FARMERS’ INTERESTS

Southland Times, Issue 20832, 22 July 1929, Page 2

FARMERS’ INTERESTS

THE UNION IN SOUTHLAND.

MONTHLY MEETING OF EXECUTIVE.

The monthly meeting of the Southland Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held on Saturday. There were present Messrs R. Sim (president, in the chair), T. A. Stephens, A. McKenzie, J. H. McLeod, S. Shaw, T. McLean, W. Couser, A. H. McLean, H. Blackmore, W. H. Ward, F. J. Linscott, T. McCann, T. Hanning, J. J. Crampton, P. Arnott, O. E. Niederer, T. Major, E. K. Sim, W. G. Blackmore and H. Smith. The secretary reported that the annual report and balance-sheet were in the hands of the printers and would shortly be available for members. A letter was received from Mr G. W. Wild, Instructor in Agriculture, covering one from Mr R. B. Tennent, Fields Superintendent for Otago and Southland, stating that the Department of Agriculture had in hand the investigation of club-root and desired to co-operate with a number of farmers in regard to testing the resistent qualities of Herning’s swedes. A remit from the Waianiwa branch recommended that the executive discuss the advisability of branch secretaries having the status of a delegate at a provincial conference. The meeting did not favour the proposal which was rejected. North Island Tour. In proposing that a letter expressing thanks and appreciation should be sent to all people who had been connected with the reception and entertainment of the party of Southland farmers who returned on Friday night from a tour of the North Island, Mr T. McLean said it was impossible to imagine better hospitality than was extended to the party. The motion was seconded by Mr A. H. McLean, who endorsed the remarks of the proposer and was carried. Workmen's Cottages in Rural Districts. The following remit emanating from the Waianiwa branch came up for discussion:— “That the Government be urged to consider the advisability of erecting workmen’s cottages on five-acre sections in the country, the sites for the cottages to be selected and approved by the local branch of the union in that locality. In thus way cottages would be erected where most work would be obtainable by the tenants.” Mr A. McKenzie, in proposing the adoption of the remit said that if the proposed scheme were carried into effect it would be the means of helping to solve the unemployment problem. The five acres of land on which the cottage would be built would provide a man with an opportunity to fill in his leisure time profitably and the situation of the home in the country would enable him to keep in close touch with the farmers of the immediate district who would be able to call on him whenever, as was frequently the case, they required ■work done. A lengthy discussion ensued on the practical application of the principle, it being debated whether it would be advisable to allow the tenant merely to rent the property or to pay a small sinking fund to enable him to acquire the property as his own. It was generally considered that it would be better for the occupier to rent the property. It was also stated that it was not desired that more than one or two cottages should be erected in one district. Ten or a dozen farmers in the immediate vicinity could be asked to guarantee employment for the tenant. It was eventually decided to approve of the principle of the scheme and the president and Mr A. McKenzie were appointed to interview' the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle and Mr Adam Hamilton, M.P., with a view to having a workable scheme brought down. Wheat Investigation. A circular letter from the New Zealand Wheat Research Institute which was referred to the Wheat and Grain Committee stated that part of the programme of the institute was to collect wheats of all varieties and from all localities with the object of testing their gluten content, and to see if certain varieties in certain districts produced special types of wheat. During last harvest _ over 800 samples had been collected, but it had been found that the variations between different samples from the same districts were so great that it was impossible to strike reliable averages. It was therefore desired that the executive should request its members to send forward samples of any wheats they might still have in hand. Heavy Traffic Fees. The secretary of the South Taranaki Executive (Mr E. K. Cameron) advised that at the last meeting of his executive Mr W. G. Walkley, who was organizing the case against the abolition of heavy traffic fees for the North Island Motor Union, had addressed a meeting. Heavy traffic fees collected in New Zealand amounted to approximately £250,000 annually and there did not seem to be any doubt that if they were abolished the burden would be removed frour the shoulders of the ratepayers. The county ratepayers were at the present time paying increasing construction and maintenance costs for county roads and if the heavy traffic fees were abolished, the deficit of £250,000 would have to be made up in some way and what was a more convenient method of making up this deficit than a raid upon the pocket-book of the county ratepayers, asked the writer. While the populations of the counties in the last 14 years had only increased by 6.3 per cent., yet in the same period the county rates had increased by 161.7 per cent. A resolution much on the lines of the Auckland remit that heavy traffic fees should not'be abolished had been carried and Mr Walkley had been invited to attend the Dominion Conference for the purpose of stating the position insofar as the county ratepayer was concerned. The letter was received.