FARMERS’ UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3803, 1 February 1927, Page 13

FARMERS’ UNION.

OTAGO PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE. MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Otago Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held on Thursday. Mr J. Preston (Flag Swamp) presided. Others present were Messrs F. Waite, M.P. (Waiwera), J. Clarke (Dunedin), R. J. E. Smith and M. A. Kinney (Maniototo), D. M. Reid and C. R. Sheat (Miltori), R. S. Stiell (Berwick), E. H. Murney (Tapanui), J. Christie (Balclutha), R. Tohill (Galloway), H. Tamblyn (Miller’s Flat), and H. S. Sheat (Palmerston). EXPERIMENTAL FERTILISING.

Mr R. B. Tennerit, of' the Department of Agriculture, addressed the meeting on what, he termed a subject of vital interest to every farmer, and as important as any work the union was undertaking on the farmers’ behalf. He referred to the intelligent and practical use of fertilisers—the use of right manures in the right place.. It was a subject which lent itself to the most extensive investigation, and he was present to enlist their aid in a scheme for experimenting in the use of fertilisers that he hoped would embrace the whole of Otago. He. was sure they would be only too willing to assist when he had shown them the scheme as he hoped to institute it. He spoke of the work recently undertaken for the purpose of proving the efficacy or otherwise of the various fertilisers. The department had been carrying out experimental work for two or three years, but he-had come to the conclusion that it was practically useless. In explanation of .this he described the type of experiment with manures that had been adopted. To them the system might appear a good one, but he doubted it very much. The system generally in use was the division of a paddock into several sections, on each of which a special manure was" used. Where such a method failed was not difficult to see. The success of each section depended on the quality of the soil. Super -might be applied to a .good soil, and another manure to affair soil,, and perhaps, basic slag was used, on the poorest section. Thus the relative values - of the various fertilisers could not' be correctly ascertained. The only way ‘ in which this state Of affairs 'could be got over' was by' dividing a paddock first into divisions governed by the

various soil eruditions, making the good soil one plot, the fair another, and tho poor another. When that had been done the sub-division for the purpose of experimenting could be made. Each class of soil would be treated by each type of manure. Thus the effect of each fertiliser on the varying soil conditions could be ascertained reasonably correctly. However, this experiment could not be merely an annual one. To be of any practical value the work must be’ spread over several. years. One manure might riot have -an appeciable effect iri tbe. first year, but after a repeat experiment'the. next year super might show up where it. had little effect last year. This shad been,;demonstrated most clearly to him at Awamangu and Crookston, where the first, of. experiments had been carried-. but. this year. , The different manures had been applied in each case .'upon small strips, and the pasture had been

hand cut, raked and weighed, and full details of the yields had been recorded. The speaker had had to change some of his Own ideas as a result of these? latest experiments, and he was sure that the results would amaze them if such a scheme oould be put into operation all over Otago, and if the. results were watched ; carefqlly, over a period of years. He wanted to get about 50 such areas, ' on different farms throughout Otago, but he could do little unless he could be assured- of the .co-operation of farmers in all districts. Small, energetic committees) not too unwieldy, but 1 keen, in each centre, and a number of farmers prepared to spend a little time in assisting with the various operations, were all that were required 7 to ensure success: The peculiar’ requiremerits of . each? district, with varying ’ conditions Of , soiL and . climate, could, be watched carefully, and | a great fund in invaluable information 1

