FARMERS FRATERNISE

Taranaki Daily News, 4 October 1929, Page 12

FARMERS FRATERNISE

FUNCTION AT TIKORANGI VALUE OF FIELD COMPETITIONS. PRESENTATION OF THE AWARDS. Farmers of the Tikorangi district had a very pleasant respite from the ordinary routine last night, when a smoke concert organised by the Tikorangi branch of.the Farmers’. Union was held in the hall. The primary object of the gathering was to do honour • to those farmers who had been successful in the recent field competition. Mr. J. Paulger, president of the branch, presided oyer a representative attendance, including visitors from New Plymouth, Lepperton, Motunui and Oakura. Among those present were Messrs C. J. Harris • (vicepresident of the provincial executive), D. Le C. Morgan (secretary), A. T. Moore, of the Agricultural Society committee, and T. C. List. . Apologies were received for the absence of Messrs H. E. Blyde (North Taranaki president), J. W. Smith (Agricultural Department), and IV. J. Okey (secretary of the Agricultural Society). After the loyal toast, the North Taranaki Provincial Farmers' Union was proposed by Mr. J. Garcia, who remarked that the Farmers’ Union was doing splendid work for the Jarmers in grappling with the various problems that confronted them in their endeavour to make a success of their undertaking. It was doing excellent work in assisting increased production by fostering a spirit of co-operation‘among the: farming community, so that all gained the benefit of any successful results achieved by any member of the community. That was in marked contrast to the spirit of individuality in existence many years ago. WORKING FOR FARMERS. In responding, Mr. C. J. Harris, vicepresident of the North Taranaki provincial executive,. said the Farmers’ Union was a body working entirely, in the interests of the farmer, and it was a body that had to be reckoned with. It behoved all farmers to support the union. He was pleased to see that they were strong in Tikorangi, and if farmers throughout New Zealand could only have the vision to see ivhat strength they would possess by united action all would join. Unity was strength, but the farmers wanted only a reasonable thing in their desire to see New Zealand the finest country in the world. He pointed out the various ways in which the union had already benefited the farming community, instancing its action in connection with the new taxation proposals. The proposals did not affect Taranaki very much, but they were united and must help those who were affected, and, in return, they would later receive help, perhaps in a case where their own interests were affected. He urged everyone to endeavour toC*gct his neighbours to join. “The Taranaki Agricultural Society” was proposed by Mr. D. Le C. Morgan, who stated that bodies such- as this were doing a lot to bring about a better understanding between farmers, who were also unconsciously absorbing knowledge they had gained from their association with such societies. In responding, Mr. A. T. Moore said that as a town man he had always taken a keen interest in the society, as he recognised that it was pot merely content to hold stock shows, but was out to do all it could in the interests of the farmer. Take, for instance, he said, the 'work being done at the Ka-

tore experimental area, where farmers could gain invaluable knowledge. The society was also behind the farmers’ competitions and had also taken over the Boys’ and Girls’ Agricultural Clubs. He urged all to assist by becoming members. LOCAL BODY DIFFICULTIES. The toast of “Local Bodies” was pro- 1 posed by Mr. R. Rolfe. In responding, Mr. H. A. Foreman, chairman of the Clifton County Council, said the work of local bodies to-day was a very big job as compared with the days prior to the advent of the motor-car. Fastmoving traffic had revolutionised road construction methods. Central Taranaki had been the first to recognise that by adopting modern methods of road-mak-ing. Local bodies, too, now had to deal with the Highways Board and the Local Bodies Loans Board, and in many cases they considered the decisions of the latter very arbitrary, especially in regard to reducing the terms of loans. Mr. T. C. List, in proposing the toast of “Competitors and Winners,” said the work done by the Agricultural Society and the Farmers’ Union in .promoting competitions deserved the heartiest support of every townsman as well as the farming community, the townsman because the towns were so dependent on the success aiid prosperity of the country. He pointed out that New Zealand required extra production, and, indeed, must have it if it was to keep on an even keel. For years New Zealand had been borrowing £6,000,000 to £7,000,000, and the only way that the increased interest and sinking fund, could be met was for the country to send more produce to the markets of the world. The towns could not do it. Production was certainly increasing each year, said Mr. List, but there was still great opportunities for increased production so far unexplored. The increased production was mainly taking place not so much by' bringing.in fresh areas but by adopting improved methods on the land already settled, and he thought great credit was’ due to the promoters of farmers’,, competitions for the incentive they gave in promoting better farm methods. NEED FOR MORE PRODUCTION. In some quarters there used to be mistrust and suspicion on the part of farmers of business people, but he could assure them that this feeling was not justified. There was on. the part of business men a real desire to do the fair and square thing by those they were serving. The prosperity of all rested upon production. A report of the Scientific Research Committee showed that only 7.8 per cent, of the lands of the British Empire were under cultivation. The wealth which determined the standard of living was limited by the capacity of a country to produce prime necessities, and only by rural production, therefore, could true prosperity come about. New Zealand was highly favoured in having one of the finest climates in the world; one had to go abroad to appreciate that fact. He stressed the necessity for scientific investigation and.research if production was to be increased, and the standard of living permanently raised. He particularly appealed to the 'young men, whose ideas were not so set, to lose no .opportunity of using improved methods of farming. •’.? WORK OF DAIRY LABORATORY. Mr. List spoke at some length on the work being done by the Imperial Research Committee in all matters relating to agriculture throughout the Empire, specially referring to the work of the Cawt'hron Institute, the Massey Agricultural College and the Hawera dairy laboratory. The latter he considered one of the finest works ever initiated in the interests of the dairying industry. In the past the dairying industry of New Zealand had lacked one of the first essentials —opportunities for scientific research and experiment. It was remarkable that without the aid of science t'he manufacture of butter and cheese in New Zealand had reached such a high standard.’ That was a real tribute to- the natural capacity and ability of the men engaged in manufacture. With the aid of science he prophesied that New Zealand would take a much larger place in the scheme of the world’s production than it had in the past. He paid, a tribute to the committee Who had organised the competitions and to Mr. J. M. Smith.

