FARMERS’ UNION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8482, 17 July 1913, Page 9

FARMERS’ UNION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS. The Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was continued yesterday, Mr J. G. Wilson (Bulls) presiding. LIGHT RAILWAYS. Mr A. A. Ross (Auckland) moved; “ That this conference urge tho Government to adopt a progressive policy for tho development of a system of light railways, and in cases where the Government, cannot undertake their construction, to afford facilities for tho work being undertaken by private enterprise on the lines of the Belgian system.” The mover said this was one of the most important matters that had come before tho -conference. The cost of railway construction had gone up enormously, and a system of light railways •seemed to be tho remedy. The following supplementary motion was incorporated by Mr Ross in his motion: •“That in view of the urgent necessity for internal communication throughout the ■ Dominion by means lof light railways as feeders to the trunk 'line, the Government be urged to give facilities to private enterprise to employ its capital in this'direction.” Ho 'would not, he said, be one to advocate that private enterprise should control all lines, but he thought private enterprise could control branch lines better than could the Government. Light lines permitted of the fixing of very low fares, and in this connection no quoted the small charges made in Belgium and America. Mr T. Talbot (Hawke’s Bay) seconded the motion. Where the Government could not construct Imes, facilities and encouragement should be given to private enterprise to do so. Mr J. McQueen (Southland) did not think a private company should be ■ permitted to undertake branch lines. Settlers in his district had undertaken the responsibility of building a branch line, but through a blunder the cost of construction was about twice what it should have been. Notwithstanding that tho line was now stated to be one of the best paying' lines in the Dominion. The trouble was that settlers were not prepared to back such an been taken over.

Mr H. J. Richards (Levin) said the Government -would not permit county councils or anybody else to undertake these works. They would not do it themselves, and they would not allow private individuals to take it over. If such a line were built it could be taken over at a later stage by the Government, just as the Manawatu line had been take nover.

Mr E. Maxwell (Taranaki), while agreeing with the motion, considered reference should be made to the construction of branch lines and to local bodies as authorities to undertake such work. Tho idea was that a new class of local body should be formed. It should be-possible with the consent of the Governor-in-Council to form a local railway district and the Railway Board should have the power to raise money. The Government, of course, would have the say as to the class of line and its location. 'The Government, he thought, was favourable to the scheme. It should not be limited to private enterprise, for in some places private enterprise was objected to. However, if the Government and tho local authority would not construct the line it would be better for private enterprise to do it than that they should not have the line at all. •

Mr H. A. Nevins (Tenni) said he would like to see the motion amended to delete the reference to private enterprise and to insert, in Ben of . that, local bodies.

Mr G. Gardner (South Canterbury) said he did not want to throw cold water on this thing, but the details would take a lot of arranging. Ho thought it would be better left for another twelve months. Construction of such lines by private enterprise or local bodies would involve borrowing, and the debt of tho country was great enough already.

Tho chairman said a line under the control of the settlers would be of much more benefit than would bo a lino under the control of the Government. Great developments were taking place in tho matter of traffic, and motor traffic promised to occupy an important place. But there were some districts where the roads were too bad to admit of tho running of motor trams and where light lines would have to be constructed. If the country was going to pull through, it would be necessary for them to produce as much .as they possibly could, and if they were going to produce the stuff they must get it to market—and by the cheapest method. The question was what was the cheapest method? They would have to go into all systems, and in this connection the advantages of the mono-rail might be considered.

Major Lusk (To Kniti) said the less they had to do with the Government tho better. It was better to have a line constructed by private enterprise in conjunction with a local body than to wait for the Government to do it. The motion, amended to provide for the construction of the branch lines as well as light lines and mentioning local bodies as constructing authorities, was carried. SOUTHERN MAIN TRUNK. Mr R. E. Goulter- (Marlborough) moved: —“That from a national point of view as well as from its colonial im portance, this conference enters a strong protest against such an important line as the South Island Slain Trunk lino being regarded as secondary to any lino at present under construction. We also recognise that the delay in completing the line is a serious drawback to the sheep-farmers ol Marlborough, who look upon Canterbury as the main outlet for their surplus stock.” The mover said they had gone in vain to the politicians for assistance, and they now sought the ns .sistanca of the farmers to strengthen their hands. The Government had stopped work at both ends of the line, ‘and everything was now at a standstill. Mr G. Anderson (Peloms . Sounds) seconded the motion. Unless the farmers in the district took a strong stand the matter might be- put off again as it had been in the past. Most of the sheep from that district Went to Canterbury and fhe sea trip did not improve their appearance, a fact which influenced the buyer. The line would give facilities to tho small man to get his stock to market. Mr W. J. Birch moved that the m<> tion be amended to read:-—“That tho main trunk lines of the Dominion bo

