A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18518, 15 March 1930, Page 6

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the committee of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held yesterday. Present—Messrs M. Maze (chairman), W. J. Bassett, A. Ward, P. Porter, E. Kelland, W. J. Kelland, C. L. Orbell, A. S. Elworthy, H. Lowry, T. R. Rhodes, G. A. M, Macdonald. J. E. P. Cameron. L. J. Grant, M. O’Connor, R. Parry, and W. J. Parry. The chairman referred to the recent death of Mr William Evans. Mr Maze said that Mr Evans had been a past president of the Association, having been in the chair 50 years ago. He had lived to the good old age of 92 years, and had done a lot for the advancement of South Canterbury. Mr Maze moved that a motion of sympathy be passed to the deceased’s wife and family. This was carried in the usual manner. Mr Maze welcomed Mr Ward to a seat on the committee. “ ABOLISH RECEPTIONS.” A programme for the visit of the British, Canadian and South African farmers to South Canterbury was submitted to the meeting. This showed that the visitors would be met at Studholrne at one o’clock on March 21. An inspection of a potato plot at Willowbridge would then be carried out, after which a civic reception and afternoon tea would take place at Waimate at 3 p.m. The visitors would leave Waimate at 3.30 and call at Mr D. M. France’s, St. Andrews, to inspect another potato plot. A call would then be made at Holme Station, and the party was timed to arrive at Timaru at 5.30. A civic reception would be held at Caroline Bay Hall at 8 p.m., and the visitors would leave for Ashburton at 9 a.m. the following day. The chairman said it seemed a pity that farmers coming all the way from the Old Country should be rushed through South Canterbury in a few hours. The district had enough of interest to offer, to entertain the visitors for at least two days. The programme for South Canterbury had been arranged in Wellington, as far as length of time was concerned.

The secretary (Mr H. H. Fraser) said that, from what he had heard, the visitors would prefer a free night in Timaru.

Mr Lowry thought it absurd for the visitors to be subjected to a number of civic receptions. He was sure they would appreciate a few quiet hours looking over farmers’ holdings.

Mr Lawry then moved that it be a recommendation that arrangements for the civic reception at Timaru be put aside, and that a visit be arranged to some place of interest, such a Holme Station.

Mr Macdonald suggested that when the visitors arrive, individual South Canterbury farmers, meeting them, act as free lances, even if it was only to show the visitors a paddock of “fathen.” (Laughter.) Mr Lowry's motion was seconded by Mr Bassett, and carried.

OBSTETRICAL APPEAL. The Timaru committee of the New Zealand Obstetrical Endowment Fund Appeal wrote, asking the Association for a donation towards their funds.— It was decided to make a grant of £5 ss. FURTHERING RESEARCH WORK. The Canterbury A. and P. Association advised that a conference of delegates of organisations representing farming, commercial and manufacturing interests in North Canterbury had been held, to discuss means of furthering research work, as a result of which it had been decided to set up a permanent committee with this object in view. The committee was to consist of representatives of various organisations, and it was decided to ask the Timaru A. and P. Association to nominate one member of the committee, so that all portions of the province would be represented. The organisations to be asked to nominate a member were the Canterbury A. and P. Association. Timaru A. and P. Association, N.Z. Farmers’ Union, Canterbury Sheep Owners’ Union, Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and Canterbury Agricultural College. Delegates to the conference were of opinion that a good deal of assistance could be given those carrying out research work in the directing of such work, particularly as to what were practical fields to investigate.

On the motion of Mr Bassett, Mr D. Grant was nominated as the representative of the Timaru Association. Failing Mr Grant’s acceptance, it was left to the chairman to nominate a representative. VALUATION OF GROUNDS. The secretary stated that, in reply to a letter from the Valuation Department regarding the valuation of the Association’s ground's at Smithfield, an objection had been lodged, and an application had been made to the Valuer-General for reduction in the valuation.

Mr Fraser said that the ground had been valued at £75 per acre, but the objection stated that the Association’s valuation of the property was £SO. Reasons set out had been that a portion of the grounds was very cold, especially the low-lying portion, which was subject to floods. The proximity of the Smithfield Freezing Works also detracted from the land’s value, and the best portion lay away from the sun.

