A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 12 June 1926, Page 7

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

MEETING Hl' c: ENERAL CO 3 f-MITT Eli. A meeting nf the general committee of 11;c Timaru A. and .I*. Association was hold in Timani yesterday. Present —Messrs T. R. Alackit.v (president), W. J. Bassett, W. J. Keland, A. S. Elworthy. M. IT S. Johnstone, R. Irving, AL O’Connor, N. 31. Orbcll, T. Seaton, 0. A. AT. Macdonald, E. Kclland. J. Afaze, L. J. Grant, W. J. Parry, P. Porter, D. Grant, .1. E. P. Cameron, 31. Maze, C. L. Orbell, and IT. IT. Eraser (secretary). MOTIONS OF SYMPATHY. The president made sympathetic reference to the death of Air B. AA . Cartwright (a former member of the committee), and also to the death of ATY K. McLennan, who had done a lot of useful work in judging at A. and P. shows. He moved a motion of 'sympathy with the relatives of the deceased. The. motion was carried in silence, all standing.

REPORTS. The president reported that a meeting of the committee appointed to go into the formation of a Herd Testing Association for Smith Canterbury had boon held, with representatives of the South Canterbury Jersey Cattle Club, and after- having gone into the matter in detail it had been decided to ask Afr C. L. Gillies. B.Agr.. to draw op details of' a testing scheme to be submitted to another meeting to ho held in a fortnight.' Air Eraser reported on - the - conference nf the Royal Agricultural Society, which lie had attended as representative of the Timnvu A. and P. Association! an account of which had already appeared in the “Herald.”

TAR, IN WOOL. The British Wool Federation, Bradford, wrote in regard to trouble caused by the presence of tar in wool, and suggesting that growers should be asked to avoid the use of tar, either in the marking of sheep, or for any other' purpose in which tar is applied. The president said that the sheepmen could help in the matter, and no doubt thev would do so. Air Elworthy said that he had received advice •bom London that he. should not- use tar on his wool, and though he was told there were signs of it in his wool, as a matter of fact he never used tar. ■ . The president said that 'perhaps there was a mixture of tar in the b’aek brands which were used. Air Johnstone said that the Bradford'authorities might have been mistaken in supposing black brands on wool were tar. Mr Lowry said it would be well to take notiro of the complaint, or it might happen some day _ that wool buyers would refuse to bid for wool wlr'ch was tar branded. On the motion of Alessrs Alacdonald and Orbell, it was decided to ask the Agricultural Department, to analvse the material used for marking wool, with a view to ascertaining whether there is any tar in it. ATr Alacdonald said he had thought that the use of tar for branding- had been discontinued in South Canterbury long ago.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S SUGGESTIONS.

The Royal Agricultural Society forwarded a letter from the annual conference, in regard to horses and .ponies competing at agricultural show's: — “That all horses or ponies competing at agricultural shows, cither in the competitive classes or leaping events, must be entered in the bona fide owner’s name, or a 'member of his family.” “That all leased horses or ponies competing at agricultural shows must bo registered with the Royal Agricultural Society of Now Zealand, such lease to he for a term of not less than twelve months, tile lease to be regisI tered before entries are made for any ' agricultural show.” ( Afr Eraser said that be had voted . against the second resolution, at the ) conference. 1 . After discussion, in which it, was ; suggested that the twelve months’ stipulation should be deleted. the second motion was referred to the Light. Horse Committee, and the first , was approved. PLANT BREEDING. The Canterbury Agricultural College advised that, the Government bad recently signified its .intention of assisting the plant breeding work at Canterbury Agricultural College by an additional grant, and the Board of Governors bad directed that part of the money must be used for traveling expenses, so that, the work of plant improvement might bo extended to ’'arious districts of the South Island. Tile cocksfoot selection work that the College, had been engaged in for the past, three years was so promising, and was so applicable to all parts of the

