FARM INDUSTRY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 169, 20 July 1939, Page 9

FARM INDUSTRY

WANGANUI COMMITTEE PREPARATION OF EVIDENCE WORK FOR THE ROYAL COMMISSION The committee s t up b\ the Nev Zealand Farm* ry Union -Wanganu province) to arrange and co-cra.nat evidence to be placed before th’ Sheep-farming Commission, sat all da] yesterday, with the exception of it two long-distance members, Messrs. 1* K. Pearce and A. S. Abhmore. Tiios? present were Messrs. R. O. Mont gomerie ‘in the chair), \V. Matthews R. Campion. J. J. Lissette and R. Far ley. “The committee wishes it to b( known that its purpose is to starci for evidence and arrange it, and tha any farmer or any other person is en titled to give evidence,” states a report released to the Press. “Individua members will welcome telephone coni munication from any farmer on eacl subject matter as it is published n the Press. “After an attempt had been mad< to include the whole scope of the work in a preliminary agenda, definite subjects were taken as a Fust run-over Some of these subjects are briefly’ referred to below. The committee is seized with the magnitude and importance of its task and intend to make very considerable personal sacrifice it their work. They will again ai day to-morrow and on 8 ;■•; . Al the evidence must be ’ 1* copies and must be in V ■ .1 by August 12. “Preamble: This is • why many classes of sh ep-la*..iu g. is compared with (say) 1910-14, on sale, prices approximately equal to these 01 1914, cannot to-day be carried or profitably. The extent to which costs reduce selling prices to the farmer. “Classification or land: Land in the Wanganui, Waimarino, Waitot?.ra an i part of Batea Counties to be classified, regard being had hi the first place tc the combined counties’ recommendations of February last. Such classification to be set out on riding maps. S.A. deteriorated land plan. “Reliable accounts over a number or years of a representative farm or farms in each area to be submitted, carrying capacity and weights of wool, etc., to be listed over a larger number of farms; relation oi added capital ex penditure to increase or maini-nanc--in production. “Return (or the minus) on capital invested in such areas, separating iatermediary sales and purchases; net in<- on? r. cejsaiy <inct ase .. pioiui tion, increase in selling prices, or reduction in costs’ to produce a fair re turn; cost of development to-day uany bush or uth r undeveloped Hind, and whether sucii cost would show any retui n on capital. “Coastal, itai land country was discussed at length, w.th particular reference to droning an i v.ater supply. The c n.muous supply of go >1 breeding ewes. “Dry >h ep country; it app area t» the c imn tt.e as a prehmintry surv ’y, th u d< t riorat ’d country v.h.cii c;»iid only h ni dnt-uned by graz.ng wdherj (unless by th- ch a per application of fencing, linr? u«id fertiliser it could be made to carry breeding ewes profitably) would have to b? abandoned. “The wetmr position (and drycattle) was debar- d at very great length. Wethers might have to be carried alternatively deliberate loss of income) on marginal breeding country to k ep it in order. “Rural housing: The grouping of a few worker, dwellings in way-bacK centres, financed by bonds guaranteed by county’ •’ 'ur.ciis, was favoured. Not sufficient, however, are married men’s quarters 0:1 the farm itself and they are required in addition, preferably financed by the scheme pm forward by the Farmers’ Union. “Labour: The necessity for creating some end in view for the farm worker, including the building-up of his status by classification of his efficiency ‘as in 7.; f giand». The n-c ssity for continuous work and the withdrawal of unfair P.W.D. competition. “Ancillary overhead: The obviom opportunity for reduction in the overlapping and expensive salesmanship in the selling to faimcrs of farm supplies and. possibly, in the purchase from them of meat, etc., and the extent to which the farmer himself contributed to these. “Afforestation: The comparatively minor item this is in this district. The planting of willows in the bottom oi

gullies of. and the making of dams in, feeder streams; damage to roads, etc. ' by floods and effect on rates. "Noxious weeds: The necessity for ' facing up to the menace even at this < late hour. How much smaller the 1 problem was only 10 years ago; how J much more it will be if left for 1 another 10 years. t "Tenure of native lands: Inimical to t the security of the natives’ asset and c contributing greatly to noxious weeds; t the extent to which it has damaged t the trade of Wanganui City.’* 1