WAITAHUNA FARMERS' CLUB.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1166, 29 July 1885, Page 4

WAITAHUNA FARMERS' CLUB.

The ordinary meeting of the Waitahuna Farmers' Club was held in the Good Templars' Hall, Havelock, last Saturday evening. Members present — Messrs Craig (President), Ryan (Vice-Preßident), Livingston, Stevenson, Trimble, Cowen, Corry, Scott, and Garden. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The inward correspondence consisted of a letter from the Secretary of the Good Templars' Hall Co. intimating that the Club's application for tho use of the hall for. an entertainment on the night of the next agricultural show had been granted. — Received. Tho Secretary announced that the annual meeting of the Club for the purpose of electing office-bearers, &c., would take place on the last Saturday in the month of Atiguat. Messrs Corry and Macandrew were appointed to audit the Club's accounts and balance-sheet, which would ,be submitted at next meeting. Mr Garden gave notice of motion as follows: — ?'That the resolution arrived at by this Olub in November, 1881, to the effect that all subscribers to the funds of the; Club to the extent of £1 receive a member's ticket, be rescinded." The Secretary was instructed to forward accounts to all members of the Club who were in |arrear with their subscriptions. The President next read the following original paper : — "The subject I have chosen tonight — viz., * Farmers' Club s: Their uses and purposes' — is of some importance to us, and fear that I will not be able to do justice to it. However, I shall endeavor to do the best I can to show you some of the benefits to be derived from such organizations. I have been induced to take this Bubject up owing to the apparent apathy which members have lately shown in attending the, meetings of the Club,: and;also with a view of causing members to take a livelier interest tin the Club's meetings, and "thereby make them more, interesting and instructive. Farmers' Clubs are associations of farmers and others, combined for the purpose of promoting the advancement of agriculture, the improvement of live stock, and the other branches of rural industry. The importance of such an organization amongst farmers for the purpose of assisting each other and interchanging their views and experiences upon the different branches of their calling cannot be too strongly urged ; foras soils differ, so ,do the methods /of , cultivation, and 'each year's experience will convince the farmer that, no matter 'how ' observant he may have been in the past, there will always be something new presented, and, fresh. , ideas gained ; and it is only when farmers regularly meet and give expression to their different views on different matters that mistakes can be rectified and better methods adopted. The uses' and purposes of Farmers' Clubs are many and varied. There are many matters of importance to the farmer which might very properly be brought before the Club for discussion which would be of very great benefit to all. Such, for instance, as — 'Which is the most suitable breed of sheep for the small fanner in this district V That is a subject fcom which, I think, we could all derive a certain amount of benefit and useful information, seeing that amongst our members are some who have been following sheep-farming in this district for a great number of years ; and I am sure that the result of their experience would be very interesting and useful to a great many. Then there is the 'Breeding, feeding, and management of Stock/ a' discussion upon which would bo interesting and instructive, as we are all more or less interested in that part of the farmer's calling. Then, again, 'The methods' adopted on the Farm for the growing of all the different Crops ' would form a good subject for discussion; indeed, one upon which all members of the Club could have something to say, and which would certainly be productive of much good. Then there is 'Dairying upon the Factory System' — a matter that ia claiming the attention of nearly all the farming population in the .different centres throughout New Zealand, and factories are being established and the system is to get a fair trial. I think that that is a subject which this Club, might fairly take up and discuss — viz., ' The establishment of a Dairy Factory in this district.' Such are a few of the subjects that I think a Farmers 7 Club should take up and discuss; but they can do more than simply meet and discusa farm topics, though if associated for nothing but discussion, the benefits to each individual member would be great. An association, however, based upon the welfare of the agricultural community in which it exists can carry experiments much further than the efforts of a single individual and with but little expense to each. Such, for instance, as the introduction of new seeds, or the purchase or offering of a premium for the introduction of first-class pure-bred stock, be it horse, bull, or ram, and placed on service on the co-operation system, the saving in expense w,ould more than repay any outlay in the way of purchase or payment of a premium, as the district would be assured the services of a-superior animal at a low fee. The introduction of a single first-class pure-bred animal would be the means, I have no doubt, of adding greatly to the value of the stock of the district. Few farmers, I think, will deny but that the holding of an agricultural show ia productive of 'much good and benefit to ,the communities in the midst of which the. shows are. held; for they are the m9ans of causing a spirit of emula-tion-ta spring up amongst farmers in theY keeping and breeding of stock . The stock; of Various breeders are brought together, and comparisons ,are made, and the farmers find that instead of their stock being the best (as they thought previous to entering the show-ring) that there are two or three before them, so by the following year they will go in and get something better, or they ' would be enabled to judge whether they could improve their own stock by. ...purchasing from some other breeder* Then,: again, the successful exhibitor is a great gainer, as it is the means of giving his stock a reputation, whereby he is enabled to sell at a greatly enhanced price — a price that he otherwise would not have got had he not shown them ; in fact, if it were not for the showring,,it would not be known that he had suoh good stock. Shows are also the means of bringing the farmers together, to discuss the merits and dismerits of the, different classes of stock exhibited ; and any who are anxious to ascertain, for example, the breed of sheep or cattle that would best suit them, can compare the various breeds exhibited and make a election.-. There ~is also another' ex"ibyiionr which, I think, Farmers' Clubs ishouid endeaver to hold yearly, which undoubtedly would be of much/good.

