WAIMATE MANY PROBLEMS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21646, 6 May 1940, Page 3

WAIMATE MANY PROBLEMS

Farming Year

Reviewed

Bad Seasons Experienced

“On looking back over the past year, we find that there have been many problems for the farmer to deal with, and some of them have been made much harder, by the advent of war,” Mr J. Dempey, retiring president of the Waimate branch of the Farmers’ Union, stated in his report to the annual meeting on Friday night. After stating that farmers would have to devote their whole energy towards winning the war, Mr Dempsey went on to refer to farming operations during the year, and said the weather had not been all that could be desired, especially as regards the stock feed problem. The spring had been backward with little or no growth, then the summer took a very dry turn, which continued into the autumn. The result was that very little hay had been saved, and much difficulty had been experienced in getting suitable strikes of rape and turnips. Dry windy weather had caused blight to appear much earlier than usual, and many crops had been completely ruined. Farmers had been forced to kill any fat sheep that would pass at all. As a result of the sudden shortage of feed, and the exceptionable killing of stock, Mr Dempsey proceeded, freezing works had been blocked, and farmers had to hold marked sheep. The winter feed problem was going to be serous, as many farmers had

not even a sign of a turnip. The sheep would have to be either sent out of the district or dry fed at home. He went on to deal with the fixation of prices as the result of the war, and also reviewed what the Union had accomplished during the year. He urged farmers not to leave the Union because the subscription was to be increased. He ended by referring to the urgent need for more production.

Election of Officers

The election of officers resulted: President, Mr A. W. J. Robinson; senior vice-president, Mr W. J. Fletcher; junior vice-president, Mr J. F. Foley; treasurer, Mr J. C. Hay; auditor, Mr A. B. Struthers; committee, Messrs T. Armstrong, j. T. Anstey, A. W. Barnett, G. Barclay, J. A. Bell, G. Cleland, J. Christie, M. Cordingley, E. C. d’Auvergne, F. Dugdale, P. J. Foley, J. C. Hay, W. L. Hay, E. G. Hay, H. Hayman, A. F. Hayman, J. H. W. Hodgen, T L. Hart, J. H. Milne, A. B. Hayman, N. Hanson, B. J. Moyle, F. J. Meyer, A. Martin, p. McNeill, J. C. O’Hara, I. Ross, G. B. Richardson. R. Sinclair, c. Thompson, C. G. Verity, W. Wellwood, D. Wilson, J. Dempsey, J. W. Armstrong, A. H. Turner. A. C. Richardson, A. Thompson, E. C. Wright and N. Hayman. Delegates to South Canterbury Executive, Messrs A. W. J. Robinson and W. J. Fletcher. The following were recommended as additional delegates: Messrs J. Dempsey, J. F. Foley, w. L. Hay, G. Barclay, C. G. Verity, B. J. Moyle and J. C. Hay. In vacating the chair, Mr Dempsey said he had occupied the position for three years and he had learnt a lot. He was grateful for the genuine cooperation he had obtained from everyone concerned.

High tributes were paid to Mr Dempsey by Messrs Robinson and Fletcher, who moved a motion of thanks.

SERIOUS POSITION SHORTAGE OF FEED “I think the position is so serious and so urgent that it warrants a man being sent from this branch direct to the Minister,” Mr I. Ross stated at the annual meeting of the Waimate branch of the Farmers’ Union on Friday night, with reference to the shortage of stock feed. It was decided to send a telegram to the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. W. Lee Martin) requesting him to arrange for the free railage of stock and feed. During the discussion, Mr C. G. Verity contended that the Minister should be asked to visit South Canterbury to see the position for himself. The chairman (Mr J. Dempsey) stated that he had been advised by the secretary of the South CanterburyExecutive (Mr A. B. Struthers) that the Minister had not replied to communications urging upon him the seriousness of the feed position. Position in Southland A review of the supply of feed available in Southland, was given by Mr A. H. Tupper, who recently visited that province. He said he had been all through Southland, and had particularly noted the amount of feed around Clutha, where considerable areas were sown in mangolds and turnips. Good roots were to be purchased at a price, and the least for swedes or mangolds would be £1 a ton on trucks. Southland had had a good fattening season, but stock was still going into the works.

Mr Turner said the price of £1 a ton would be increased to £l/17/6 a ton by the time roots were railed from say Stirling to Studholme. Further south swedes were obtainable, but railage from places like Edendale, put them out of the question. Hay was being quoted at £5 a ton. Three years ago, when Central Otago had been short of feed, free railage had been granted, and stock feed was even railed from Waimate. A lot of farmers in Southland, to sum up the position, had any amount of feed, but

they had a long winter ahead of them and were not anxious to sell too much He would not advise anyone to send stock below Dunedin. In the course of time, Southland roots could be expected to rise to at least 30/- a ton.

AMALGAMATING FARMS

“PROPERTIES SHOULD BE ADVERTISED”

“That while agreeing that in certain instances the amalgamation of uneconomic farms is' justified, no amalgamation of farms should be carried out before such properties are advertised for selection,” was a motion carried at the annual meeting of the Waimate branch of the Farmers’ Union on Friday night. A motion was forwarded by the South Canterbury executive for comment and it was altered to read as above. Mr W. J. Fletcher said the Government was trying- to do something, and it was scarcely right for the meeting to voice criticism. Mr A. W. J. Robinson said the main trouble about the amalgamation of farms was that many farms were now being made too big. In the Hunter district, one man had become the lessee of a whole settlement, whereas there had formerly been four farmers on the land. High goodwills had caused many of the difficulties.

Mr I. Ross considered that all that was required, was an assurance from Mr B. J. Moyle, a member of the Canterbury Land Board who was present, that the Board would not allow any man to take up land unless he had a reasonable chance of success. Mr Moyle said if a man was unfinancial, he simply could not be reinstated; that was the long and the short of it. “It is a sore point,” he added, “but it can’t be altered.” GOLF GOOD SCORES RECORDED In the Waimate Golf Club's first bogey round on Saturday afternoon, very good scores were recorded, and the players in the lead at least, are expected to attract the attention of the handicappers. The fairway was in good order, but the greens were rather fast. The best scores were:—l. H. Shrader 3 up, M. Leadbetter 2 up, I Douglas 1 up, D. Sam ways all square. C. G. Holmes all square, D. Macdonald 1 down, T. Waldie 1 down, D. L. Murchison 2 down, R. Morgan 3 down. D. Borrie 3 down. HOOK SCHOOL PARENTS’ AFTERNOON A parents’ afternoon, the first for some time, was held at the Hook School on Friday afternoon. The children gave a drill display consisting of a march and counter-march series, standing exercises and two dances. There followed a short concert including items by the primers, trained byMiss Smith, the assistant teacher. A display of work was given in the senior room, Including craftwork, sewing, art work, essays and writing The senior girls prepared and served afternoon tea. The chairman, Mr H. J. Henderson, thanked the teachers and children for the afternoon. SNOW ON THE HILLS A light coating, of snow was well down on the Hunter Hills around Waimate when clouds drifted but up to 9 a.m. 105 points of rain had been recorded since the southerly change set in on Saturday night. Very little more rain fell during the day, but conditions were cold. PERSONAL A motion of sympathy with Mr W. Wellwood in the death of his father, was carried at the meeting of the Waimate branch of the Farmers’ Union on Friday night.

The Hook Tennis Club’s wind-up dance will be held on Thursday, May