NEW ZEALAND FARMERS’ UNION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3854, 24 January 1928, Page 20

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS’ UNION.

A meeting of the North Otago Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held on Friday there being present Messrs R. B. Meek (president), J. G. Ruddenklau, D. Rodger, A. Murray, W. Forrester, J. E. Tallentire, R. Borrie, and J. Newlande,

A vote of condolence was passedl to the Dominion president (Mr W. J. Polson) in the tragic death of his son. Accounts amounting to £ll 17s were passed for payment. The President expressed the view that the cost of sending delegates to the various wheat conferences should be borne by the wheat growers, and not by the union.—Mr A. Murray said the union had incurred the expense, and would have to pay. It would be all right if the whole of the wheat growers were members of the union.— On the motion of Mr W. Forrester, the account for expenses of travelling was passed for payment, and it was left _to the discretion of the president to mention the matter at the meeting of wheat growers. The Agricultural Department forwarded circulars containing details of the scheme prepared by the Wheat Research Institute for the distribution of certificated seed wheat. It was pointed out that Velvet, Hunters, and solid straw Tuscan would,be the only varieties of wheat dealt with in the first season. A premium of sixpence per bushel above current price's, and a bonus of sixpence, would be paid to the owners of certified crops. All certified seed would be placed in sealed sacks, and the prices charged by all merchants would be uniform. It was computed that the selling price in April would be 8s 4d per bushel for cash and 8s 6d booked. —The President said this was the first big scheme that had been undertaken for the supply of pure seed wheat to the farmer. The need for pure (seed was very pressing. At the present time it was impossible to procure Tuscan seed without barley.—lt ] was pointed out that one or two North Otago farmers had already procured certified seed. —Mr Forrester stated that the scheme was not new. It had been in operation in this district for some years. —The President said the scheme had been carried out locally on a very small scale. As far as he knew, only one farmer in the district had sown certified wheat. — Mr Tallentire pointed out that wild oats had appeared in a crop of College Hunters that he had sown. —The President stated that wild oats remained dormant in the ground, sometimes for years. These were easily extracted by the dressing machine.

The President stated that Mr Ruddenklau and himself had waited upon the Merchants’ Association, and had received a very fair hearing indeed. The merchants had expressed their willingness to assist farmers to hold their wheat. A report had been circulated that one-halt the Canterbury wheat had been sold at 5s 8d and 5s 9d per bushel. This was ail nonsense. The report had probably been circulated by some of the Christchurch “ sharks ” for a purpose of their own. A good deal of wheat had been sold at 6s Id and 6s 2d per bushel. —Mr D. Rodger said he had heard of 3000 bags of wheat being sold in Canterbury at 8s per bushel. They could not give credence to the reports that were circulated. In answer to a question, the President said there 'would be no wheat pool this season.

Mi' W. Forrester reported upon the conference at Ashburton, at which 140 delegates were present. He thought it a pity that something had not been done at this meeting to form an organisation. There were two proposals, either of which would have met with approval. One of the these was a wheatgrowers’ association and the other a wheat pool .A bugbear with the delegates was the prospect of wheat growers not respecting their pledges. Mr A. Murray - objected to a general statement that farmers would not respect their pledges. Mr Forrester said from past experience it was found that farmers would not stand to any fixed undertaking. , He thought the Farmers’ Union should be prepared to give a lead to the wheatgrowers -■ 4 -

The President stated that there was every prospect of a wheat pool being formed, and of an arrangement being come to with the millers. The arrangement would not be with Distributors, Ltd., but with outside millers. He mentiond the proposals of the Auckland merchants , as outlined by a local paper. _ The Secretary suggested that the executive should give some opinion in regard to the wages to be paid harvesters in the coming season.

Several members pointed out that last year there had been differences in the payment made to harvesters. Some farmers paid Is 6d per hour, and others Is 9d.

Mr Ruddenklau stated that it would be a fine thing if farmers could arrange between themselves as to what price should be paid. Mr Newlands remarked that at one meeting a farmer had proposed that a certain price be paid. This was agreed to, and the farmer who moved the resolution was the first to break the agreement. Mr D. Rodger: That is so.

No action was taken in the matter