and benefit to the farmer. I refer to thej holding of a grain and rook- show ; it; would, I think, be- the means of making' farmers pay greater attention to „the quality of seed that* they sow^ and also I enable them to know where to go to get a: first-class sample. of seed, which is now ai matter of some difficulty to obtain.'' Such; are a few of the uses and purposes of ai Farmers' Olub ; but I consider that there ; is almost practically no limit to the usefulness of Farmers' Clubs. Of course: such Clubs are only beneficial in exact proportion as the farmers may piake them so. No farmer should expect the Glub to prove a success without his individual aid ; nor I think should any farmer refrain from imparting his experience on 'any subject with which he is familiar; nor lose any opportunity of adopting and practising those methods that may have proved successful when tried by others. I know there is a class of farmers who attach no importance to such associations, and who usually regard it as a mere waste of time in attending the meetings; or that no information or benefit is derived from them. Of course there id a certain percentage of such individuals in' all communities. To such I would just say that if the Club's meetings are carried out in a proper spirit and each member takes an active part by detailing his experience or opinion as the case may be upon all matters brought before the Club for discussion, then I say that a great deal of good and benefit would be derived from such discussions, as any remarks that may be made will be based upon facts and practical experience. In conclusion, I .think that if we would endeavor to carry out the work of the Club in the lines I have indicated to-night, and thereby make our meetings more instructive and interesting much good would be the outcome, and a steady and continued improvement in the systems practised upon the farm, and not only would our profits become greater, .but' our knowledge and interest in farming pursuits would be greatly augmented." , ■ Mr ,Cow,en said^that the President deserved to be complimented for the very able and practical paper which he had just read. He (Mr Cowen) had no desire that night to discuss or touch upon the various matters referred to in the paper, but would suggest that its consideration be deferred until next meeting. Mr Ryan was of opinion that it would -be-better to set-aside^ next Club-night for the discussion of one of the many subjects referred to in the President's paper. Members would gain a Jot of information in dismissing, say, the "best kind 4of fjjgrain to piocurefor seed*s'owmg.' * " & < ftjr Corry was, of the same, opinion as Mr v ßyan. A nignt could be devoted to the discussion of the various subjects set forth in the paper, which was a really good one. Mr Livingston suggested that consideration should be given next night to the elasß of sheep best suited for the Waitahuna district. ' After some further conversation, it was resolved to adopt Mr Livingston's sugi gestion. ' Mr Trimble was pleased with a matter referred to in the paper — viz., the desirability of the farmers co-operating and procuring a really first-clasß bull for the district. — Mr Livingeton offered to give £4 towards the purchase of such an animal. — Several members approved of the idea, but considered that several difficulties in the way would . prevent it being carried out successfully. — The matter was eventually allowed to drop. Mr Corry moved and Mr Scott seconded : " That a hearty vote of thanks be tendered to the President for the able paper on Farmers' Clubs which he had readthatevening. "—Carried unanimously. The President briefly acknowledged the compliment, and trusted that members would in future take a deeper and livelier interest in the welfare of the Club than had been evinced lately. ;TKe^aeting : closed with the customary • vote to the chair.