• Mr. List then presented the prizes as follows:— Stack ensilage.—C. Foreman 1, J. Paulger 2, D. Griffiths 3. Hay.—R. McKenzie 1, H. C. Hills 2, J. Paulger 3. Mangolds. —J. L. Purdie 1, F. R. Vicary 2, Mrs. B. E. Faull 3. Swedes. —H. J. Alexander 1 and run-ner-up for the North Taranaki championship, K. Lye 2, A. Alexander 3. Responding to the toast, Mr. C. Foreman said it was only after considerable persuasion that he had agreed to enter for the competition, and he expressed pleasure at the sporting manner in which the non-successful ones had accepted their defeat. There was room for improvement in production, and making better hay and ensilage and growing better root, crops was a means towards that end. These competitions were the means of farmers gaining valuable knowledge. Mr. R. McKenzie urged all farmers to enter the competitions. He pointed out that all the farmers judged the stacks as well as the official judge, and he suggested more interest would be given to ' the competitions if sweepstakes were arranged on the results. Mr. H. J. Alexander,, in responding, remarked that he would tell them the seed and manure he used and trusted there would be keen competition next year. Mr. J. Paulger pointed out that there would be a new competition next year —for grass land—which was most iniportant for the farmers. IMPROVEMENT OF METHODS. “Agricultural Interests” was proposed by Mr. P. Telford, who referred to the value of herd-testing, remarking that the haphazard methods of former days would not prove satisfactory to-day. In responding, Mr. F. T. Crowe (Lepperton) remarked that intense farming was • the key to production. With the port of New Plymouth making rapid strides they had better facilities for producing and for sending their produce away. All farmers were out not only to improve their pastures, but also their herds. He paid a tribute to the excellent work of the-officials of the Agricultural Department in the interests of the farmers. Mr. H. A. Foreman, in -his reply, expressed the opinion that the present taxation proposals would affect . the whole of the farmers of the Dominion, at least indirectly. It would not be in the interests of the Dominion for the'

whole of the first-class land to bo used for dairying, as it would mean doubling the output of dairy produce. To unduly tax the holders of second-class land would compel them to allow t'he land to deteriorate for want of capital. He recognised there was a right of appeal, but the appeal would be very costly. Butter and. cheese was not the onlyexport to consider; there was also the output of lamb and beef. Moreover, a considerable area would be required for fattening stock for local consumption. The Government already had machinery for compelling land to be cut up. “The Tikorangi Branch”.was proposed by Mr. D. Le C. Morgan, who complimented t'he branch, and particularly the chairman and secretary, on the splendid work they were doing. In response, Mr. Paulger said he had always tried to do his bit, and in that connection had very loyal support from the members. So far Tikorangi had. not now any championships, but they would not give up. They were very fortunate in having such an impartial man to judge as Mr. Smith, who had won the respect of the whole farming community. Other toasts were “The -Ladies and Artists,” proposed by Mr. J. Robinson • ' ' • > ’ 1 ' I »I ’ ’ • ' ’"'l ’ ’■ • . , , , / I i . 4 iII I I , ij ■ j “The Press,” proposed by the chairman and responded to by Press representatives present; and “The Chairman.” An excellent musical programme was given, all the performers being encored. The items included songs by Messrs F. McClellan, C. Blake, C. J. Harris and J. F»edric; humorous recitations by Messrs L. Gainey, D. Le C. Morgan, and C. Blake; pianoforte solo by Mr. J.• Fredric; violin solo by Mr. E. Neilsen; and mouth organ solo by Mr. E. Pankhurst. Community singing was led by Mr. V. Simpson. Mr. J. Fredric was the accompanist. The members of the Tikorangi branch, and particularly the president (Mr. J. Paulger) and the secretary (Mr. R. McKenzie, deserve to be congratulated on the arrangements made for the function,