TIMARU A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16311, 13 August 1917, Page 5

TIMARU A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the committee of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held on Saturday. Present—Messrs Rupert Parry, pesident (in the chair), "\V. J. Bassett, vice-presi-dent. R. J. McKeowi. J. S. Rutherford. E. Kelland, R. Irving, G. A. M. Macdonald, A. G. Hart. D. Grant. iTim'arul. E. R. Guinness. H. Lowrv. T. Scott, B. E. H. Tripp. W. W. Cartwridit. H. E. E-vworthv. C. L. Orbcll C. N. Orhell R. H. Rhodes and R. P-avio. A number of apologies were received for absence. CORRESPONDENCE. Messrs A. A. Scott and C. wrote resigning tlic-ir mcaiUieship. Mr W. Harper wrote that Lo would be unable to act as a --lassi steward in the draught bi>r-,c class. Mr Wm. Cunningham wnte a'groc'ng to act r.s class steward for cattle, and suggesting that two judges should be engaged' to adjudicate flass for milk cows. If this were done it would give greater satisfaction to exhibitois. A judge generally gave the prize to a cow of the kind that he bred himself. It was stated that the judge had al--e:dy been appointed. Mr Ritchings Grant, inspector o" technical schools. wrote that he bad thought it would bo impossible for liim to act as class steward in the uoolcassing section, but through Mr Maze tho Education Board had agreed to'lot him away to undertake the work this year. The secretary said that Mr Grant had .-'ways been looked upon as a specialist in this connection. ai:d thev were fortunate in being able to get his s-rvires. Mr Hart endorsed these remarks and that it would bo r hard job to replace Mr Grant, .v's the,*- might not. able to secure Mr Grant's services rftrr next show be suiigestsvl that rhoy should appoint setne on to act with him this year in order to get into the work. It was agreed to do this. Mr Mr T). Grant (Timaru}. offered £ ; } 3s for most points in fat rattle. • The Railway Department advised that for the next Timaru show spacial trains woidd be run between Timaru

[and the show grounds as formerly; there would be no excursion fares, and no special from Orari. The usual stock trains would run provided there was no great falling off in the entries; the special stock train would run from "Waihao Downs on the same terms as last year, namely £8 10s. It was decided' to again engage this train. The Clydesdale Association forwarded a copy of their balance sheet showing a debit balance of about £IOO. The Egmont Agricultural and Pastoral Association advised that they had decided to abandon their annual shew this year. Christ-church advised that they would hold their show on November S and 9; Waimate on November 1 : Oamam "on November 21 and 22. Ridgeway's circus space on the show grounds. i The Holstein Association wrote forSsvarding a list of judges for Holstein [cattle.

AN IMPORTANT PROPOSAL. Au- Rhodes said they wore told that they were likely to' lx> -up against 7 ' a great siiortago of turnip and swede ' Sc-od, and he suggested mat tie Association should otter prists for the best turnips and swedes ,_troivu Irom raised by farmers in the district. Tho - Association should also ask the Government to estabiish some experimental ■ plots in South. Canterbury whore seeds could be grown from selected bulbs. ' "What the Association could do would 1 only be something on a small scale, but it- would be a, useful educational factor - iu tho life of the farming community, ■ and should also help them to coive the ' seed sliortagc problem. The cost to ; the Association, or to those who took part in the competition, would not be - much; and it might prove that South Canterbury is well suited to sesd rais- - ing- If they ran short of turnips and swede seed the farmers of die South Island beiow Timaru would have to ■ give up keeping stock. It was impor- • tant that they should endeavour to : raiso their own seed. (Hear, hear.) Mr Macdonald warmly supported Mr Rhodes's proposal, and said that if it • could be carried out suceessfullv it would be a great thing for South* Canterbury He thought the scheme should he expanded to include mantis Mr Tripp thought it an excellent idea and suggested that prizes should b 0 offered to the boys as well as to farmers. Mr Hart- said the proposal was an ex-

