TEMUKA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17945, 2 May 1928, Page 6

TEMUKA.

(From Our Own Corawpondent) FARMERS’. UNION. At the annual meeting of the Tcmuka branch of the Farmer's’ Union held yesterday, the retiring president (Mr A. J. Davey), said that so far as farmers were concerned several events of interest had taken place. He thought that it was quite safe to say that it had been the best year that farmers had had for some time nevertheless prices of some produce had not been quite as remunerative as farmers would have liked. The farming community was not so well organised" as it should be, and consequently it could not claim all that was due to it. If farmers wished to return to prosperity, they would stand united and.demand what they knew belonged to them. Producers in different parts of the Dominion have such diversity of interests that one locality had little or no sympathy with the other, and instead ,of being one body, they too often, prejudiced one another’s interests. An effort has been made during the year to place wheat-growers on. a better footing. The Government had provided protection in the nature of a sliding scale of duties , on imported flour, but while this might protect them against heavy importations, it did not seem to have prevented a recurrence of the happenings of past years, when, with a rush of wheat'on the market, prices had been forced down to a level which loft the grower little or no return for his labours. The executive in the centres concerned took steps to appoint .a committee to formulate a scheme by which wheat could be pooled tend the market fed as required, arid thus ensure 'growers the ■value of their produce. No action could be taken for. present season’s Crop. - No "industry , provided riiore labour than the growing of wheat arid while for some years over £1,000,000 had been sent out of this country for wheat and flour, this sum when put 'into circulation,' should help to ease unemployment problems. It was to be regretted that, notwithstanding, the present yield of wheat, flour is still being imported for mixing purposes; and it was hoped that scientific research would overcome this difficulty. Millers had already agreed upon prices to be offered for next season’s, crop, Or at least a part of it, the. price being equal on the average to 5s • Sd. op trucks for, Tuscan. Farmers should not take, this matter too seriously, as present- indications pointed to a smaller sowing this year, due possibly to two causes—rthe improved, prices ruling for oats owing to export having temporarily, at any rate, made oats a payable crop; and the better prices ruling for wool, lamb and mutton. The wool market had been good, although’ the local farmer who" shore early in the season gained little owing to the fact that wopl. was light and wlfat was gained in price, was lost in weight.' " The' lamb market too, had been most satisfactory, and while lambs had not fattened -’as readily’as they- sometimes do, • this - had been partly met by the grading in operation this season. Dairymen liad a profitable season, with abundance of feed, and firm prices, and altogether, their outlook was brighter than for some years. •'Where herd-testing nad been carried out, the results had been most satisfactory. With a much smaller area under potatoes, , growers might nave anticipated better prices than those ruling.. ; . Farmers generally should feci m.ore at ease about .’things: to-day, than they: did twelve months ago. The improvement in exports and imports is' encouraging. The year ending February 28th, 1927, showed an increase of imports over exports of £2,115,088, while the year ending' February 29th, 1928, slioWs exports over iiriports £8,897,716. If this position maintains, we will, in consequence, have every; reason to expect that the Associated Banks will be able to reduce the iateof • interest ■on advances, which rate ..was increased a year ago. Production is being severely retarded on account of the lack of working capital, and the unduly high rate of interest -on advances to. farmers. The,failure of banks to pay even a low -ate of interest on current accounts makes the burden still heavier, • and should demand the earnest attention of farmers andothers. ■ ' . ■ . Of daylight saving, little need be said... This measure, was in operation duririg the past sumer, and farmers and others had very firm opinions as to its merits or demerits. Those vlio desire that it should not become law, should "make" the most, of their opportunity iii the coming months. Speaking strictly ;of the activities of the Union itself, the speaker said that more was done for farmers than they imagined. During the year excursions have been arranged by the Railway Department for the benefit or farmers, all.being well patronised, and wero most successful. The position of the branch was most satisfactory . During . the year, the, organiser made a canvass of . the area, with 'such good results, that -the membership was 146, an increase of 64 during the year.- 'I he balance sheet showed a credit cf £lB 5s 9d, -which, must., be considered as satisfactory, , A meeting was addressed by Dr Hilgeridoff, of Lincoln College, who placed before those present, the lines of the proposed cereal labora’tory scheme, after which a resolution was, passed"in support." The branch had 1 also, set on foot-a trading scheme in a small way, arid those who have availed theniselves. of it, had done so to their own advantage. On© of. the great tasks of tlio Union to-day v/as to attempt to lower costs of production. It was an excellent thing to try' to get value for 'heir products, but: too littlo attraction was given the other end of tlio deal.

PERSONALS. Mr <L Horrack, jimr., loft Yesterday for Murchison, where lie will take up ‘a position «11 thb\staff of the Murchison School. . Miss Neil, who has been on a visit to 'slier sister, Mrs L. ti. Scrimshaw, returned to Dunedin on Saturday. Miss Rosie Thomson, who has been visiting her aunt, Mrs P. E. Peoples, returned to Christchurch on Monday. Petty Officer S. B. Codings, of H.M.S. Dunedin, who was the guest of Mr and Mrs O. Hawke,. Winchester, left to rejoin his ship on Monday. Tho Rev. J. R. Horvey, formerly Vicar of the Temuka and Winchester parish, was in Temuka yesterdav, and addressed a meeting of the local Inaneli of the Mother’s Union. NOTES. ' Ta connection with'the motor accident, wherein a motor-car hit and damaged the verandah post in fiont of Mrs Palmer’s shop on Saturday evening, it transpires thnt.it was not the. van driven by J. Craig that hit the post, but ono of two cars which, was coming in the opposite direction.