ON THE LAND

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9095, 14 July 1915, Page 5

ON THE LAND

COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE SECOND ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENED. The second annual conference of the New Zealand Council of Agriculture (and the twelfth Conference of Associated A. and P. Societies) was commenced in the Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Mr J. C. N. Grigs (Canterbury) presided at the beginning of the session, Mr W. Perry (Alasterton) taking the chair after his election as president'for the ensuing yearThe following delegates were present Auckland, Messrs E. Hall and J. G- Rutherford ; Ashburton, Messrs D. G. Wright and J. 13. Christian; Canterbury, Messrs J. D- Hall, J- C. N. Grigg and W. Hayward; draught horse Stud Book council (New Zealand), Mr W. P. Archibald; Danncvirke, Messrs D. McKenzie and II ■ Benton; Egmont, Mr Alex. Hunter; Ellesmere, Messrs John Nixon and E. G. Hubbard: .Vending, Messrs J. Knight and J. xx. P'errett; Hawke’s Bay, Messrs F. \V. Williams. B. Chambers, and C. Douglas; Kaikoura, Mr G. E. Parsons; Marten, Mr J. 11. Cameron; Marlborough, Mr Thomas Morrin; Manawatu, Messrs E. Short, A- Conway, W. T. Penny, and S- R. Lancaster; Alasterton, Messrs Q. Donald, J. C. McKillop, and C. F. Vallanco; Northern (Rangiora), Messrs T. Leech and E. D. Wyliie; Nelson, Mr T. H. Holland; Clydesdale Horse Society of New Zealand, Mr J. W. Harding; Now Zealand Romney Marsh Sheep-breeders’ Association, Mr A. Matthews; New Zealand (South Island) Sheep-breeders’ Association, Mr O- B. Pemberton; North Otago, Mr H. A. Dovcy; Opotiki, Mr Wostney; Poverty Bay, Mr R. C. Murphy; PahiatuaAkitio, Mr Ch Avery; Rangitikei, Mr VV. Dixon; Southland, AleSsrs W. D. Hunt and James Fleming; Timaru, Messrs Thomas Tcschcmakdr and G. AM. Macdonald; Taranaki, Messrs J. S. Connett and H. J. Okey, M.P-; Wairarapa, Messrs A. Clarke and Hon. Sir Walter Buchanan, M.L.C.; Waikato, Mr R. F. Bollard, M.P.; Waikato Central, Air R. Reynolds and Hon. John Fisher, M.L.C-; Wanganui, Messrs C. G. Russell and E. A. Campbell; Central (Wnipukurau), Mr. G. Hunter, M.P.; Wdodvillo/Mr J. H. Escott,.Al.P'. In accordance with the usual practice, the following gentlemen attended and took part in tho proceedings .-—Right Hon.- W. F. Massey (Prime Minister), Messrs F, S- Pope (Secretary for Agriculture), C. J. Reakes, D.V.Sc., M.R-C-V.S.; D. Cuddie, T. W. Kirk, A. H. Cockayne, J- Brown, J. L. Bruce, Professor Alexander, Dr Hilgeudorf, H. A. Knight, W. Perry, George Rennie, B. C. Aston, F. 1.0.

PRIME MINISTER’S ADDRESS. ' The conference was opened by the Prime Alinister, Ho congratulated delegates on the successful season experienced. In spite of the drought in Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, and other districts, Now Zealand exports for the year ended Alarch 31st last wore valued at £27,000,000 ; 87 per cent, of this having come from the land. The shortage of shipping on account of the war had been the cause of the increase in exports being no more than £4,000,000, but the difficulty was now overcome. In July, August, September and October, 36 .ships were coming to New Zealand; seven vessels were loading in our ports, three were in our waters, and live others were coming this mouth. The frozen meat stores would thus be cleared, and the new season started well. He did not anticipate much trouble in getting produce away next season. Dealing with the shortage of cereals, the Prime Alinister said that he was doubtful whether there was in Now Zealand sufficient wheat for her requirements. He hoped to have statistics compiled in a few weeks. Though it had been urged that tho wheat of the country should be commandeered, he had thought proper that the producer should bo allowed to obtain a fair average world price. This would increase production. As a result of his policy, there would be an increased area of land sown with cereals. Next season, in his opinion, there would 'be more than enough wheat for New Zealand’s requirements, the producer would get a fair price and the consumer would not have to pay so much for his wheat and flour as lately. AGRICULTURE AND THE WAR.