The secretary’s action was approved, and the Grounds Committee was appointed to further confer with the Valuer-General on the question.

SUB-COMMITTEES FOR YEAR. Sub-committees set up for the year’s working were as follows:

Sheep.—Messrs M. Maze, T. Seaton. D. Grant, E. Kelland, R. Parry, W. J\ Parry, J. E. P. Cameron, W. J. Kelland, T. R. Mackay.

Cattle.—Messrs M. Maze, T. Seaton, L. J. Grant,. A. S. Elworthy, T. R. Rhodes, B. E. H. Tripp, A. Ward, M. O’Connor, P, Talbot.

Draught horses.—Messrs M. Maze, T. Seaton, P. Porter, W. J. Bassett, J. E. P. Cameron, J. F. K. Jamieson.

Light horses.—Messrs M. 'Maze, T. Seaton, C. L. Orbell, H. Elworthy, Dr. P. R. Woodhouse, J. S. Barker, J. F. K. Jamieson, T. R. Rhodes.

Pigs and dogs.—Messrs M. Maze, T. Seaton, J. F. K. Jamieson, W. J. Kelland.

Agricultural Produce.—Messrs M. Maze, T. Seaton, G. A. M. Macdonald, W. J. Kelland, P. Porter, C. L. Orbell, M. O’Connor, R. Guinness, P. R. Talbot, A. Ward.

Competitions.—Messrs M. Maze. T. Seaton, H. Lowry, J. F. K. Jamieson, C. L. Orbell, D. Grant, W. J. Bassett, J. E. P. Cameron.

Schedule. —Messrs M. Maze, T. Seaton, D. Grant, J. F. K. Jamieson, H. Lowry, A. S. Elworthy, J. S. Barker, R. Guinness, Dr. P. R. Woodhouse, P. Porter.

Forestry.—Messrs M. Maze, T. Seaton, H. B. S. Johnstone, A. S. Elworthy, G. A. M. Macdonald.

Ground. —Messrs Maze, T. Seaton, J. E. P. Cameron, W. J. Kelland, D. Grant, E. Kelland, B. E. H. Tripp. Finance and Emergency.—Messrs M. Maze, T. Seaton, J. E. P. Cameron, T.

R. Mackay, D. Grant, H. Lowry, B. E. H. Tripp. R. Guinness. Gates and motor cars.—Messrs M. Maze. T. Seaton. G. A. M. Macdonald, H. Lowry. W. J. Bassett, A. S. Elworthy, J. E. P.. Cameron. QUESTION OF BREED. Mr Orbell referred to recent statements of Mr H. Westenra appearing in the Christchurch newspapers, in regard to the best, class of sheep for New Zealand in both wool and mutton, to meet the requirements of the Home market. Mr Westenra had been reported as having stated that the most suitable breed was Corriedale. Mr Orbell stated that when he wa’s in

England lately, a butcher, owning about eighty shops in the southern counties, had told him that he was no. longer going to buy Canterbury lamb because of Corriedales. He stated that

the breed wanted was by Southdown rams out of Romney ewes. If Canterbury wished to stay on the English market, then this breed was necessary. Mr Orbell further stated that at a Bradford woollen mill, the manager had stated that New Zealand wool was “going to pot.” “What you want,” the manager said, “is to stop growing Romney wool. Corriedale is the best, concentrate on that.” So it would appear, said Mr Orbell, that Romneys were favoured for mutton and Corriedales for wool. In short, the New Zealand farmer was “between the devil and the deep blue sea.” They could only breed the sheep that suited the country. Mr Orbell added, however, that at Home Canterbury lamb did not seem to have the same bloom as North Island lamb. A member: “Did either of these gentlemen know a sheep when they saw one?” (Laughter.) Mr Orbell said that English butchers preferred a 28-321 b. lamb. New Zealand farmers, however, could not produce a special lamb without receiving a special price. NOXIOUS WEEDS. ' On the motion of Mr Macdonald, it was decided that the secretary make inquiries from other centres for a lead as to what was being done to meet the noxious weed question. Mr Macdonald said there were all sorts of threats held over farmers’ heads for failure to comply with the Act. He was not complaining about the work of the Stock Inspectors’ Department, as he realised that the department was doing good work.