could be arrived at. It rested with the farmers themselves to see whether such an idea was worth while. All he asked ■was co-operation. His department would do the work. He wanted an agricultural committee composed of farmers with yvhom he could keep in touch constantly. After several speakers had expressed appreciation of the scheme, a resolution promising co-operation was carried unanimously. Messrs Preston, Reid, and Revie were appointed a committee to act with Mr Tcnnent. DOMINION LEVY. The question of the capitation levy made by the Dominion Executive of the union roused some discussion. In moving that the Dominion levy should be reduced from 7s 6d to ss, Mr J. Clarke said it was scandalous the way the head oftae ■was piling up thousands of pounds yearly per medium of the levy, which was preposterously high. When the union was initiated a levy of 6d had been quite sufficient, but for the past few years it had been increasing. It had reached 10s, and now was 7s 6d. He considered that 5s per head per member was too much. Such a policy was iniquitous. r ie , branchcs were being starved for want of the necessary money to carry on development work, while headquarters were piling up a large fund. —The motion was carried unanimously, and the secretary was instructed to forward the resolution to the Dominion secretary without delay. RAILWAY ADVISORY BOARD A letter was received from the Chamber of Commerce concerning a meeting to be held for- the purpose of setting up an executive committee in connection with the proposed District Railway Advisory Board. The farmers were asked to send a representative to the meeting.—The secretary (Mr S- P. Cameron) wa.-> appointed as delegate.—Mr J. Christie said there were far too many boards al present, and many cf those already existing were unapproachable The Railway Board could have done more good on its recent Otago tour than any advisory board would ever do, if it had given farmers adequate notice of its arrival. In Clutha the board was on it ways out of town again before most of those with grivances to air knew they had arrived. He had little to complain about in respect of the treatment accorded by the department, but be did not think it was right that visits should be made to districts in the way the last had been made to Balclutha. TARIFF REVISION. The Tariff Revision Commission at present sitting in the North Island was the subject of another communication from the Dominion secretary. The local executive was advised to get in touch as soon as possible with its members and get information concerning specific articles upon which .the tariff should be reduced. It was necessary to forward evidence in favour of a reduction, so that the Dominion Executive could take the Flatter up with the commission. . . — The President said the branch should make an emphatic protest against any increase whatever, or as an alternative should apply for a general decrease. An increase on any commodity could not be in the fanner’s interests. Mr Waite suggested that the commisision’s task was one of revision, not necessarily increasing tariffs.

Mr Christie: The "revision” is just a cloak. Any change made will be in the nature of an increase.

Mr Reid said the policy of protesting against increases would get them nowhere. They should make a demand for a general decrease in specific articles, and find sufficient evidence in support of a reduction. Mr Murney said the farmer would be quite willing to dispense with protection in his own industries if the protection were removed from .a hundred and one of his necessities, which were already burdened with too great a tariff. As direct evidence was required it was decided to set up a committee to furnish the necessary information. Messrs Murney and Preston were appointed a committee, and the secretary was instructed to write to ie Dominion secretary drawing his attention to a former resolution concerning increased tariffs. DAYLIGHT SAVING.

The expressed policy of the Dominion headquarters of the Farmers’ Union in respect of daylight saving was rejected by the local branch. The Dominion secretary wrote asking the local executive to advise members to make it quite clear that they were opposed to the Bill, and farmers generally were urged to see that no stone was left unturned in an endeavour to prevent the measure becoming law next session. The letter was read at the meeting, and after some discussion it was evident that the majority of members were in favour of the Summer-time Bill. Only three dissentient voices were heard—those of the president, Mr Murney, and Mr Reid. It was decided that the secretary should write and advise the Dominion executive in no uncertain terms that the branch was heartily, in agreement with the Bill. GENERAL. The decision of the Board of Studies of the New Zealand University to eliminate agriculture from the matriculation syllabus was the subject of a letter of protest from the Taranaki branch.—lt was decided to support the protest. A'* remit was received from the Te Houka branch suggesting that the Woolbrokers’ Association be asked to have the charges for the selling and classing of wool reduced. —It was decided to hold .the matter over in the meantime. Tim Secretary of the Dunedin Stock and Station Agents’ Association wrote in reply to a letter - from the executive asking that chaff, lucerne, and straw be placed on the same footing as other similar lines in respect of commission charges. It was stated that the question had been discussed by the association, which had decided that such commodities could not be handled at a less commission than the 5 per cent, charged, so that the request could not be granted. A. letter was received from the Immigration Department advising that experienced farm hands and married couples were arriving by the Pakeha on January 28, the Rimutaka on February 4, and the lonic on February 7. It was suggested that any farmers able to offer permanent positions should apply to the department immediately. A report on the tar-branding of wool and a discussion of the women’s division of the union were held over till next meet-

ing, at which members wives arc to be asked to attend.

The financial statement and reports on the work of the executive’s organisers were approved. Accounts amounting to £176 Us 6d were passed for payment. It was decided to support a protest from Taranaki against the proposal by the Board of Studies of the New Zealand ..University to eliminate agriculture from the matriculation schedule.