WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14978, 27 May 1914, Page 5

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE.

THE PR INDENT'S ADDRESS.

(si'kul ro "hie rߣss.' ; j TVANGANI'I, May 26. The Wellington Provincial Conforr.:e of tbe Farmers' Union commenced

hero to-day. The annual address of Mr J. G. Wilson (Provincial President) dealt at length with the work of the year. He pointed out that there was still a large area of country in the Dominion that could'bo utilised for sheep-raising, and with an improved system of farming, I and a inoro systematic growtu or ior- j age crops, the sheep flocks could be , largoly increased. ■ * . ■ j VOCATIONAL EDUCATION. Tho Union had done much to assist | in the development 01 what is now : called "vocational" education, and j now most.of the schools were equip-; ■ped with school gardens. The. T\a-| nganni Educn:ion Board, were j ahead of any othen, and they had two, if not more, divisions where actual j practical work on "the land was being done. ■ They have an agricultural in- ; structor in the north and another in ; tho south, and .still another to super-! vise tho work at Marlon, where tho High School boys from several localities come once a week to work on tho j plots. These students go for visits to other farms, and liave cilco a ■ year a camp where animals aro attended to and judged, and shearing classes are; conducted on farms. So that tho pupils get a knowledge and a liking of country work and life, but there they stopped, unless tho lad could get* taken on as a cadet on ono of the 1 Government farms. Ho pointed out—| to remove » misconception—that they] had to prepare cadets for an agricultural college ns much as they had to prepare youths for a university. At an agricultural college it ia a waste iof .money, to teach elementary work. This must bo done before the student goes there. Ho requires to have a good general education and a partiallytrained mind.. He (the President) looked forward to agricultural high schools to do this. Tho pupil there would probably bo ablo to live at homo, or, at any rate, in his own district. The very elementary work in agricultural science would be done before he left the higher standards in the primary school. If he is able to tako up a little further science in a high school so much the better. The agricultural -high-school 'would" harp some practical work on the land; itself, and enough would be taught:at these schools of the* science of agriculture to enable the" pupil to PO further-with such work at an agricultural college, to "top off." so to speak, there. . Even if ho did •not go that length, his training at the agricultural hign school would be of immense benefit to him, if his Hfo was to bo passed in any crpacity on the land. Tho students at tho agricultural collego would probably be those who —when tho opportunity arrives—wonld pass such time in practical work as ia required to enable them to take a Bachelor of Agriculture degree. AOCOUNT-KEEPrNG. The President then pointed out the difficulty an. agricultural farmer had in ascertaining whether any particular crop pays or if it shows a loss, and at the close of tho year ho may not ! have realised on all his grain, or wool, ■ and these may show a profit or a loss. The dairy farmer is somewhat different. He is paid in cash and he knows fairly well at the end of the season what his position is, even without a balance-sheet. His monthly cheques added up and the returns from his pigs and' calves, sold off during the year, leave very littlo except tho cows and a few pigs to value when the yearly' returns are made up, but even ho does not allow enough for' replacing tho cows ho loses or discards. But a great change was coming over farmers in connexion with their business matters. The dairy companies had pointed out the way by showing the farmers how to combine. ' Tho older dairying men have got a grasp of business; the directors of the many companies in New Zealand aro beginning to understand accounts, their meetings teach, them business habits, and they see that, collectively, they can do much better than individually in connexion with buying and selling. The awakening, he thought, was evident, and would no doubt, bo fostered by the Union in every possible way. The Farmers' Union Mutual Insurance Association was another instanco of what could be done. Working under difficulties, because of mortgagees and their ways,- these Mutuals have sur> coeded in lowering the rates, _ and .yet setting part reserve funds of various amounts. As time goes on, the rates will no doubt be further reduced and further impetus be given io the business. Tho training here, too, has been of great service to business methods. Farmers' freezing companies have also succeeded in a similar way.

FREEZING WORKS. In the Wellington province, the scarcity of trucks and the uncertainty" of when the fats can be railed, has again led to much anxiety on the part of the owners. Loss of time, and, in tho lambs especially, loss of weight and bloom had resulted. This has been going on year after year, and farmers have been put off with promises; This gave an incentive to have local works, so that the lambs could be slaughtered on the spot and so say© the loss. On the West Coast thero have been many suggestions; each district desiring works in its own immediate neighbourhood. Thero may probably be room for one such works, but more would be courting failure. Besides, every additional company floated for this purposo makes for danger, if it ever comes to a clash between the farmers and the Meat Trust. Why should one of the established companies not do as they have done in Canterbury: put up the works and work them under the same company? There are only two companies m Marlborough, Canterbury, and Otago, though there are- several works, and two in Southland. It would sti-e-ngthen rather than weaken tho position. SUPPLY OF PHOSPHATES. The President next went on to refer t) the question of a supply of phosphates, which wero essential to the soil, especially in the Iy T orth Island. Phosphates are certain to rise in price on account of the limited available raw product. - Before it ir too late, we ought to secure a supply, and it

Would pay tho farmers of Now Zealand to take this matter up without delay. wen if it went tho length of a rate Ppon the land for this purpose it would "6 a good thing. He would, however, •tnneh rather see the farmers take the «atter up themselves than to lean the Government for assistance. It would bo better, quicker, and more eoonomicallv done by doing it them6 e"ves. Mr Aston was making fuller enquiry into the cost of the phosphate rock when passing through. America and in London. The President concluded by referring £» the recant strike and to the part wie farmers and their sons had taken in breaking it. He hoped they would never hnve occasion, but if the same circumstances arose, ho knew the same course would be pursued