FARMERS AND SHIPPING

Otago Witness, Issue 3524, 27 September 1921, Page 10

FARMERS AND SHIPPING

I’ROrOSKD CO-OPERATIVE SHIPPING LINE. CT J RISTCII l TIOIT, September 21. Mr W. J. Poison, dominion president of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, to-day crave the following details of the proposed co-operative shipping line scheme:— 1. A hoard of mercantile shipping with all the powers of a company to' he formed for the purpose of providing refrigerated and other tonnage for overseas shipping to and from New Zealand. 2. r l hat the eapital of the company Vie provided—(a) by contributions from farm produce in New Zealand, such contributions to ho proportional to the value of the following classes of produce: (1) all stock put through the freezing works; (II) all wool clipped and sliped; (111) all pelts, fallow, and animal by-products produced at the freezing works; (IV) all butter and cheese produced by factories; (V) all flax produced: (II) by the Government sub. cribing annually tin amount equal to the total of su'h contribution. 3. The contributions received and the Government subscription to be considered the capital stock of the hoard, and scrip to be issued to growers, freezing companies, dairy farmers, flax millers, etc., and the Government for amount paid by each, and dividends to be. paid on this scrip when earned by the hoard. 1. Any fixed loan approved by the Minister to bo guaranteed by the ' Crown and raised as a Government loan. 5. Idle Mercantile Shipping Board to be so constituted that each organisation, body, and association contributing shall receive

representation on the board proportionate to the amount paid to the board by such organisation, body, or association, computed up to the end of each financial year. 6. The Mercantile Shipning Board to be given powers analagous to those possessed by hospital boards; the hoard in each year to estimate its financial requirements for that year for the costs of administration, interest on fixed loans, overdrafts, and other capital expenditure, rents upon charters, reserve funds, and sinking funds. The board also (subject to an appeal to the Minister) to have power to fix the proportion of the whole of the moneys required by it in any year, which is to bo found by the various products mentioned in clause 2. The board also to lie given power to fix the contribution which, upon the estimated output for the year, will produce the proportion of the -whole sum for each particular industry required by the board. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL NEWS. A Press Association message from Marton sa.ys that a meeting of 60 flockowners of Hunterville resolved—“ That, whereas the farmers have adhered loyally to the decisions of the Arbitration Court, and the representatives of the Shearers’ Union have, by their attitude towards the recent awards, openly set the court at defiance, this representative meeting of flockowners urges on the Government the desirability of the abolition of the present Arbitration Court award. It also asks that the present and in future the question of wages for shearers and shed hands be decided by mutual agreement between employers and employees. The last meeting of the Palmerston South branch of the Farmers’ Union agreed to adopt a resolution stating that it views with alarm the ever-increasing wage charges at freezing works, and appealing to the companies concerned to use every possible means to get wages back to a standard in keeping with the present price of fat stock. A Wellington Press Association telegram says that tile local retail price of butter of standard brands, and first grade, has been reduced by Id per pound, the retail price thus being 2s -id. Other brands, which have been selling at 2s 3d, have been reduced to 2s 2d per pound retail The monthly meeting of the Strath-Taieri branch of the Farmers’ Union was held on the 17th at Middlcmaroh (writes our own correspondent). Resolutions were passed criticising adversely the proposed Government tuition in stopping the trapping of rabbits. It was contended that if the pest was left to be dealt with by the natural enemy alone the country would soon be so overrun with rabbits that it would be practically worthless for sheep farming. It was also resolved that the export of rabbits should be continued, as otherwise their destruction would entail altogether too heavy a burden on pastoralists and farmers generally. Mr A. Stewart was appointed a delegate to attend the Farmers’ Union Conference, to be held in Dunedin on September 23. In the course of his address to the annual meeting of the Fielding Freezing Company, Mr Hugh Burrell, chairman of directors’ said there was great difficulty in disposing of over-weight carcases of meat. Lambs over 43i!> in weight were quoted at the present time at 2fd per lb below lambs under _ 361 b, whilst it was almost impossible to quit heavy wethers and ewes at any price. Ihe English market required sheep under 601 b, and lambs 431 b, therefore New Zealand farmers must use their best efforts to see that the market was supplied with what it wanted. Gross, heavy stock must be avoided so far as was possible. There must in future be no boast about wethers averaging between 701 b and 801 b. The boast must be that much larger numbers of sheep and lambs had been got olf in a given time, at a range of weights within requirements. It is stated that most of the shearers in Hawke’s Bay are prepared to accept work at the rates recently fixed by the Arbitration Court. It is considered that the recent announcement by the union secretary in Wellington is only so much bluff, and that it can result only in persuading sheepowners to do their own shearing. A very profitable, sow belonging to Mr Charles Cleaver, of Rose Wood Farm. Ermedale, had the remarkable litter of 10 pigs, all living (says the Western Star). The Mataura Dairy Factory has a history of records (says the Ensign). The latest record established was put up on Tuesday, when the factory opened for the season arid received over 1300 gallons of mils;. The factory will have close on 150 suppliers this season. One grower in the Levin district is putting out, 5000 tomato plants this season. At the luncheon interval of the annual meeting of the Co-operative Fruitgrowers of Otago, held in Alexandra last Fridas - , Mr it. 6. Watson, of Roxburgh, gave a demonstration with his now packing table. The table is so arranged as to give two packers every facility for the quick grading and packing of fruit, particularly stone fruits, the boxes for live different grades being very hand ly arranged around each packer. Labour saving and quickness are the two valuable features of the table, intent rights for which have been obtained bv Mr Watson. At a largely-at I ended meeting of the South Contorbury Executive of the Farmers’ Un'ori on the 14th inst., Mr J. Kitchener, M.P., presiding, the wheat, question was discussed in some detail, as also were other important matters referring to wheat. Mr .1. Paterson moved —“That the Government be asked to guarantee prices for the 1922-23 crop.” After discussion file motion was carried unanimously. Tt was also decided to c.clr be Government to state their intentions (as to a guarantee for free market) for the 1922 23 crop by (lie end of October. The Canterbury lucerne competitions arc attracting keen interest both in and outside the province. The secretary has received about 60 inquiries asking for particulars of the competition and advice as to growing, and farmers’ organisations and individuals in other parts of the Dominion are also soliciting information. A pamphlet giving full advice as to the preparation of the ground, how to sow and subsequently treat a lucerne stand, liberally illustrated with instructive photographs, will be issued in a few days. Competitors in the competitions will receive a copy free, and in order to assist in covering the cost- of printing a large number a nominal charge of 2s 6d will be made for copies to non-competitors.

WAITAKI FARMERS’ FREEZING COMPANY. Quito a large meeting of over 200 shareholders met on the 20th inst. at Glenavy to discuss pros and cons as to the best sites available for freezing works, etc. Discussion was animated, and at times personal, but the chairman of directors, Mr M. J. Corrigan, finally tied speakers down to the issue at- question—viz., choice of sites. A vote was taken, the count taking (under scrutineers) an hour an a-half, with the result as follows—For Studholme 265; for Glenavy, 253; majority for Studholme, 12; informal, 4.