linked up as soon as possible by tho State.” Owing to the general importance of the motion being questioned, tin- 1 mover consented, after some discussion, to withdraw it. Tho amendment proposed by Mr Birch was then carried. UNFENCED RAILWAYS Mr J. Bell (Westland) moved; ‘‘That tho Government bo asked to fence all railways in the Dominion. ’’ Tho mover instanced tho danger following to passengers and property through cattle straying on to the line. The resolution was carried. ARTERIAL ROADS. Major Lusk (Auckland) moved; “That this conference is of opinion that the only satisfactory solution of tho problem of construction and maintenance of the main arterial roads is for the Government to undertake the work, and suggests that part of the Crown land revenue should be made available for this purpose.” The mover said the difficulty in tho north had been the large tracts of land held by natives, and the Government did not apparently consider it their duty to make roads through purely native land. Districts were thus shut off from one another through the absence of arterial roads. When new country was opened up the natives did not pay rates and the settlers were unable to pay a high rate. The local bodies, when they came into being, found that they could not possibly overtake the work necessary. Arterial roads from north to south and from cast to west were very necessary. The north was very difficult country to road, and the want of roads was the most burning question of the day. They had been to the Government on the matter again and again, but though the Government had sympathised with them and had given them some assistance, it had not acknowledged the ie p -niihil'ties of the Government to construct the roads.

Mr T. Moss (Wellington) said it was impossible for the local bodies to mnintain the arterial roads in the state they should be' maintained, and the on.y solution of the d.fiiculty was for the Government to take the roads over.

xu.r H. J. Richards (Levin) was opposed to the idea of the Government taking over the roads. As a member of a county council he did not want the Government coming in and interfering with their work. The councils wanted more power, not less. Government control wouki be far more costly. The less Government they had in the matter of roads the better. ■ Mr J. Bell (Westland) supported the motion. Mr J. McQueen (Invercargill) said if they' were relieved of rates by the Government construpting the roads thev would get their hands into their pockets in some other way. There was no doubt that the Government was far more extravagant than the county. Mr E. Maxwell (Taranaki) moved as an amendment, "That this conference is of opinion that where main roads lead through large areas of native and Crown land from which the local authority is deriving little revenue that the Government should construct the same and'hand over to the local authority free of cost, and that a larger subsidy 'be paid for maintenance of the same."

Major Lusk withdrew his motion in favour of the amendment, which was carried.;

AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION. Mr E. Newman, M.P. for Rangitikei, attended the conference and gave an interesting resume of his re"cent visit to the Hawkesbury Agricultural College in New South Wales. Mr Newman said the necessity for the special education of farmers was now recognised in nearly every part of the world. At present in New Zealand we were working on virgin country, hut that would not always obtain. Also, before long the secondrate country would have to be worked. More intensive farming would have to be gone in for. It was the duty of the country to educate the farmers of the future so that they would be able to beet use their opportunities. One of the greatest menaces that the farming population had to face was the trend of population towards the cities. It must be admitted that the present Government were alive to the farming interests, and had arranged for the appointment of a Board of Agriculture. He hoped the board would be started with some assured finance, and in that connection would suggest that some portion of the large national reserves should be vested in them. He described his visit to the Hawkesbury College, and outlined its objects. The college was situated about forty miles from Sydney on soil inferior and mixed. The college had in addition a smaller farm on the banks of Hawkesbury river, where irrigation was carried on. Tests with cereals, roots, etc., wore thoroughly carried out. Inc orchard was particularly interesting, by reason of the fact that there was a record of the commercial worth oi each tree. Hence students and farmers could ascertain at once what was the most valuable tree to plant on their farm. The dairy herd was not of a very high class, but served the purpose of instruction. Boys were admitted at sixteen years of ago. For three days of the week the students did farm labourers’ work, and for the other three days they did students’ work. That was a unique feature of. Hawkesbury College that ho thoroughly approved of. Rural camps were also held at the school. The purpose of this was to check the tendency of the city boys to remain in the city. Another important institution was the summer school for teachers. This was restricted to one hundred teachers, and preference was given to those living in the country. What he had seen on his tour had led him to hope that any such stops taken in New Zealand would be productive of good results. It was possible to spend a great deal of money without doing any good. The Now South Wales undertaking had proved very satisfactory, as 75 per cent, of the students who went through the college adopted farming in some form as a means of livelihood. Would it pay? was the practical test put to everything connected with the college. In New Zealand Mr Newman thought the first stops towards - an agricultural life should be in the schools in the teaching of nature study. There was splendid material in New Zealand for making a nation of small farmers. Agricultural education had a splendid future. Mr Newman was accorded a vote of thanks. CO-OPERATIVE LABOUR. Two motions on the matter of cooperative labour, ouc from -Auckland and' one .from ,Marlborough, .wore brought forward as follows:—Auckland : “That this conference strongly protests against the continuance of the present system of building public works by co-operative labour, and considers that the works would cost much less

under the contract system.” Marlborough: “That the union is opposed to tho resuscitation of the co-operative public works, but prefers a system of small contracts.” Tho motims were bracketed and moved by Mr T. Moss (Wellington). Tho mover pointed out that no other bodv than the Government had ever employed co-operativo labour. The object seemed to he to provide work rather than to construct railways.

Mr W. J. Birch (Marton) seconded tho motion. He did not think, however, that any reference should be made to tho sine of the contracts. Air J. Beil (Westport) said he had seen some of tho finest workmen who had ever come to this country compelled to slow down under the co-operativ» system. If a man earned more than was allowed to him his rate per yard would ho reduced. If he earned less it would be made up to him. It was the most iniquitous system that had ever been introduced bv any Government. Mr R. E. Goulter (Marlborough) said that under tho co-operative system the cost of the public works was far too great. “It is a public scandal and has been a public scandal for many years,” said Mr J. McQueen (Southland). He gave an instance of two lengths of railway, one built bv co-ooerat : ve labour and one bv contract. The cost of tho first was £6OOO and of tho latter £3OOO. If these workers wanted charitalfio aid give it to them, but they should not pretend that they were making roads. The motions were amended to delete all the words after co-operative labour in (ho first motion and the substitution of the words “and considers that contracts should replace co-operative labour.” . . In this form the motion was carried. WHITE PINE. Mr E. Maxwell (Taranaki) moved “That the conference consider the advisability of imposing an export duty on white pine with a view to its consol - vation for our own use, as it is the only native timber that is recognised as suitable for butter boxes.” The most suitable timber they could plant for butter box purposes, he said, would take twenty-five years to come to maturity, and if white pine was exported during all that period he wan sure there was not enough to last the time. Major Lusk said that it was quite certain that at the present rate of consumption white pine would not last for twenty : fivo years. . . Mr D. Cuddie (Dairy Commissioner) sac he did not want to say anything either for or against the motion. From the questions put to him and others before the Forestry Commission they appeared to have gone into the matter very thoroughly. They had recommended that no export duty he put upon while pine. One thing was certain—wo had no timber in New Zealand that was better than white pine, if we had anything as good. As to the quantity he was not prepared to speak, but b a understood the Commission had the figures. It was safe to say there was a large quantity of white pine available for very many years to come. Some little time ago poplar wood was tried. It was made into butter boxes andrates. The trial turned out very well indeed. The butter in these boxes kept very well. There was. perhaps. a very slight taint on the outside, which could he got over by paraffining the boxes. The cost of this would be about one penny per box. Some years ago pinus insignia was tried for butter boxes, and he believed the experiment turned out well. In this test they did not know very much about paraffining. They .were quite satisfied from what they had done with pinus insignis ' that it would very well., In regard to the conservation of the forests it seemed to him they must also consider , the value of the laud for productive purposes. In regard to the importation of timber he believed that was quite a feasible scheme. He was not sure what timber should he imported. The timber could, he thought, be imported at a reasonable cost. Very shortly very exhaustive tests would be carried out with various They would then be in a position to give an opinion. He dd not think, however, that there would be anv trouble in regard to butter boxes for many years to Mr J. 801 l thought there was plenty of white pine to last out the period before other timber should be ready. Mr J. McQueen thought the remit should be either withdrawn or held over till next year. 'He did not like gny export duty. The remit was withdrawn. PERISHABLE GOODS.