The president then delivered a short address to the conference. “Every man in the room,” ho said, “feels a grim determination that all selfishness is to be set aside, and that all he is and has is at the service of his King and country, so that the British Empire and her Allies may he victorious, and in winning, give freedom to small nations as well as to individual subjects.” He predicted the formation of a Council of Empire after the war, bub hoped that an unwieldy central Parliament would bo avoided. “This sad and terrible war will make us all think long and deeply, and strive in every way we can to do our duty, and no farmer is doing his duty who is not making extra efforts to produce more than ever before.” Farmers and graziers should do all in their power to keep in reserve all young, sound female stock of good class, and not sacrifice thorn for the sake of the high prices at the moment offering. If this wore not done of the fanners’ own accord, steps should be taken at the freezing works to prevent the killing of fresh and sound female stock of a good class, which in a year or two 1 would bo worth more on the farm. “By not conserving such stock, we are reducing our power to keep up production during the next year or two; always remember .that there is no way in which wo can so help to pay the war debt and interest as by increased production from the land and by economy in every way.” The president concluded by exhorting all present to act loyally by the Prime Minister’s message to the King: “All we are and all wo have are at the service of the Empire.” HORSE BREEDING. The first remit considered was from the Manawatu and \Vcst Coast Society, as follows:—“That this council strongly urges upon the Government the desirability of passing the ‘Stud’ or Registration of Stallions Bill through Parliament without delay and that they be requested to call for evidence there on.” With this were taken remits from the Clydesdale Horse Society; '‘That the Government be urged to reintroduce the Stallions Bill as drafted by the Live Slock Department” : and from Nelson: “That this conference urge r.pon the Government that all stallions should ho licensed, and that only after

satisfactorily passing an examination by a Government veterinary surgeon, effective measures to bo taken to prevent breeding from horses not licensed.” Members pointed out that Great Britain had got on very well without legislation of such a kind, and that country supplied the world with the best horses. There was no need for such a bill in this country. It was for each society to make its own regulations as uniformity might result in injustice. The combined remit was adopted. Mr J. H- Perrott (Foilding) moved: —“That this conference views with alarm the general falUng-off in the breeding of horses suitable for artillery and cavalry, and strongly urges tho various A. and P. associations and the Council of Agriculture to foster the breeding of horses suitable for army purposes.” The mover said that tho great increase of the number of motorcars among farmers showed that some such remit was necessary. It did not pav to breed horses on anything like good land.' A Canterbury remit; “That it is desirable that the Government should confer with tho Imperial authorities with regard to establishing a market for suitable remounts, at a price sufficient to encourage the breeding of same,” was considered at tho same time as that of Feilding. Mr J. D. Hall moved that these words he added—“that the subsidising of stallions will not alone encourage the breeding of remounts.” This was adopted and the combined remit carried. A resolution from Kaikoura— ‘That tho trotting breed be f not encouraged for military remounts,” Was passed without discussion. VETERINARY SERVICE. The following remits were taken together“ That it is necessary that some form of legislation be enacteu which will define tho status of properly qualified veterinary surgeons and pre vent farmers and others being imposed upon with impunity by persons possessing insufficient knowledge and no recognised qualifications, who pose as pri> perty qualified veterinary surgeons. (Ellesmere.) “That legislation bo enacted to protect tho public from persons assuming titles and degrees for veterinary treatment of stock, and acting under such, with the view of deceiving tho public.” (Canterbury.) Air J. D. Hall (Ellesmere) said that there had been, trouble in the South Island through unqualified men pretending to have full qualifications. Dr Reakes said that the unqualified man with sound practical experenco was useful, but the properly qualified man needed recognition. At present lie had no legal recognition. Undoubtedly farmers had been victimised, and stock ruined through the operations of incompetent men. The following resolution was carried in lieu of the two remits;—“That it is desirable that legislation should bo enacted to protect duly qualified veterinary surgeons and the public generally from -persons practising as veterinary surgeons, and assuming titles to which they have no right and thereby deceiving and misleading stock-owners; and that for this purpose a register of duly qualified veterinary surgeons be compiled.” A remit from the New Zealand Draught Horse Stud Book Council: — “That the Government be requested to arrange with the Commonwealth Government that fees paid in this Dominion for veterinary examination of horses should cover all veterinary charges for entry into the Commonwealth, and that the proposed regulations bo simplified,” was carried unanimously. STOCK DISEASES. The next remit considered was from Auckland, and read as follows: “Thatcontagious mammitis bo made a notifiable disease under the Stock Act, and that before animals that are known to he affected with this disease be sold, they should be branded by tho inspector to prevent them being sold as milkers.” Dr Reakes said that though the disease ’ was not so prevalent as it once was, it was time that steps were taken to stamp it out. All suspicious cases should be notified at once. Cows affected with the disease are frequently sold, and thus carry the infection. The matter bad already been submitted to the Board of Agriculture- In reply to a question, Dr Reakes said that there had been hope of obtaining a vaccine to treat cows with this disease, but the war had interrupted tho investigations. The remit was passed unanimously. On the motion of the Auckland delegates, Dr Reakes addressed the conference on the subject of the disease of blackleg. In Taranaki, he said, the farmers had no trouble. All they did was to inoculate then - stock each year. In the Auckland district Hie department had inoculated 10,000 calves last year; had outbreaks of blackleg had occurred at spots tar apart from ono another in the district. The area was too largo to isolate, but he suggested that a small area around each affected farm should be isolated, and the stock inoculated. Except in Taranaki and Auckland, the disease was unknown in New Zealand. SEEDS AND FERTILISERS.

