FARMERS’ UNION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 27 November 1926, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION.

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. A meeting of the South Canterbury Executive or the Fanners' Union was held in Timaru yesterday. Present— Messrs J. Hitchcner (president, in the clmir), J. McCort, J. Clelapd, .1). is. Levis, J. 'i’rotter, 1). J. Pemberton', "W. H. Stanilands, C. Ley, P. It'.: ■Talbot. J. T. Paterson, L. V. Talbot, J. A. Paterson, D. M. France,. A. J. D.ivey, A. F. Campbell, and A. J. France. Tiio chairman said that they had a fair amount of business .to get through • that day. Ho regretted that there was net a larger attendance, but ho presumed that this was accounted for by the fact that farmers were at present busy with shearing _ and other farm operations: . Mr iladfield, of the Department of Agriculture, Christchurch, would address them on ;tlm potato question, and Mr N. M. Orbell would speak to them concerning Lincoln College. Mr Bitchencr reported briefly on the last meeting of .the Dominion Executive of the Farmers’ Union, which he had attended. POTATOES. Mr J. W. Hadfiold, of the Department of . Agriculture, Christchurch, said it was proposed that the Department should take an active part in an endeavour to raiso the standard of purity in potatoes. Much of the 4»ado in potatoes had been restricted through impurities, as for .example,, those in Dakotas, and it was certain that there had bpen a considerable. reduction in yield through strains c-fj potatoes having been used for seed purposes, which were not up to a reasonable standard of health. It was suggested that growers having .pure and healthy lines of potatoes should make application to have them inspected by the Department,, and if they passed the standard which was deemed necessary, the names of these growers would be published in the Journal of Agriculture, and thus give an indication to purchasers as to whore such lines of potatoes could ho procured. Merchants were keenly interested in this matter, and it followed that growers should be interested also.

Mr Hadfield said ihat the scheme for securing puro seed potatoes was not a new one: it hadUipon adopted in several countries. The Arran Chief potatoes wero, lie said, by far tho best yielders in New Zealand to-day, and it was important that the seed should be kept pure; it had been proved that the puro strains yielded far moro heavily than strains which were not pure, clean and healthy. Dakotas', through disease and through ' having got very mixed, had greatly deteriorated in value, and Sydney, Auckland, Wellington, and Dunedin now fought shy of them if they could get others. Mr Hadfield referred to the various diseases which attack potatoes, notably eorticium, and stressed tho necessity for attempting to eliminate theso diseases and increase the quality. This would not give added work to farmers, but would reduce it, and would make their crop more valuable. It was not proposed to_foist any new scheme npon farmers without notice, hut «any growers who wished to have their ips inspected next , year would .be able to do so.

In reply to the chairman, Mr Hadfield said he did not think that powdery scab affects the yields; only an odd tuber got this disease, but it was important to eliminate it as it affected the value of tho whole crop. Mr CamplAll drew attention to tho fact that in somo districts up country white potatoes became so bitter as to 1 make them unpalatable; even Arran IChiofs wero affected in this way, and in fact all white potatoes, but red potatoes did not suffer in tho same way. So long as the potatoes wero left in tho ground they wero all right. Mr Hadfield said ho was at a loss to account for this, but it was a fact, that soil conditions had a lot to do with the flavour of potatoes. Mr Pemberton said that ho had noticed a bitter taste in black kidneys grown in peaty soil at Clandeboye. In reply to Mr Staniland, Mr Hadfield said that on his present visit he wanted to know what farmers thought of the scheme for pure seed. If any farmer who had What ho considered a pure strain of seed notified tho Department, his potatoes would bo officially inspected two or three times and if the lino wero found to be pure a certificate to that effect would bo given. It was suggested that tho names of those who had such certificates should bo published in tho Agricultural Journal. Messrs Pembertcf, Lewis and L. V. Talbot expressed the opinion- that only good could come of such a schemens that outlined by Mr.Hadfield Mr Pemberton remarking that it would be as useful in its way as herd testing In reply to Mr Campbell, MrHadfield said tfiat at the present I tirno the Department, could not. ,gu;tranteo a single bag. of potatoes in Canterbury to bo free from .eorticium I Tho president said tho subject I which had been discussed that afternoon wa-s a must important one, and I anything tho Department could do to secure for them potatoes of good quality and free from disease would be of great value. ' It was certainly bettor to grow from [Hire than from diseased seed—the one occasioned as> • inueli work as the other— and lie wished the Department every success in what it was doing. (Hear bear 1 1 Mr Hadfield. in reply to 'requests ! | agreed, to address meetings of farmers j