Major Lusk (Auckland) moved: “ That the Government take better care of cream in cans and all dairy produce left at stations for carnage, m shape of covering them from the sun’s rays, and keeping them coaler, as the present treatment in connection with carriage of cream is eminently unsatisfactory.” The mover said that very often the carriage of cream on the railways was carried out in a manner very derogatory to the product. Mr A. A. Ross (Auckland), in seconding the motion, said that in Australia particular care was taken in the carriage of cream. Mr Cuddie said they would all agree that the greatest care should be taken of perishable goods on the railways. It seemed to him the cause of deterioration in the cream was the holding of the product too long on the farm. Farmers in some places were told that they could send their cream in two or three times a week. While the Railway Department should be asked to take every care with cream, it should not bo delivered by the supplier less frequently than every other day. The chairman said the department should make some provision at stations for dealing with milk. The remit was carried. Mr K. W. Dalrymple (Wellington) moved:—“That the Government be urged to provide better means for the carriage of dairy produce from the factories to the port of export and for carcases of pork for local sales.”—Carried. PASTEURISATION. In reference to a motion concerning pasteurisation of milk, Mr Cuddie said that last year 168 companies had taken up the pasteurisation of whey. It seemed a little more difficult to get the dairy companies to take up the same work. ; Last year some twelve or fourteen companies pasteurised skimmilk. They were in a position to point out to the companies that the work could be successfully carried out. It was a question of increasing the boiler power. The cost of the machinery was about £IBO. THE FERN TEST. Mr G. Anderson (Pelorus Sound) moved;—“ That the Government should assist settlers with fern-infested land through the medium of the Agricultural Department by making, a thorough investigation into the whole subject, with a view to discovering some natural enemy to the fern; also by a complete soil a risk's..s of all fern land and experiment with various grasses to determine the most suitable for fern country. We would also suggest the advisability of the department enter-

ing into a practical demonstration on a block of fern-infosied Crown land. Mr W. N. Masefield seconded tho motion. “

Mr Clifton (in charge of the experimental farms) said that a great deal of the South Island had been reclaimed from fern. That came about by burning, sowing with suitable grasses, ano stocking in small blocks. The trouble in the Marlborough country was that the land was poor, and the settlers, being mostly small farmers, were not in the position of stocking the land heavily enough at the right time. Danthonia had proved very useful in the elimination of fern in the Nelson district. He would undertake to visit the Sounds district and meet the farmers in regard to the matter. The remit was adopted. OTHER REMITS.

Mr H. A. Kevins (Tenui) moved: " That the Government be asked to let the cutting of danthonia grass-seed on Crown lands by contract."—Carried. Major Lusk moved: —"That the Koxious Weeds Act be rigidly enforced in comparatively clean districts."— Lost. iuajor Lusk moved: —"That tin union as a body urges on the Government the advantages to be gaiiiec especially by the small farmer, if, instead of selling their best breed ol hulls by auction or otherwise, thoscbulls were leased out, then the small farmer would have a better chance oi getting herds together, jand the manywould be benefited. This leasing out of purebred bulls is carried on extensively in New South Wales by the Government, tthe bulls being advertised for lease."

Mr E. Clifton (Director of Fields and Experimental Farms Division) said that some years ago the experiment had been tried, hut it was most unsatisfactory. He had become so assured that only harm could come from tho leasing of bulls that it was with the greatest satisfaction that he obtained permission to get rid of them. A man did not take the same care of a leased animal as he would if it were his own property. He thought it would be a great deal better to continue to sell bulls by auction. He did not approve of leasing in the face of the experience in the past. The remit was withdrawn. At this stage Ithe conference adjourned till 9.30 a.m. to-day.