FARMERS' UNION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CIV, Issue 15903, 6 March 1916, Page 9

FARMERS' UNION.

. EXECUTIVE MEETING. A meeting of the Executive of the South Canterbury Branch of the Farmers' Union was held in Timaru on Saturday. Present —Messrs J. Talbot (chairman), J. .Bitchener, J. Henderson (Waimate). R. J. McKeown, A. G. Mart. G. Butler, J. Wright, C. N. Orbell, A. Cleland, J. Henderson (Timaru), C. J. Talbot, M.P., and M. Moore. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT. The Chairman made the following .statement: —■ The drought which persisted through last year with such serious results to the grain and stock industries has to a largo extent broken up with tho new year. Though too late to save the grain crops it has.immensely benefited the pastures and turnip crops,, especially in districts a. few miles inland from the sea- coast. The transformation in the appearance and prospects that the past few weeks has produced over the district is quite surprising. The turnip and rape crops are now, generally speaking, looking remarkably well, and sheep feed therefore promises to bo abundant and of excellent quality. More rain is needed during this month to keep the present conditions going, especially along the coast line, and as we have had such a long period of draught, normal conditions of weather may now bo reasonably expected to prevail. The grain stubbles being in a very suitable, condition, advantage is being taken to. a. large extent to also grow green feed. The supply of fat stock to the freezing works a little later on should therefore now be assured.

The harvest over South Canterbury will now be auite finished, and a large proportion oi : the grain is threshed. The quality, especially of the wheat, will he with few exceptions,. excellent. The yield per aero is a. question that everyone interested may form their own opinion upon. Reports of actual yields vary from SO or even 60 bushels per aero, down to less than 10. The estimates supplied to the Government by .their officers in the -various wheatgrowing districts give u. Dominion average of nearly 22 bushels per acre. It must be remembered that this is an estimate only, and may not be borne out by actual results. Notwithstanding the reports of phenomenal yields from some parts of this district, I am inclined to the opinion that my proharvest forecast of a maximum yield of 25 bushels pere aero over South Canterbury will not be far out. We are apt to hear more of the big yields in a few favoured localities, and under special conditions of cultivation than of the very many poor and disappointing ones, t am bound to say, however, that the yield, generally speaking, is proving to be above, expectations. In the matter of price the position at the present is not very satisfactory. Induced by the high price generally obtained by the farmers last year,' and in response to the urgent appeal of the Government to increase the. wheat production, the area in wheat this year is .said to be some 330,000 acres. Had the season been a. normal one, disastrous consequences would have ensued to all growers alike. As the average cost under present conditions to grow wheat will be not less than £6 10s to £7 per acre, he loss ov-er the whole, to produce the present crop at to-dav's prices, will he very considerable. Individually, the results' will be tha't a certain number of farmers will be well repaid, another proportion -will be fairly paid, while another, and I fear a largo proportion, will be heavv losers, with the result that their owii labour and what they mav have bought from others has been ontirelv" lost.

In regard to wheat "roving, and its future prospects, I wish to offer a few remarks:—(l) The local consumption to meet all requirements is estimated to be a little over seven million bushels, say the produce of about 230,000 acres of an average crop. (2) Any excess in production over home requirements, however small, must inevitably have the effect of reducing the value of the. whole of the year's crop to whatever it may be worth for export. (3) Under the conditions brought about by the war in the matter of transport—conditions that are likelv to continue for an indefinite tinro, after he close of the war—the prospects of the export of wheat to England are almost hopeless, except at such a. cost as to- leave nothing for the producer. (4) The opportunities and facilities for wheat production in Australia are so great that the import price h'cre, especially of their flour, which they dump- in at littlo or no profit to thernselves, except to keep their mills running full time, will in their ordinary seasons be such that we cannot hope to compete against, with the present protective duty of £1 per ton on flour, and 9d per cental on wheat. (5) ■\Yhcat growing in this country is one of the most risky, worrying, and uncertain of farm undertakings at all times, and will now be through the effects of the war more especially so. The recruiting demands will reduce to a minimum the number and efficiency of farm workers: the extra house work involved, and the difficulty of obtaining help in it, also increases the seriousness of the problem. (6) Owing to the length of tinro required to produce a crop of wheat, am] its exhausting effects on the laud, two years rent or interest, together with rates and taxes, should be charged against it. (7) The wheat grower can look for no eonsider'.ation or relief. If over production reduces its value to vanishing point, he in list promptly find the money to pay for such labour as he may require to buy, although the results from it may amount to a dead loss, while on the other hand he may expect to be robbed by Government interference of any extra reward, either by an attempt to regulate prices, or prevention of export should such a circumstance as a failure in the Australian crop occur in his favour. , In view of all the circumstances, therefore, I think that wheat-growing wiil be a- declining industry., if not immediately, then within " a. short time: that it will be restricted to the localities and lands more especially adapted to its growth, and to those farmers who may not require to hire much labour outside their own families. I should •expect on the other hand that move attention, care, and skill, wil! be devoted to increasing the different productions obtainable from live stock. There is still, I think, opportunities for expansion in this direction, with a reasonable expectation of hotter paying results than wheat growing offers. It is the export value that has hitherto, and must continue to decide the price of these products. This basis, therefore, is a fairly reliable one, more especially as the transport question, though a. serious one, is not nearly so acute, in the case of live stock productions as it is in that of wheat, on account of its much greater value in proportion to bulk and weight. He estimated the cost of producing wheat now at :t(.i 14s per acre, made up as follows.:—Two ploudiings ISs. grubbing and harrowing Ss, drilling and harrowing ss, seed and manue 17s, harrowing and rolling wheat 3s, reaping, twine, and stacking 'JBs, threshing and carting (a, 30 bushel crop') ]-~s, rent, rates and taxes £2 10s. THE YIELD. Tiro Chairman added that these were his opinions only, and he did not want them to go out to the public as the