I'olleiii- one, and it it di'.l no good it could do no harm. Tile i nances were, that it wou.d do much good. Prizes should be ottered for tho dressed seed ;:s well as ior tho bulbs g-rowiu irom il- - Guinness suggested that a cominitteo be sot up to go into the whole matter. Mr C. N. Orbell said that it would be open to any farmer to take part in the competition. Twenty-live years ago he had carried out the very experiments that were now rocommoiidcd, but the trouble, was that the birds got all the seed. It might be different now, however, and any farmer could put in, say a quarter of'an acre, specially for seed purposes. He hoped that farmers would do this; the time for sowing was just coming on. Mr Guinness said he knew a farmer who had put in 20 acres acres of rape for seed; tho rape had grown to a beautiful crop but the grower had not got one. bag of seed; the birds had got tho lot. Mr Rhodes proposed thr.t the following sub-committee be set up to go into the matter: —Messrs R. Parry, W. J. Bassott. D. Grant (Timaru), G- A. M. Macdonald, B- E. H. Tripp. T. Scott and R. PI. Rhodes,_ the committee, to report to next meeting. This was carried unanimously. Mi- Rhodes suggested that farmers should bo asked to save a, few bulbs from which to get seed for tho experiment. He moved that the Government be asked to establish experimental plots in South Canterbury. Mr Macdonald seconded and the motion was carried. Mr Rhodes voiced a plea for the girt of half an. acre of land to be used for experimental purposes. He said that there was surely some man in the room with land (near"the railway) who would give half an acre for such a purpose; he could not himself give it as his land was too far from the railway. Mr Macdonald said that he would give £5 as a prize for the seed competition. THE AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.' The Agricultural Council forwarded the resolutions passed at the annual conference, and asked the Association to endorse them.

The resolutions were considered., but the meeting was by no means unanimous in endorsing them. One resolution proposed that the Association should enrrv on experimemtiil" work with the- aid of grants from the County Councils. Mr Guinness said th.it the present «s no time for starting experimental plots, tliey should wait till the war was over.

Mr Tripp gave an account of the business done at the Agricultural Conference. Timaru had sent forward one remit. This was in reference to territorial camps and parades, and the Conference had struck it out on the ground that the matter should be left to the military. One of the most important matters discussed was in reference to farm labour. Mr Hunt, of Jnvercargiil, (who farms 2<XX> acres'), had informed the conference that he never had the slightest trouble in getting all the labour he required because lie had built eleven cottages on his property.

Mr Macdonald. who was also a delegate at the conference, gave some information on various points, as to what had been done, and said that a greatt deal of time had been profitably spent in the discussions. Mr Parry moved that (he secretary bn instructed to write to the Council of Aviculture asking what per rentage of the resolutions of the annual coherence .have in the past been given effect to by the Government.—Carried. CHINESIC OR SOLDIERS. Mr Hart said it was satisfactory to hear from tne. conference delegates that tlie farni labour problem was bo easy solution. Mr Hunt must have managed to secure labour much easier than, uie Mackenzie ruuholder who was employing Chinamen. A motion should go forth from the Association expressing its strong dissent aganut the employment df Chinamen when white labour was available. It must be very disheartening to those young follows who were away fighting for their country, to find Chinese put in thenplaces at home. Mr Guinness said that where all things were equal, or nearly equal, preference of employment 'should he given to returned soldiers A numbcir of returned men had told hiin that work from Auckland to the Bluff had been given to the stay-at-homes in preference to returned soldiers. He did not think this was right: the returned men should always be given a decided preference. He moved to this effect. (Hear, hear.) Mr Scott seconded the motion and slid lie thought it was the feeling of the great majority of people that preference of emp'ovment should be given to returned soldiers. (Hear, hear). The motion was carried unanimously. NEW MEMBERS. Tlie secretary reported that Mr G. Lyall, of St. Andrews, had been very active in securing new members, and he had sent in. the following for election : Messrs H. A. Anstcv (Otaio), J. O'Donolnte (K*lc Valley), A. Ward (Otnio). G. Barber (Pareova), L. Shepherd (St. Andrews'), R. Cross (Mavntrati), A. M. Copland (Esk Vallov. J. McLean (Otnio). J. Hall (Otaio). The president said he had much plenstire in proposing a ladv member of the Association Miss Airini Rhodes of Rlnecliffs. (Applause.) Mr Parry said he hoped that other ladies 1 would follow the example set by Miss Rhodes. (Hear, hear.)