FARMERS’ UNION AFFAIRS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22535, 20 March 1943, Page 4

FARMERS’ UNION AFFAIRS

Linen Flax Industry Discussed Permanent Establishment In Dominion “Is there any suggestion that the linen flax factory at Washdyke will not remain there permanently?” asked Mr L. V. Talbot, president of the South Canterbury executive of the Farmers’ Union, when a letter from the Washdyke Progress League sought the cooperation of the Union in urging the Government to assure the permanent establishment of the linen flax industry. A Voice: There has been a reduction of 50 per cent, this year in the quantity required. The long discussion which ensued was taken “in committee.” Speaking to a motion “that the linen flax industry should be retained permanently in New Zealand," Mr George Barclay said that farmers should strongly support it. Linen flax could be grown in New Zealand and he would say that it could be produced at a smaller cost than in Ireland. The industry was established and should be retained when the war was over. “We should not discuss this question too much,” cautioned Mr c. Ley. “After the war we will have to compete against the world. We could not compete against Ireland and the Low Countries of Europe. The distance we are from the market at Home would kill our enterprise. The countries on •the other side have not the shipping costs which we would have.”

"It is a vast subject,” agreed the president. "There will need to be a readjustment of our ideas in the days of reconstruction. We may be pushing our barrow to the detriment of the whole.” The motion was not favoured as it read and was withdrawn. It was agreed to ask the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon D. G. Sullivan) to investigate lully the possibilities of the linen flax industrybeing permanently established in New Zealand. Price of Oats “It is expected that a statement will appear outlining the position regarding the price of oats, so that any alarm may be allayed,” the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. J. G. Barclay) informed the executive, the letter being received with Interest. Mr W. Buchan: Fanners have threshed their oats and have had to store them. With the expense of storage farmers will finish with less than the 3/6 a bushel. Mr J. Woodhead: A price shouli. oe fixed for B grade oats. The quantity of A grade oats, in comparison, is small. Hie president: A definite statement is required and the sooner it is made the better. Control of Rabbits Reporting on the meeting arranged by the Otago Provincial Council' in Dunedin to discuss the extermination of rabbits, Mr W. Buchan said that all agreed that the increase of the oest was alarming. There had been a noticeable improvement in areas controlled by rabbit boards and the best method of extermination appeared to be the extension of the rabbit board scheme. Under the direction of boards labour could be properly directed and, as the work was classed as essential Grade 11. and 111. men would be released from camps for it. The boards had no commercial interests and during the spring and summer burrows would be fumigated. While the value of the skins remained as the only incentive to kiU the rabbits, they would continue to increase. The conference resolved itself of the opinion that rabbit boards were the only effective means of .exterminating the pest. Favouring the introduction of legislation making the formation of rabbit boards compulsory and granting them the sole right to sell skins and carcases, the conference agreed that the Rabbit Nuisance Act should be amended to give the boards full control in the destruction of the pest. The speaker hoped that farmers would realise the value of the boards.