THE HAWKE’S BAY FARMING DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XV, Issue 3, 20 September 1917, Page 152

THE HAWKE’S BAY FARMING DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION.

A GOOD MODEL ORGANIZATION.

G. T. de S. BAYLIS,

Fields Supervisor, Napier.

After a considerable amount of preliminary organization work a very promising joint movement for agricultural advancement has recently, taken concrete shape in this district under the name of the Hawke’s Bay Farming Development Association.

The new organization is designed to work locally in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, and incidentally will supersede the system of small co-operative experiments conducted by the Department with individual farmers. The main objective of the association is greater agricultural development and production Although incidentally it must do a great deal of experimenting, the association does not exist primarily for making experiments, but for the purpose of encouraging by demonstration and assistance the greater development of the agricultural and pastoral resources of the district.

The contributing bodies are the Hawke’s Bay County the Waipawa County Council, the. Waipukurau County Council, theHawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society, the : Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union, and the Napier. Harbour. Board. Each of these bodies contributes to the funds of the association, and each supplies' two delegates for the General Committee, one of which delegates is also on the . executive. The Department has agreed, to subsidize the operations on certain defined lines.

INITIAL OPERATIONS

The association is starting operations upon an area at Waipukurau to test the grazing. value and money, value of top-dressing old pasture. On the Ruataniwha Plains, Takapau, the operation of an area is being undertaken with a view to the increase of the carryingcapacity of the plains by the utilization of lucerne and other forage crops as assistance to the pasture. Records are .to be kept showing the cost of grazing and the stock carried. An area of grass . plots, to demonstrate the. character and value of varieties of grasses will also be established here. At Rissington a fairly extensive area of grass plots will be laid down. At Patoka-somewhat larger plots are to be laid . down to test grass varieties suitable to the light pumice Land of northern Hawke’s Bay. Also an area will be prepared for

the putting - down of permanent pasture, of which records of cost and stock carried are to be kept. Among other activities an endeavour is to be made to develop the seed-growing industry in Hawke’s Bay.

The association will pay for all work done at a rate agreed upon previously.

RULES OF THE ASSOCIATION.

For general information, and especially that of other districts where similar movements are being projected, the full rules of the association are appended. Particular attention is drawn to Rule 12, “ Inspection of Operations,” which was embodied for the purpose of ensuring interest being maintained in the work.

1. Title. — The association shall be called “ The Hawke’s Bay Farming Development Association.”

2. Object. — Its object shall be to assist the Government Department of Agriculture in the greater development of' the agricultural and pastoral resources of Hawke’s Bay, . .

(a.) By locating in the various districts the factors required for obtaining the best results from the land : ,

(A). By locating in the various districts factors which at present hinder the , best results being obtained from the land: - ■ ■ ■ . (c.) By carrying out experiments, when necessary, in order to obtain informaU- ■ tion under (a) and (&) : ; . (d.) By demonstrating on fair-sized areas the results of information obtained by means of experimentation, and also methods of husbandry suggested as suitable to certain districts and soils, such demonstrations to show

costs and returns :

(e.) By endeavouring to develop the seed-growing industry in Hawke’s Bay, and any other industries suitable to the farming-lands of the district : (J.) By developing the principles of co-operation in the formation ■of seed- ■ growers’ circles and beneficial co-operation in other directions where . practicable : . (g.) By promoting when desirable the introduction of plants new to the district, and also the growing of crops other than such as have already . been grown in the district: ■ (A.) By taking steps to assist association seed-growers or pioneers of new lines of husbandry to procure, markets for sound products so grown or procured : (i.) By collecting and recording information likely to be of value to the various districts included in the association’s area : . (J.) By obtaining information about, and generally to keep in touch with, recent developments. in agricultural machinery and labour-saving . devices for the farm : . , % ' (k.) By generally encouraging and promoting high standard of farming amongst the settlers in the association’s area, with a view to increasing the

average returns from the lands comprised in that area : . . (I.) By disseminating among farmers.from time to time the results of the work of the association. 3. Boundaries. lts operations shall be confined to the area contained within the boundaries of the various counties contributing to its funds. 4. Constitution. — The association shall consist of representatives of the various bodies .who contributed funds towards its formation, viz. :. The Hawke’s Bay Agricultural. and Pastoral Society, Hawke’s Bay County Council, Napier Harbour Board, Hawke’s Bay Provincial District Branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, Waipawa County Council, Waipukurau County Council, and of any other bodies whose admission is agreed to by the General Committee and who contribute towards the association’s funds. 5. General Committee.— General Committee shall consist of two members elected by each contributing body, with the Government Fields Supervisor for .the district as an ex officio member. Before the month, of June in each year each

contributing body shall be asked to appoint its representatives on the General Committee for the ensuing year, and members shall hold office until their successors are appointed. In the event of vacancy, body to elect another. 6. Meeting of Committee and Election of Officers. — A meeting of . the General Committee shall be held in the month of July of each year, and shall be called the " annual meeting,” at which the Executive Committee, chairman, and vicechairman shall be elected for the ensuing year, and the annual report and balance-sheet shall be presented by the outgoing chairman. A copy of the annual report and balance-sheet shall be forwarded to each contributing body as soon as possible after the meeting. Other meetings'of the General Committee shall be called by the chairman as required, but the chairman shall at any other time call a meeting on the requisition of members representing any three contributing bodies. Seven days’ notice shall be given to each member of all meetings of the Executive Committee. ’

7. Executive Committee.— The Executive Committee shall consist of one of the two members of committee representing each contributing body, and shall be elected by ballot of all members of the General Committee present at the annual meeting. The Government Fields Supervisor for the district shall also be an ex officio member of the Executive Committee. In event of vacancy occurring in executive after the annual meeting, executive to fill same. 8. Meetings of Executive Committee.— Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held when required, and shall be called by the chairman, who shall give at least four days’ notice to each member. . ■ 9. Chairman.-— The chairman and vice-chairman of the association shall be elected from the Executive Committee by ballot of the General Committee. The chairman shall be ex officio chairman of the sub-committees, and shall have a deliberative as well as a casting vote at all meetings.

jjio. Duties of General Committee. — lt shall be the duty of the General Committee to receive suggestions from the contributing bodies for the advancement of the objects of the association, to receive reports from the Executive Committee, to give directions to the Executive Committee as to the general lines on which operations are to be carried out, and generally to carry out the work of the association.

11. Duties of Executive Committee. — It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to draw up details of operations to be undertaken, to attend to the finances of the association, the leasing of land, the employment of labour, the purchase and sale of material, produce, and stock, and generally to carry the details of the association's operations ; but the actions of the Executive Committee shall at all times be subject to review by. the General Committee. 12. Inspection of Operations. -Every member, of the General Committee shall inspect every plot or experiment of the association at least once in each year, and also on other occasions as far as possible. Members representing counties shall inspect the plots or experiments situated in the counties which they represent at least four times in each year.

13- Secretary.- The General Committee shall appoint a secretary, whose duty it shall be to record the minutes, conduct correspondence, give notice of meetings, and keep the accounts.' . 14. Bank Account. All moneys received shall be paid into a banking account, cheques on which shall be signed by the chairman 'or vice-chairman and countersigned by the secretary. . . 15. Quorum. —.Five shall form a quorum at meetings of the General Committee, and three at meetings of the. Executive Committee. 16. Alterations to Rules. — Alterations to the rules must be passed by the Executive Committee and confirmed by the General Committee before becoming operative.