FARMERS’ UNION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17756, 17 September 1927, Page 6

FARMERS’ UNION.

TJAIARU—ST. ANDREWS BRANCH.

A meeting of the Andrews Branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union was held ni the Arcade rooms yesterday. Present—Messrs PR Talbot (chairman), P. 1 oiler, \Y. B. S. Jones, D. Al. France, A. J. Frame, J. Howell, R. AlcKenzie (Cave), and R. Hammond. The North Canterbury Branch c-t the Farmers’ Union forwarded a report by its agricultural committee on horse breeding. The report stated that the latest figures avoidable indicated that there was a danger of a very serious .shortage, of horses developing within the next lew years, and that farming operations would be seriously affected tliorcbv. Since 1927 horses had declined bv 15.7 jier cent., this decline being probably justified by the motor truck invasion ol : the cities and towns, but the lack of breeding extending as it did back over a considerable period threatened to reduce the numbers far .low what these factors justify. Air A. J. France said that some time ago a young man from Alberta, Canada, bad spoken to him on the shortage of horses. The Canadian had forecasted an acute shortage in New Zealand and anticipated that in about three rears horses in New Zealand would be worth about £IOO each. The tractors were playing a prominent part in tho shortage. The chairman: “Tractors and horses work well together, and it is a great mistake to throw horses out of action altogether.” Air Porter: There is no encouragement for owners to breed at the present time. At the last Dunedin Show there was an abundance of young horses, but the price received was not encouraging to owners.” The chairman was of opinion that there were too many stallions travelling the district that were not worth securing. The only thing they could do was to let the matter go out in the newspapers and make farmers realise the position lor themselves. Replies were received from the Timaru A. and P. Association, Levels County Council, AA’aimato County Council, and the Alackenzio County Counoil in reference to the. Branch’s resolution concerning hospital levies, y latter body stating that it bad always been against tho present system of basing the levy wholly on capital values, and favoured a system whereby the levy should be calculated one half on capital value and one half on population. Tho New Zealand Farmers’ Union forwarded the following remit from the Dominion Conference, which was forwarded to the Government for consideration:— “That the method of assessing contribution to Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards on a capitalvalue basis is inequitable, and that the basis of assessment be half on population and half on capital value.” The chairman said that most of the branches were supporting the proposal, and they would no doubt do likewise! The Forest Extension Officer (Air C. H. Reece) wrote stating that it was nroposed to hold a gathering cf farmers at tho Tlanmcr and Tapanui stations in order to demonstrate to those interested the latest methods of tiee-raising, from the seed-bed to tho plantation. The Branch’s opinion on tho following points was asked for:— I) The most suitable date for the holding of such a meeting; (2) the probable populan'ty of the movement gauged by local knowledge; (3) whether it would he advisable to crowd the work into one day or to take two or even three days in order to view dentations.. —-The letter was received. All- Jones, referring to small birds, said that they were becoming a great nuisance, and he would like to see something done in the matter. He suggested that they should have a concerted poisoning campaign. After brief discussion it was decided to writ© to tho Levels Council and suggest that that body should distribute poison grain throughout the district. Air D. At. France, representative of the Branch on the S.P.C.A.’ drew attention to the manner in which a bull had been sent to the freezing works recently. The bull had been chained by the head and had suffered considerable pain. Air France said that he had been asked to bring the matter before tho Branch just to show the class of work which was being done by tbe Society. The chairman said that farmers should notice that it was illegal to chain bulls. The South Canterbury threshing mill employees forwarded a copy of their demands, which the meeting discussed in committee.