Island that it seemed advisable to concentrate on this branch of investigation. The first, step in the work was to collect growing plants of cocksfoot from old-estabiished pastures from various types of country, and then grow the strains under uni Form conditions, so that the most prolific could bo selected Dr. Hilgendnrf asked for an indication of the types of land which exist in South Canterbury and for a, suggestion as to whom he should consult regarding the best localities for making selections. Afr N. AL Orbell said it would be a verv useful tiling to have the cocksfoot thoroughly tested. No farmer who had seen Danish cocksfoot tested would bother to grow it. It had no foliage, but an abundance of seed. It was °grown for seed, and the latter looked very good, but any farmer who sowed it here for feed purposes would “fall in” badly. These remarks were endorsed by Air Elworthy and Air J. Alazc. Tt was generally agreed that Dr. IJilgendorf’s experiments would serve a highly useful purpose, and it was unanimous v decided to give him every assistance possible. Air Elwortliv said that if Dr. Hilgendnrf came to South Canterbury lm would he only too pleased to motor him to any part of the district he mi"ht wish to visit. •

The letter was referred to the Agri cultural Committee.

PROPOSED NEW COLLEGE.

A letter was received from Air J. D. Hall (president of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union), who said that ho had been asked by his executive to ascertain whether something cannot be done to prevent any hasty diccsion being arrived at by the Government concerning the site for tho proposed new College of Agriculture, and the methods of prosecuting research work in connection with tho primary industries. Air N. AI. Orbell said they had an enormous political “pull” in tho North Island, but bo thought that every effort should be made to retain Lincoln College, which could be made suitable for tho requirements of tho whole Dominion, at an expenditure very much lower than the cost of a new college. ATr Orbell moved : “That this Association requests tho Government to give, effect to the recommendation of the. Board of Agriculture,' namely, _ that sufficient funds be allotted to Lincoln College to bring its equipment and teaching facilities np to th crequiremonts of the present day. That copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Alinister, the Arinistcr of Agriculture, the Alinister of Education, and local members of Parliament.” The motion was seconded by Air Johnstone, and carried unanimously. Air Fraser said the matter had been discussed at the recent conference of tho Royal Agricultural Society, and was a burning question from one end of New Zealand to the other. He drew attention to tho opinions of Air J. P. Kalauglrer, as published in that day’s

“Herald,” and said it was evident, from expert authority, that it would be a very grave mistake to spend £250,000 on a new college in the North Island, when Lincoln College would be suitable for all requirements at an expenditure of £25,000. On the motion of Alossrs Johnstone and C. L. Orbell, it was decided: “That the Government be requested to delay the proposal to establish an agricultural college in tho North Island, as in tho opinion of this Association, Lincoln College, situated as it is In the centre of the grain-growing province of the South Island, and with the. help asked for, could fill all requirements in the meantime.” The motion was'carried unanimously, and it was decided that a copy of it be sent to every South Island ALP., whose support will be asked for.

Afr Alacdonald said that the North Island expected the South Island to grow sufficient, wheat and seeds for the whole Dominion, and as Lincoln College is in the centre of the grain-growing area, even tho North Islanders must recognise that that was the proper place for the college. GENERAL. Air E. C artwright, lion, secretary to the Timaru Ploughing Alatch Committee, wrote asking tho Association to give a cup for competition at the annual ploughing match. It was decided to give a £5 5s cup.

The Now Zealand Milking Shorthorn 'Association forwarded a. cheque for £2 2s as a special prize. Tho Clydesdale Horse Society forwarded a copy of its annual balance and pointed out how breeders could bclo the Society.

Tlie Non’ Zealand Friesian Association, and fclio Jersey Breeders’ Association each forwarded a copy of its report and balance sheet. A letter was received from Air F. E. Ward, Director of Agriculture in Tasmania, thanking the Association for its congratulations and good wishes, and adding that he felt a very real regret in leaving behind him so many friends in New Zealand. The Clydesdale ITorse Socictv advised that tliov had forwarded to Air ,T At. Smith (Oamarul tho cup won by him at the Timaru show of 1925. Air W. King (Rosewi’l)' was elected an annual member of the Association, and Air W. T. Eitclnc a life member. Accounts were passed for payment and the meeting closed.