RURAL AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Age, 31 May 1928, Page 5

RURAL AFFAIRS

FARMERS’ UNION CONFERENCE AT FEILDING. ADDRESS BY MB. O. P. LYNCH. WAIRARAPA REMITS. (“The Age” Special.) PALMERSTON N., May 30. The annual Inter-Provincial Conference of delegates from the Wellington, Wairarapa, Manawatu and Wanganui districts of the Farmers’ Union opened at Feilding to-day. A welcome was extended to delegates by the Mayor, Mr, C. Fair. In his opening address, the president, Mr. O. P. Lynch, touched on organisation matters, suggesting the formation of committeesXo prevent a leakage of members and gather in new members. He expressed the opinion that a close watch was necessary to prevent an undue portion of the petrol tax being absorbed by inefficient and unnecessary engineering and labour. He also considered that the time was overdue when a halt should be called in hospital expenditure, and hoped that the recent industrial conference would result in the Government being enabled to pass legislation to end strikes, “go slow” and other irritating tactics harmful to national progress. A remit that the Minister of Agriculture be urged to amend the Stock Act to provide that fire-branding of cattle should be illegal except on the neck or cheek, was moved by Mr. K. Dalrymple, who reported on representations which had been made by tanners on account of the damage done to hides through fire-branding on valuable parts of the hide. The loss amounted to a large sum annually. Mr. Grice seconded the remit, which was carried. A proposal that all household cows and bulls should be tested for tuberculosis, with the object of preventing infected milk being given children, was lost.

The following remits were carried:— “That the Departments of Agriculture and Scientific Research be asked to make an immediate and thorough examination into the causes of vaginitis in cows, and any possible remedy therefor. Furthermore, that the information • gained be disseminated farmers as quickly as possible. That the Government be urged to pass legislation making it compulsory except in the case of stud stoek, for all young cattle to be dehorned, after the year 1929, before they reach the age of years. -i. ow^ continued spread of lice in sheep, the Government h* urged effectively fo test all dips offered for sale in order to ascertain tneir efficiency as destroyers and preventives of lice and ticks, and that the information be made available to the farming community.” UNIVERSAL AGE MARK. H ’ Buick ( Mas terton) moved that flock ewes have a universal aae earmark, and that the Stock Department be asked to formulate a scheme to that end.

In the discussion which followed, the view was expressed that the compulsory registration of an age-mark was a move in the right direction, but the of a compulsory age ear-mark would not be workable. One speaker instanced a ease where he sold five-year-old sheep and had seen the same sheep offered and sold three years after as guaranteed five-year-olds. A. uni* versal age ear-mark was very desirable to prevent such occurrences. The remit was carried on a division. GIST ItATION TAX. lhat all bona fide sheep and cattle dogs be exempt from registration ” was moved by Mr. W. H. Buick and mov nded a 7 Mr ’ C ’ C ’ Jaek son. ’ The ties in the w C ? nder stated that counties in the Wairarapa had only recently commenced to collect the do* tax tax 2t S’ f elt that tWa - aa a eIS ’ i ■ dogs w6Te necessary for not Ze taxed " and they should The remit was not taken seriously bv a majority of the delegates. The preth?. e .? 7. ytoWn dela gates moved'tliat take suitable preventative 6 to against the sal. i measures produce. The mover (Mr "a son) stated t.hn+ Svenacres of grass seed d ° Wn forty ture came awy, f u]] ‘ ,t be P as ' thistle. Somethin* w. f Cahf °rnian inspection of seeds. Mr°H ‘ » seconded the remit H. Bennett it was impossible to o eC T lSed tbat fornian thFstta, action was nece<»sarv Gd thafc some of pure seeds ThZ ®° SUre the sale the voices he remit waa lost on