AGRICULTURAL NEEDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18763, 17 July 1924, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL NEEDS.

DECISIONS OF THE COUNCIL. VALUATION OF FARMS. f)3X TELEGBATH. —PEBSS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. Tho following romits were carried at the Council of Agriculture:— That the method of using unimproved values as the basis of taxation be abolished. That Government' valuers, when making valuation of farm lands, he compelled to give a report setting forth how their valuations are arrived at, such capital valuation of farm lands to be computed upon their producing basis; also that owners should ba notified when valuers will, visit their farms for the purpose of making a valuation. That owing to the shortage and high prices of timber the Government be urged to remove the import duty on all timber, and that the railway freight on imported timber be brought into line with New Zealand timber rates. That the conference draws the attention of the Minister for Railways to the unfair practice of charging passengers attending agricultural and pastoral by excursion fares up to 50 miles, and asks that excursion fares be made available to passengers travelling to agricultural and pastoral shows from any distance. That the Government be urged to reduce the freight charge on stock travelling to and from agricultural shows. That the Minister for Railways be requested to run trains on show aay at one-day excursion rates. That the Minister for Railways bo urged to grant stockmen in charge of show stock a reduced railway fare from sny centre similar to those granted to show judges. That tho Government be asked to carry out experiments with regard to the extermination of rabbits, especially in regard to the most suitable poisons. That the Government's attention be called to the serious spread of the blaekberrv pest on the Heretaunga plain. • That where back-country grasses have weakened and gone out and the ground is covered with fern and second growth some practical method of instruction be given to the occupiers that will assist to re-establish the pasture by the introduction of suitable grasses. That the Government be asked to pay "one-half the cost of erection and repairs to boundary fences _ whero Government lanrl bounds on soldier settlers' lands. That the protection of opossums be withdrawn.