SMALL FARM PRODUCTION

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1929, Page 7

SMALL FARM PRODUCTION

CUP OFFERED FOR COMPETITIONS

DIFFICULTY IN CONDITIONS. At a meeting of the South Taranaki provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union at Hawera yesterday, the chairman, Mr. E. J. Betts, announced that Mr. T. C. List had signified his intention of donating a solid silver cup if the mooted competition encouraging increased production • i small 'as were organised. The announcement led to a discussion.

. While agreeing with the principle of the competition, one member foresaw almost insurmountable difficulties. There seemed to him too much of a temptation for entrants to “fake” their returns. Admittedly some of the returns from 50-acre sections were wonderful, but •he for one was not convinced that they were genuine. How easy it would be, he said, for one man running 50 or 60 cows on 100 acres to graze . those animals on another area during the winter, and in his returns state that they had been grazed on his . own property. ; . - Another member considered the scheme a step in the . right direction, and sug- , gested a committee should be set up to igo into the • matter. " ’ : : “There is no doubt that it - would : create a gjeat amount of interest,” • said Mr. C. D. Dickie, “and if possible . we should lend our support. The small • farmer is 'the man we want' to encourage - and not let lapse into a state of peas- • antry., He deserves a little better than ; trade union wages.” L Mr. H. Hodge: Many would be more < than satisfied with a trade union wage. Another member stated that the com-

petition would have to be arranged so that the man Owning rough and hilly : country did not compete against the man • - owning’good flat land. Mr. W. E. Carters'lf one farmer can afford to put 100 tons of manure on his . land it stands to reason he must obtain better results than the man who can

afford only 20 tons. The chairman’s suggestion that the executive should keep tlie matter in hand for next year was agreed to. z