AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 22

AGRICULTURAL ITEMS.

.The Otorohanga County Council is about to frame a by-law, providing that persons intending to engage in any " extraordinary traffic" on any of the county roads, shall, • before • engaging in such traffic, deposit with the county treasurer a sum of money" equal' to' the estimated cost of repairing the damage likely to be occasioned by' such traffic. Such a by-law will not effect materials being transported by, or on behalf of a settler, for his own private use, but will only operate against traders.

Sheep-worrying still seems to be prevalent in the Rangilikei, despite the efforts .of. . stock owners to prevent the depredations of dogs. The matter was raised at the last meeting of the Rangitikei County Council, when one member complained that he had had eighteen sheep and lambs damaged by dog worrying. He urged that a more stringent system of dog registration bo enforced and farmers generally would welcome any move which would lend itself to the checking -of a- nuisance which has serious possibilities to both the owner of the sheep and the dog if it happens to be traced.

Seeking uniformity in the methods followed in the buying and weighing of pigs, a conference of Dairy Farmers' Union representatives and those of the bacon companies operating -in . the Manawatu was held at Palmerston North last week. The matter had been discussed by the farmers on previous occasions and the meeting •was the culmination' "of their efforts to have the business placed on what was considered a more satisfactory basis. Hook weighing was advocated as a means of overcoming the weighing difficulty, and a resolution was passed urging the adoption of that system. It was considered that this would improve the pig marketing industry and ho the first step in the direction of a grading system.

A meeting of the Te Puke branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held on Saturday, Mr. J. A. McGlie, presiding over a good attendance. Mr. Gill, referred to tho raising of a loan of £2OOO, stating that the loan was for the upper portion of the Te Matai Road, and would mean the cartage of metal about six miles, before the work could be started. Tho use of metal was too expensive and lie was quite sure Rliyolite and pumice would give ,i wearing surface, as good as metal. Mr. Gil] moved that the Minister of Public Works be asked to reconsider his decision not to subsidise Rhvolite and pumice surfacing on thp Rnucnirn and Te Matai Roads.

There was a largo attendance at the last executive meeting of the Matamata A. and P. Association. It was decided to include a trotting race on the programme. a prize of £2O to lie offered. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Wilson, Gould, I'ayse, Young, Thirlwall, and the secretary, was set up to revise the schedule. "The following nominations for judges were decided upon for submission to the Auckland council: —Draught horses, Mr. F. Richmond and Mr. W. Laird, Te Poi : light horses Messrs. R. A. Bent (Putnruru) and C. Morgan (Matamata); Friesians, Messrs. E. C. Banks (Mata) • mata) and 8. S. Thirlwall (Matamata); Jerseys, Messrs. J. F. Vosper (Matamala) and W. Mears (Walton).