FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18419, 27 June 1925, Page 4

FARMERS' UNION.

OXFORD BRANCH. The monthly meeting of the executive of the Oxford branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held on Thursday. Mr E. G. 'Wells presided, and there • was a good attendance. In regard to electric current for the district, Mr A. Meyers showed the obs acles in the way and how it was proposed to overcome them. •Mr D. Hawke, sen., .was appointed to interview the County Council at its next meeting in regard to electricity. In regard to the question of lice-infected sheep, that had beea referred to the Minister of Agriculture after the previous meeting, and the apparent inequality of the enforcement of the Stock Act in the ssvevnl districts, the Hon. "W. Ivosworthy replied that he had made full investigation into the matters referred to, and he found that the, piovisions of the Stock Act, insofar «9 the inspection of sheep at sUeyards wa: concerned, were, equally enforced throughout all the districts in the Canterbury province, and he cou'.d givo an tsmrance that the legal proceedings taken in the whole of the Amfcerley district were but 15 per cent, ot" the Canterbury total. The withdrawal cf sheep from sale until they had been dipped, as was provided for under sub-se<t:o:i 2 of s?ction 50~ of the Steele Act, was considered by the Department, also by the stock owners, a more drastic proceeding than allowing the ?heep. to be sold subject to dipping with consequential penalty. With reference to sheep that had not been "ticketed" and two or three weeks thereafter had been condemned at other yards a? liceinfected, he would remark that it was quite a possible happening, and unfortunately unavoidable, as "it was a well-known fact that the incubation period of a louso egg was from eight to ten days. A person examining &heep and unable to detect actual lice might havo no difficulty in locating and identifying them at an examination conducted even a week later. That experience was quite a. common one all over the bominion, more especially when non-poiEohous dipping fluids were used. A discussion followed on the reading ci the Minister's le'.ter, and it was stated that there seemed to be great differences in the quality of the "dips* in different packets of the game maie. They mix.'-'d diff rently and it was not improVab'.e that they were not of uniform composition. Each packet should bear a certificate of analysis. It -ivas decided to recommend that "all sheeo dip 3be swbject to Government analysis and registration, fnd every packet should bear a certificate of analysis."

It was Btated tlirt if a farmer could bo prosecuted for lmvins lousy sheep, a manufacturer or vendor cf dips should bo prosecuted if the article ho sold wa» not what it purported to be. Matters ire'.atMig to the Farm Schoni just held were discussed, and the utmost satisfaction was exjrersed at its success. It was resob'ed to thank those who ha-il assisted to make the schco' a success, Mr G. Starky for granting the use of hi 3 caddock for parking cars, and Messrs H. G. Cross., C. F. Bassett, E. Skurr, and L. Watson for providing- stock for the demonstrations; and that a, letter be forwarded to the Minister of Agriculture, expr.ssinsr appreciation of the activities of 4 the Agricultural Department in the prosecution of Farm Schools, and the experimental field work that was being done. ?n seconding the motion, which was {proposed by the chairman, Mr Hawke said that everyone had enjoyed the two days' outing. The lectures were most instructive, and as a result the far.meis wou'd be greater producers. They knew a little, but tibe lectures had confirmed or corrected their opinions and given a. reason for tlafc which they he'.d as an uncertain guess. In many ways they had got the key to future progress. It was further affirmed that by the A. and P. Association and the Farmers' Union sponsoring the school,' they had. brought great good to the district, and the farmers would bo amply rewarded. It was nised that in consequence there wou'd to increased interest in the activities of the Union, and a greater appreciation of what it was endeavouring to achieve for the. farming community. _ From the Dominion secretary a circular was received covering a year's activities in farming. A letter was received from Mr W. Grounds, chairman, regarding the work of the Dairy Control Board.