advisable for the Government to act in too many directions. He ; knew there were a lot of cattle about the country which ought to have their 1 throats cut or be boiled down. Judicious culling was wanted. What had been said would be food for further consideration.

VALUE OF LUCERNE.

CROPS AT TAURANGA. f»T TELEGRAPH. —OWN* COKEESPOyDtNT.T _i TA'JRANGA. Saturday. A specimen of broad-leafed Hunter )River lucerne, grown on Mr. A. Alder's farm at Ahauui, demonstrates the suitability of this district for the production of this fodder.' The seed was sown on October 30, with a dressing of 3cwt. of superphosphate to one acre and without any 'tioculation. Thirty-five . days after sowing the lucerne stalks reached a length of 22 inches with a splendid growth of leaf and with tap roots up to bine inches long. At one period the lucerne grew 'at the rate of an inch and a half a day. Another dairy farmer close to the borough is carrying and wintering a beast to ; the acre by the aid of lucerne, and several other farmers bear testimony to the increased stock-carrying capacity of their holding''by: using this fodder. vln one instance last season a local grower took six cuts off one p iddock. With an extension of the lueerae crops an increase in the dairying output- is assured, as it i:> now acknowledged that it thrives exceptionally well in this area.

PROTECTION FOR WOOL.

EXPORT DUTIES PROPOSED. For the first time in its history of 70 years »the Council of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce on September 12 passed a resolution advocating protection. his was the adoption by 11 votes to nine ■ of a motion submitted by Mr. E. H. Gates, that it be a recommendation to the Imperial Economic Conference that it should consider the advisability, where the Empire held a monopoly, of placing an export tax on such raw materials as were exported to countries outside the Empire. The view was expressed by speakers who supported the motion that the Dominions if asked to-do something jmore for Bradford than the preference already extended to Great Britain would* agree to go to its aid.. As matters stood it appeared as if Bradford was likely to lose its merino w>ol trade. The chief arguments used by those opposed to the adoption of the resolution ere that it would not be fair to the Australian pastoralist' to ask him to make the sacrifice proposed, and that reprisals by other countries in various directions "would be invited .It was especially feared 7 ' that the United States would be induced to place an export duty on cotton, which •would be disastrous to English manufacturers. A motion was also agreed to by the council by nine votes to six, that application be made to the Board of Trade for the appointment of a commissioner under the Safeguarding of Industries Act to inquire into the cause of unemployment in the Bradford woollen and worsted trades. Daring the discussion it was stated that the advantages enjoyed by foreign makers of textile materials owing to depreciated exchanges was Is a yard. The difference in prices was so great that firms had bought £40,000 worth of Roulaix cloth against £300 of Bradford.