Amuri sent the following remit: “ That this conference endeavour to have eliminated from the fertilisers (manufactured from waste at freezing works) the noxious weed seeds contained therein, the germination of which is not destroyed by the present process of manufacture.” A note was appended : ‘ ‘At present much infection of clean lands is undoubtedly caused by this medium, and farmers are put to no end of trouble and expense in consequence. The heat applied in the drying process of the offal is not sufficient to destroy the germinating powers of these seeds.” Members did not agree with this statement, and it was said that the seeds could not live in the heat to which fertilisers were subjected. The remit was negatived. The question of pure seeds was then considered. Tho Auckland delegates moved: ‘ ‘ That a bill should be introduced to control the sale of seeds, and to provide for the strict examination of imported seeds, with power to prohibit tho introduction of any containing deleterious tveeds or worthless seeds-” It was stated that tho Dominion lost over £1,000,000 a year owing to worthless seeds. Occasionally only 1 per cent, of imported seeds germinated. Mr A. H. Cockayne, of tho Department of Agriculture, said that a bill had been for some time in consideration, making it compulsory for seed-dealers to provide a description of their goods sold, so that the farmers should know what they were buying. The remit was riedPHOSPHATES. Mr B. C. Aston, ' chief chemist to the Department of Agriculture, read a paper on tho “supply of phosphates” in reply to a request from Canterbury. The only field of phosphates discovered in New Zealand was at Clarendon, Otago, but- investigations over the whole of the Dominion had not yet been carried out. He dealt with the requirement of different soils. _ The war had largely affected the price of phosphates, and foreign supplies were

uncertain. There were large deposits of phosphates within a’ few _days steam of New Zealand on French and British islands, and there was large deposit in Egypt, near the Red Sea. There was no reason why New Zealand farmers should not get an interest in one of these fields. A remit was received from Masterton asking that the bonus for the discovery of phosphate rock in New Zealand be increased. The president announced that the department had increased the bonus from £SOO to £IOOO, and the conditions had been made less stringent. ■ The following recommendation from Auckland was carried ‘That experiments be made in different centres to determine the best and most economical form of p[hosphatic and other manures to nso in those particular districts.” MISCELLANEOUS.

Other remits were carried as follow: , ,

"That the Government bo urged to make it compulsory that an analysis shall be given with all stock foods and condiments; th© source from which ingredients -were obtained to he stated.” —(Auckland). "That this conference considers it inadvisable to remove Californian thistle from the second schedule of the Noxious Weeds Act.” —(Feilding). "That the conference consider the desirability of vesting some advisory power of control of Agricultural Departmental affairs in local committees, to be appointed for that purpose.”— (Canterbury). A committee was appointed to elaborate the scheme. At 5.15 p.m. the conference went into committee. It will resume its open sessions this morning.