FARMING AFFAIRS

Chronicle (Levin), 23 July 1946, Page 8

FARMING AFFAIRS

(This cnlunm is supiilied weekly bv Federated Farmars of N.Z., Ino. The inforinaiioii given is offk-ial. Iuit an,\ views expressed are tbose of tlie Foderation and are not neeessani.x tliose of this lU'wsiiaper. ) ' Press Eeports At a meeting of the Doininion Cnuncil of the Foderation last week in Wellington considerable discussion ensued on tlie question of ihe attendance of tlie [iress at branch meetings. I»emits froin Cauterbury asked for a riiling on ihe matter. The (ouncil indicated tlial it was a matter actuallv for decision ! »y the provincos and liranehes concenied. It did advisp tliem, liowever, to oo-opornle with the .press- as mucli as possible. Meetings j could always go into committee wlien , doniestic mattors wero being discussed. Federation Policy 1 At tlie aiinual Doininion conference, i now lo bo liolcl in the week eomnieiieing i Septem'iier JO, probably oue day will bo ■ dgvotod to (inalising tlio niajor policy j and pl'ans- qf the foderation. Mr. W. t \V. Alhifholland has aiready given notice lo movo the adoption . of. the .pfesont j platform of tlie Now Zoaland Farinws ' Cuion. . That will servo as a basis qf disciissi'oii, bu( ineanwli,;]o provinc-es j liave lit'on asked to' i'onmiJatet fitrthhr I details and a spocial conncil snb-coiii ■ mittoe is ondoa vouring to elftril'v tlto issuos for Jinal proseutat iou lo coii ference. j Labour Conference I The Doininion (.'ouncil has-gaven sap-. I pori to a Wanganui suggostion flint reprosontativos of Federated Farniers, | tiie Watorfront ControJ Comniission and tlie Waterside. Workers' I'nion shonld meet in conference . i n an endeavour to expedite the shipping of produce for export in the interest's of tlie demaiid for food. To ]>revious resolutions making siniilar suggestions, the (Jovornmont has given littlo atlention beyond courtesy roplios that tlie representatious have been noted. Drought Relief Represontatious are to be madc to the (iovofument, following last week's Dominion (.'oimcil niee.ting/that drrtught areas should bo 'spocilied and tluit reliof should be offereil in tlie forni of 11011re.jiayable monetary grants to all farniers in desperate need of lielp. The eouncil believed that advantage would not be takeri of the prosent svstem of obtaining an overdrafl from trading banks until assets were exhausted. That would so plaoe an addilional buryleu on production for years. N.Z. Poultry Board The Dominion Couneil was, last week, faced with a formidablo list of reinits from the Otago poultry section of the federation, oue of whieh asked for steps to be takou to liold' an election for Poultrv Board inembers, aiready dela.yed for eight years, appoiiitments ^neanwhile liaving been made withouf reference to produeers. The secretary of the board has replied tliat not oiily had tlie Emergency Waf Regulations prevented eleations being held, but also that the Act recpiired amending. - Proposed amendments liad been submitted to the Gov-

erninent and Ihe board was desirous of liaving an election as soon as ]iossilde. It would probably be bv )>ostal balloL of all registered jioultrv produeers. Tyre Priorities Prolests are to be made to the (lovernmenl against the new tyre priovilv schedule. The federation will ask that priiuarv jiroducers should be plncod in ]iriori1y ;\o. 2, and that disci'eliouary jiowers be given loeal tyre adviping coininittees to deal with urgenl cases. Stock Poods Bili The need for the introduction of the Stock Foods Bill whieh has been under consideration by farming organisat ions for some time is considered to be urgent by the federation. Tlie Dominion Couneil, in Ihe hope that the Bill will pass through Parliament this session, has deferred action on a' Waikato reinit, that tlie federation should set up a technical departmcnt to analyse stock foods, manures, etc., and make its rosults known for the protcction of buyers. .Manures are, actuallv, covered by the Fertilisers' Act, and it is lioped tligt the provisions of the Stock Foods Bill, providing for publication of such aualyses, will lie accepied.