WAITAHUNA FARMERS' CLUB.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 4079, 28 February 1894, Page 3

WAITAHUNA FARMERS' CLUB.

A meeting of the members of the abovenamed club was held in the Good Templars' Hall, Havelock, on Monday evening. There was a fair attendance; Mr H. Cameron (President) in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

DISEASED STOCK.

The Secretary reported that Mr R. H. Hassell, the local Stock Inspector, in company with Mr Gilruth, Government veterinary surgeon, visited the district, and had examined three head of cattle which were reported to be diseased, one of which had been shot and on examination found to be badly infected with cancer. The other two were diseased, but the disease was not considered infectious. The Inspector had informed the Secretary that it was his intention at an early date to give notice of his determination to muster all the cattle in the Tuapeka and Waitahuna districts and give them a thorough inspection.

STANDARD WEIGHT OF WHEAT.

The President drew the attention of the club to a statement published in the " Otago Witness," of the Bth February, to the effect that the corn trade section of the South Australian Chamber of Commerce had fixed their standard weight of wheat per bushel at 63lbs, and it was pointed out that farmers in New Zealand would do well to ascertain the weight per measured bushel of fully-matured wheat grown by them. It had to be borne in mind that New Zealand-grown wheat, owing to the large proportion of moisture it contained, varied in weight from that of South Australia. He advised the farmers to keep a watchful eye on this subject ; for it had the appearance "of the bag question in another form. The customary standard for wheat in this colony was GOlbs to the bushel, and the 3lbs extra seemed to him to be all in favor of buyers. He could not see what advantage the growers would derive from the increased weight. After further discussion, it was decided to hold over further consideration of the matter till next meeting.

PROPOSED CO-OPERATIVE BAKERY.

An opinion was expressed that in the interest of the general community the club should take into consideration the advisability of making an effort to establish a co-operative bakery in the Waitahuna district. Attention was drawn to the excessive price charged by the bakers for bread. All the other places in Otago, with the exception of Waitahuna and Tuapeka, had lowered the price of bread to 3Jdand 4d per 41b loaf ; while in the districts named they were charging 6d. The price of wheat had been very low for the last two seasons, and there was no probability of any rise in price. No justifiable reason could, therefore, be urged for the excessive charge made by thebaker3 in the Waitahuna and Tuapeka districts. It was pointed out that it would not cost much to start a co-operative bakery at Waitahuna. There was a plant in the township suitable for the purpose to be got at a reasonable price, and all it would require to commence operations was a few tons of flour, and the whole affair could be started in a week or a fortnight at most. As illustrating the enormous profits made by the bakers in charging 6d for the 41b loaf, one of the members stated that he had an offer made to him by a Dunedin firm to supply bread delivered at the Waitahuna railway station at 3Jd per loaf if he guaranteed to take 200 loaves per week ; so that they had an alternative besides co-operation. After an animated discussion, in which the project of a co-operative bakery was favorably considered, it was decided that, in the event of the bakers continuing the present excessive charges, a co-operative bakery should be started, or that the offer from the Dunedin firm to supply bread at 3£d be accepted. In the meantime the Secretary was instructed to make enquiries as to the terms on which the baking plant now lying idle at Waitahuna could be purchased and to obtain any information bearing upon the subject.

THE SMALL BIRD NUISANCE.

Mr J. Scott stated that he had noticed in a paper he had received lately that the farmers were as badly troubled with the small birds in some of the American States as they were in this colony. The State of Michigan was giving 3 cents per head for the small birds in the months of January and March, this plan being found to act very effectively in keeping the birds down. He (Mr Scott) thought that if the Government adopted the same plan in the corresponding months of the year in this colony it would have the effect of soon thinning the birds out. The work could be easily carried out by the local bodies acting as agents for the Government.

ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £2 13s were passed for payment. This was all the business.