FARMERS’ UNION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19666, 7 December 1933, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION

ALBURY BRANCH LIFTING STOCK EMBARGO FAVOURED A general meeting of members of the Albury branch of the New Zealand Farmers Union, was held in the Public Hall, Albury, on Tuesday. Present Messrs H. L. Adam (chairman), I. H. Smith, T. Hogg, G. A. Dunnett, F. MeIlwrick, W Simpson, V. Sullivan and A. Thoreau, secretary. Wheat Board. 17ie manager of the Wheat Purchase Board wrote in reply to three resolutions passed at the last meeting of the branch, as follows:—(1) “That the Wheat Marketing Board appoints its own graders.” The Wheat Marketing Board has two supervising graders on its own staff, said the reply, and it is the duty of these graders to inspect any lines with which the grower is not satisfied with the Government grader’s grading. Obviously there is no need for the Board to have its own graders to grade every line as it is only in case of a dispute regarding the grade that ft is necessary for the Board’s grader to take action. This reply was considered very satisfactory, and members were agreeably impressed at the protection afforded growers by the Board. (2) ’’’That the Board fix the price of fowl wheat." Under the authority conferred upon it by the Board of Trade (Wheat) Regulations, 1933, the Board confines its operations to F.A.Q. milling wheat. The question of extension of control to embrace fowl wheat would require to be taken up with the Government.

This reply was not considered satisfactory, and the following resolution was passed: "That the Executive be asked to appeal to the Electoral Committee to endeavour to get the Government to fix the price of fowl wheat as well as milling wheat.” (3) “That the Board enters an emphatic protest against any further importations of wheat and flour.” This matter is outside the duties of the Board, and as laid down by the regulations, but I suggest that it should be taken up by your branch of the Union and by similar bodies representing growers’ interests. Representations on this matter should be made direct to the Government. The meeting agreed to ask the executive to protest to the Government against any importations of wheat and flour. It was also agreed to ask all branches to assist in an endeavour to get the Government to stop all importations of wheat and flour. The Geraldine branch wrote agreeing to support a request for a system of appointing delegates to the Dominion Conference. The chairman read extracts from a report of a sub-committee set up by the Dominion Executive to go into the question of taxation. After reading the recommendations made, the chairman said that the ground had been covered pretty fully by the report, and went to show that the requirements of the farming community were not being neglected. Small Birds. The chairman drew members’ attention to a report of the Mackenzie County Council where it stated that the Council had stopped the sale of poison and the purchase of small birds’ heads and eggs. Mr Adam said that this was an entirely wrong attitude for the Council to take up, as the sparrow did not keep the different pests in check, but ruined acres of wheat and oats. The following resolution was passed: “That this branch protests against the action of the Mackenzie County Council stopping the sale of bird poison and the purchase of small birds’ eggs and heads.” The committee further agreed to write to the local representatives, Messrs Fisher and Fraser, and place the farmers’ position fairly before them. Importation of Stork. Mr Dunnett said that farmers should view the importation of stock from a fair standpoint. He considered that the facilities provided by the Mother Country would leave nothing open to cause the least suspicion of the spread of foot and mouth disease. All veterinary surgeons were prepared to advocate the lifting of the embargo. With up-to-date quarantine stations at both ends of the world the risk of bringing this disease to the Dominion was almost nil. Even the Governor-General was in sympathy with the lifting of the embargo. Members were unanimous that it was absolutely essential to have some new stock Introduced into the flocks and herds of the Dominion. The committee agreed unanimously that the embargo should be lifted, and decided to write to the Executive to this effect. Annual Picnic. The question of holding an annual picnic was considered and it was agreed to recommend to the Women's Division that a Joint picnic be held in March, and that it take the form of a picnic and dance. The Women’s division members agreed to the proposal, and a committee was set up to make arrangements for carrying out the work. Tt»e chairman paid a compliment to Mr W. Simpson, who had been a foundation member Just on 25 years ago. and welcomed him back to the meetings. Mr Adam said that as this was the last meeting of the branch for the year he wished to extend to one and all best wishes for a merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year.