opinions of members of the Union i» genera! unless, they really were. Ho therefore- hoped that if* any members did not agree with what he had said, they would not hesitate to .say so. -Air Orhell said the chairman had over-estimated the average yield this year. His average over different parts of the Levels was 15.J- bushels, and bis son's crop averaged under 'JO bushels. He knew another man whose yield was 17 bushels. People put in their big yields, but they seldom said anything about their small yields. It should not go forth that they had a big crop this Jear for that wa.s not the fact. Mr Hart agreed with what Mr Orhell hail said". Mr Bitchener said hv was satisfied that the average yield would not exceed 20 bushels this year. The worst: (lops «ere near the seaboard. He knew of one fanner in a big way in the Otaio district who had only threshed 9 bushels per acre. Mr McKeown. said he was satisfied that the average yield this year would not. be 20 bushels per acre. On his brother's farm at Pareora the yield was 18 bushels, and on his own farm at Tycho he got 25 bushels of oats this year as compared with 80 bushels last year. Generally speaking, the crops were much below the average. The meeting generally agreed that the average yield was not- more than 20 bushels per aero this year. SMALL BIRDS. Mr Orhell mentioned that a conference might bo held in regard to the. small bird nuisance, and if tho meeting would make any suggestions in regard to the pest they would he useful to the conference. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Waimate branch of the Union advising that they had passed a motion opposing any increase in the land tax. The Point branch wrote that they considered the correct method of meeting war expenditure was through the income tax. They also asked the Executive to ascertain from "mouth to month tho space available for stock in the- Canterbury freezing works this season. The Albury branch wrote that they considered tho income tax si just one which should be levied without exemptions. . It was considered inadvisable to discuss war taxation, at the present time. ■ Mr Hart said that southern stock raisers were now booking space in South Cantrbury freezing works, and he thought that there might he a more serious block here later on, than there was last year at the freezing works. It was decided to ask the Freezing Companies to give a- general idea of what space, is likely to be available month by month for the. next three months. RECRUITING. ■ Discussing tho recruiting question, Mr Talbot said he thought- they should all fall in with the Governments recruiting scheme, and try out the voluntary system thoroughly. Hv> did not liko the idea of ordinary civilians going'round asking men why they did not go to the war, however, and thought it would he better if the Defence Department sent down some officers who were qualified to do such work. WEATHER. LECTURE.

Mr Henderson (Timaru moved, and Mr Moore seconded, that Mr AVoolcs be invited to give- a "lecture to farmers, ■in the Board room of the C.F.C.A., on the weather. (Mr "Wooles has signi|ned his willingness to give such a, lecture). The motion was carried unanimously. APPRECIATION. Mr Henderson (Timaru) made complimentary reference to the "Farm Column 1 ' in the "Timaru Herald," and said he thought that the Union should pa.ss a. motion of appreciation to the "Herald" for attending so well to thu farming community in the. matter of supplying them with good, reliable information on all farm and station matters. It_ was decided that a. note of appreciation should he sent to the proprietors of the "Herald."