FARMERS’ UNION.

Wairarapa Age, 10 March 1922, Page 2

FARMERS’ UNION.

WAIRARAPA EXECUTIVE. ; 1 < 1 1 SOME IMPORTANT BUSINESS. | A meeting of the executive was I he..l yesterday, Mr H. H. 8. Ryder (Tinui) presiding. Others present were: Messrs W. A. lorns, H. Daysh i (Mart inhere ugh), H. Ross (Glad- J stone), C. C. Jackson (Miasterton), I E. E. O’Neale (Featherston); H. A. ] Nevins (Makuri), H. C. Cook, H. . Morison, T. O. Haycock (Greytown), i A. Faulknor (Eketahuna), A. J. Speedy (Tinui), and G. R. Sykes, M.P. ’ An apology was received from Mr Hugh Morrison, this being the first time in 10 years that he had not been present at an executive meeting. LAND TAX PENALTY Regarding a resolution of the executive advocating that a penalty be not imposed for delay in payment of land tax, Mr A. D. McLeod, M.P., wrote that he had interviewed the Prime Minister, who, though not favourable to the non-imposition of the penalty being made general, had agreed' there were many cases of hardship. The Commissioner of Taxes had been given certain latitude in the matter. Mr Sykes said that each case would, tie dealt with on its merits. Mr Ross said he had brought the question up at the last meeting because he thought it was unfair that a 10 per cent, penalty should be imposed on those who were not in a position to pay their tax. The penalty was levied every three months, so that the total penalty in a year amounted to 40 per cent. Mr Sykes said the penalty was imposed with the sole idea of expediting collection of revenue. There was a 10 per cent, rebate for prompt payment. Mr Ross: That is a reward offered to those who can pay by those who have Io pay the penalty. The matter was not pursued further. SHIPPING AND RAILWAY FREIGHTS. A letter was read from the Prime Minister, dated January 20, stating fuat he had looked into the question of shipping freights and had found

that the Masterton branch of the Farmers’ Union had been misled by the fact that frozen rabbits in cases were carried at per ton measurement and frozen lamb at per pound weight. One ton measurement of frozen laniti was equal approximately to 779 lbs weight at l|d per lb, or £ll3 7s per ton. This compared favourably with , the rate for one-ton measurement of frozen rabbits at 130.5. Shipping rates were based on the space occupied by the particular cargo, and as regarded the comparison of the rates of freight on hemp and wool, he was advised that the space occupied by one ton weight of greasy wool was one-fourth greater than that occupied by one ton weight of hemp. On this basis, and at the new rate for wool of Id per lb (Or 186 s 8d per ton), any anomaly in freight rates for wool and hemp was not very pronounced. The chairman said the explanation was satisfactory and the letter was received. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie (Minister of Railways), in a letter dated January 10, advised that the. request of the Wairarapa Farmers’ Union for a reduction in the freight on frozen meat to seaports could not be complied with. “Having regard to the expense involved in providing a special and very costly class of vehicle to deal with the dead meat traffic,” continued the Minister, “and also to the fact that in the majority of cases special trains have to be run, the existing rates are not unreasonable for the services performed, more especially in view of the fact that owing to conditions created by the war the working expenditure of the railways ha s advanced materially and it has been found necessary to increase the rates for financial reasons.” The chairman: We are not going to get much satisfaction out of that. Mr Sykes said a deputation had waited on the Minister but had not been satisfied with the particulars given them. He was asking for further particulars. Under the present arrangement they were required to pay more for a carcase taken over the Rimutaka Hill than they were for live stock. The cost of the insulated trucks was £5OO, against about £l5O for stock trucks. Mr lom s moved that Messrs Skves “ and McLeod, M.’sP., be asked to get = further particulars concerning the matter .and submit them to a meeting of the execut v . w The motion was carried. EARMARKS FOB SHEEP. Mr T. O. Haycock wrote advocating the publication of a book of earmarks used in the Wairarapa district. He stated that in a northern district a book of earmarks was compiled, comprising all the earmarks in that district. It s tru.ck him that the Farmers' Union might have a similar hook prepared for this district. It would be very valuable to sheep and stock breeders. Despite remits passed . t farmers' conferences, the Government had done nothing in this direction. The advertisements in the booklet would cover the cost. Mr Faulknor said that under the present system, the earmarks for different districts were similar. In his opinion one ear should be kept entirely for the breeder's marks. The age marks were not of much value. He advocated taking the tip off the ear of a wether for distinguishing purposes. The chairman said that Mr Young (Director of Live Stock) had told them at the Dominion conference that the Department was endeavouring to bring in a system whereby one ear should be kept for age and the other for owner’s marks. Mr Haycock said that earmarks, were not compulsory, but brands were. The chairman suggested that Mr Faulkror be asked to formulate a system. of earmarks and lay it before the executive. I motion on these lines was carrid. On die motion of Mr Haycock, it v as r 'solved that the secretary of v-nion osl-od to -to—wr-h printing firms with a view to having ,

a book compiled containing the earmarks of the Wairarapa provincial district. Mr Boss moved that the Stock Department be written to asking if it was making any headway in its effort to improve the system of earmarking on the lines suggested by Mr Young. This was seconded by Mr Haycock and carried. * SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION The Central Development Farm, Weraroa, wrote stating that a farmers’ school of instruction would be held at Eastei, and asked how many farmers from this district could be present. The chairman said the question was one for the branches of the Union. iMr Ross said the school was all right for those new to farming, but for the old hands it wa s unnecessary. Mr Sykes said all farmers could learn something at such a school. Mr Nevins asked if the school was being held at this time to show off the new cowshed, which cost £600? (Laughter). The chairman: The school would be excellent for returned soldiers. Mr F. W. Greenwood, of the Agricultural Department, who attended the meeting late, said that Mr Cockayne had told him the school was to be held at the end of May. The chairman: That would be better. It was resolved to write to Mr Cockayne, Government Biologist, and Mr McCulloch, manager of the Weraroa Farm, informing them that the end of May would be most suitable for holding the school. On the motion of the chairman, a resolution of thanks was passed to Mr Greenwood for attending the meeting.

The meeting then terminated