FARMING AFFAIRS

Chronicle (Levin), 17 May 1947, Page 8

FARMING AFFAIRS

♦ ;- tThis ooluinn is supplied weekly Dy Eederated .Parmers ot x\.Z. ihe niiornidtion. givdil is offieial but any views expressed ai-e tliose of the Jb'ederauou and are not neeessarily tliose of thic * n6U'spapvef.] Godds Service Oharges. The G-oods Service Charges Tribunai has autliorised an increase of 4 tpei jcent. in the charges prescribed in area schedules and an increase of 3 per cenu in the charges prescribed in city, boibugh and town district schedules. Tnt increases are eumulative on those autnorised by the (Pribunal in its order 01 July 28, 1945, and are iiuniediatei^ operative. The Tribunai 's deeision was maae consequent on application by the various carriers ' and road haulers' organisatious to have freight charges increased as a result of new wage awards tor transport workers made by the Arbitration Court. The workers aft'ected were dfivers, motor mechanics and clerit-ai tvorkei'S. In its report, the Tribunai states timi it investighted the movement in oper atihg costs aiid calculated that the nei increase iii the total costs to operators hs a result of the new awards was approximately 4 per cent. in the ease oT hfea opefators and 3 per; cent. in tnc ease of operatOrs in cities, boroughs anu toivn districts. * Such an increase was accordingly made ift freight charges". The neiv increases aprily to all charge.niade by the Tribtmal to date and ais«. apply to "route service" charges. Ap plicati.ons for a review of the charges fixed by contracts arising out of tiurecent awards will, as in the ease of ai. other applications in respect of con tracts, be dealt with individually. free Planting Subsidies. The £ for £ subsidy now being grant ' ed farmers by Catchment Boards foi the purpose of tree planting. for soip conservation purposes has been extenued to include the ^preservation aiu] re generation of existing cover. The sun sidy will also be made available for tlu elose planting of steep faces whicli wi 11 be p'ermanently retired from grazing. This subsidy scheme has been planneu by the Soil Conservation aua Rivers Control rouncil and is operated by the various Catchment Boards from whien farmers can get full details. In gen eral , the subsidy is paid for all tm planting that has a soil conservation value, but uot i'or, the purposes 0. growirig millable tiinbCr. Trees musi be chosen from an approved list anu , b'oth the application and the "completea work niitst be approved. A furthef sttbsidjy scheme of £3 for £1 has been developed for the purpose of assisting farmers with their own laboui', to undertake soil coiise'rvation measures to control ac-tive and severn erosion, particularly in gullies and 111 eroding stream banks which directiv affect the stability of the hillside above. Tree planting work in that eonuection, however, is eligible only foi the £1 for £1 subsidy. Details of this extehded scheme can also be secured from the various Cateli ment Boards. World Fbod Council. The latest bulletiu of news from F.A.O. reports details of the" reason.why the Preparatory Commission 01. World Food Proposals would not recommend the institiitiop of a World Foou Board as proposed by Sir John Boyu Orr, Director-Generhl. His plan calleo for' an international agehcy with funas and authorit.v to stabilise pri§es oa basic agricuitiiral commoditifls- on the. world mal'ket and promote concrettmeasuiics oii a world scale'for the oidei ly develo-mlent. Of agriculture. ~ The Commission, however, ■ opposco the fonnation-of a b'oard which needeu the broadest siipbQrt to he effechve anu .W-ere not preparen - to ioin in "'the cre&tion of an interna tional ageiiey With f'Unds,and author itv There was tmauinious agreements, however,' for intef-gOvemmental cou sultation and jaiut aetion. The Worlu Food. Council was the method qdopteu to secure these ends. The duties of the Council are to keeo under Constant. review and fuordinato agficultutal and nutritlouai programmes and coinmodity operrttioiis. Tt« will ndvise governmerits and speeialised organisations on food mattefa in general and will probably consist ot vot'ing repfesentatives of 13 natioiis, non-voting rep-ese.ntatives from other United Nations, the ageuctes and observers from F.A.O. tnpmlier countries without seats nn the Council.