Farmers in Conference

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 977, 21 May 1930, Page 13

Farmers in Conference

UNION DELEGATES AT WHAN G ARE I Important Questions Discussed LITTLE time was lost in getting down to serious business once the Farmers’ Union conference was officially opened at Whangarei yesterday. Every remit was given the closest attention, and many important questions of vital importance to the farmer came up for discussion. Business opens at 9.30 each and day and. with the exception of two breaks for meals, is carried on until late in the evening.

THE SUN’S Special Representative WHANGAREI, Today.

Suggestions for a practical solution to the problem of land settlement were made by the conference this morning, following a report from a committee set up to go into the question of a practical solution.

The report was largely on the lines laid down by the Dominion President in an address on the previous evening. The principal contention is that oniy by bringing down production costs can a profitable land settlement be made possible. The committee recommended that the Government adopt a vigorous land settlement policy and to enable this to be done urged that all taxation on the necessities of life and the tools of production be removed, that greater control be exercised over the operations of the Associated Banks, and that, following the president of Great Britain, farm lands be exempted from rates and the deficiency to be made up . by an increased petrol tax. The committee suggested that any decline in revenue be made up by an increased tax on the sales of spirituous and fermented liquors, and on amusement and totalisator tickets, with in-

creased tariffs on luxuries, foreign films, foreign cars, and trucks, and by increases in the income-tax. The committee ateo suggests that efforts be made to bring about an elimination in the costs of the National Government.

The finding of the committee received the unanimous support of the conference. Several amendments were lost by majorities. The suggestion that some attempt be made to interfere with the operations of the Arbitration Court and so to reduce wages caused a heated argument, the general opinion being that natural trends would .bring wages down.

The chairman of the committee, Mr. H. M. Rushworth, Mr. Lee Martin and several other speakers stated that the resolution contained the fundamental principles for which the union had been fighting for many years.

NOXIOUS WEEDS

PROBLEM OF CROWN LAND EQUAL TREATMENT WANTED That the Minister o£ Agriculture be asked to introduce legislation providing lor the placing of the Crown in

the same position as other landowners in respect to the clearing of noxious weeds was a subject dealt with in remits from the Bay of Islands, Rotorua, Mauku, Waikato, and Northern Wairoa.

“It is not asked that there be a ‘clean sweep” of noxious weeds on unoccupied lands,” said Mr. E. Walker (Bay of Islands), in moving a motion covering this question. Where noxious weeds were spreading from Crown lands to occupied lands, however, he considered something should be done. “There should not be one law for the rich and another for the poor.” said Mr. H. M. Rockell. seconding motion. The small farmer should not be penalised in respect to noxious weeds because of neglect on the part of the Crown.”

Mr. C. I. Harkness advocated the setting up of a noxious weeds board. Rabbit boards had absolutely cleared some districts of rabbits.

“The more noise we can make at this conference on this subject, the further we will get,” stated Mr. Lee Martin, M.P., Raglan. Good had come from the discussion of last year.

Mr. Robinson said that the position in respect to the eradication of noxious weeds was admitted on all hands to be unsatisfactory.

Mr. A. E. Harding (Dargaville) stated that much had been done by the Department of Agriculture through the medium of research, and it was through this medium that the most good would be done. Settlement of the unoccupied areas, and smaller holdings, was the only real solution of the problem, said Mr. R. D. Dilxfield (Horotiu). Prosecutions would do little good. Mr. H. O. Melsop (Colville) moved as an amendment that the conference is dissatisfied with the present Noxious Weeds Act, and favours the clearing of Crown and native lands where settlement is threatened, and urges the more rigid enforcement of the Act. and asks for the setting up of a noxious weeds board.’*

The amendment was lost, and it was finally decided, on the motion of the chairman, that representations be made to the Minister of Agriculture to take steps to have all lands, occupied or unoccupied, and however owned, placed under the same obligations in regard to responsibility for noxious weeds.

A further remit from the Colville branch, that the provisions of the Noxious Weeds Act be more strictly enforced, was defeated.

COMBATING RAGWORT

‘‘NOT A SERIOUS MENACE” GRAZED OUT WITH SHEEP That ragwort is not the menace It is made out to be, and that it is not nearly as serious a pest as blackberry, was the text of a statement made to the conference by Mr. W. Boyd, Matangi. Mr. Boyd was supported by several other speakers. Mr. V. Simms (Otorohanga) said that experience had proved to him that it was quite possible to combat ragwort with sheep. By grazing a paddock with old ewes, he had been able to stamp the weed out within two years.

Many other delegates agreed that, ty a system of concentrating old ewes in small paddocks, ragwort could be eradicated.