at Temuka, Geraldine, and St. Andrews, and at any other centres at which his presence might be desired. _ Mr Hadfiold was thanked for his presence and his address. LINCOLN COLLEGE. At tho invitation of tho Union Mr N. M. Orbell addressed the meeting ' on the subject of Lincoln College. Ho explained fully the. proposal to haiid over "the College,to' the Government on certain conditions, and dealt with.the ' work ,of tho College generally. (Mr 1 Orbeli’s views of the subject were published at length 'in last Monday's “Timara Ilerald.”) The president also gave some interesting information on the subject, and | j on hfs motion Mr Orbell was accorded ' j a hearty vote of thanks. RURAL CREDITS j A resolution from the Dominion ■! Executive read as follows:—“That this j Executive should continue to agitato > for legislation .embodying the re,coinj mendations made by the Rurgl .Credits Commission in its report, and that provincial committees be .set up to carry on the movement.” It was said to be useless to set up any committee in the matter as tho Union could do nothing, the matter, being one for Parliament. It was decided', to simply receive the letter. DAYLIGHT SAVING. Another resolution from the Dominion Executive rend: “That stops be taken to circularise all provinces and branches requesting them to commence organising at once to oppose ■ the Daylight Saving Bill.” It was said ! that this Bill will be again brought ■•/.‘forward, at next session of Parliament,. ■ ap'd that.no stone should be'left 'unturned to secure, its defeat. Provinces and branches should place their views on the matter, in no uncertain terms before their.:respective M.P’s. The president said he did not. think the Lower House would carry the Bill again. It was decided to circularise all tho branches asking them to protest against the measure. WHEAT CONFERENCE. Tho Mid-Canterbury Branch of the . Farmers’ Union advised that a conference of wheat growers would be held in Ashburton on December 11, to consider the question of tbis season's wheat crop, and inviting the South Canterbury branch to send delegates to it. Mr P. R. Talbot suggested that quite a lot of farmers should go, as the meeting would bo packed, and it would bo gpon to every wheat grower. The president said they were nil vitally interested in tbis conference and should bo represented at it. Mr Pemberton proposed that the chairman of each Branch be asked to attend, and that the Executive send two members. Tbis was seconded bv Mr P. It. Talbot. Mr L. V. Talbot said it was certainly desirable that they should be represented in as great numerical strength as possible. The motion was carried. GENERAL. A letter from the organiser to the Union fMr Bruce ■ Gillies) suggested that every publicity should bo given to the achievements, of the Union, so that farmers would son what was being done for them by tho Union. On the'motion of : Mi- P. It. Talbot it was unanimously decided to endorse ■he action of tho Timaru A. and P. Association in asking that the freezing works of South Canterbury be opened in December. A letter was received from the [ Geraldine Branch asking tho Union to 1 press for tho opening of the freezing \ works in December. r Tt was said that this would be done. I In reply to a question by Mr'Trotter ! the secretary agreed to write to tho j Department of Agriculture for infer- I malion as to the difference in the J' nrico of manures in the North and South Lslnnds respectively. A report of the Wellington wool sale was received from a Wellington firm of wool brokers.

The sub-committee appointed for the purpose, reported that information ct very, material importance was expected from Mrs W. ,T. Poison, in reference to the formation of a women’s branch of. tho Fanners’ TTnion, and the committee .'advised waiting for the arrival of tin's information.-—Agreed to. Tin's concluded the business.-and as this meeting was the last for this year, the president wished farmers a prosperous season, and a happy Christmas and hew Year.

Mr McCort recinrocated on behalf of the farmers, and. in so doing made very, complmientnrv reference 'to the worl c dnno by Mr Bifchener. on behalf of farmers,.and to the great work done t.eforn bun hv the late Mr John lalbot. ( Annlan.seA