FARM INTERESTS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 578, 5 August 1909, Page 9

FARM INTERESTS.

[ Imew slump again DISCUSSED. . n I : 'I j v'AR'OyS VIEWS ON STOCK DISEASES. NEW PLAN ACAIHST NOXIOUS WEEDS. i ," -The confsi-nee of firmcrs representing the- q !•■ '.'rwripus agricultural societies of Now, Zealand n I' presumed at ■ tie Wellington Chamber, of' o | 'Cbrarfleree room yesterday;morning. Mr. ° ! feb. Mtofarlane presiding.••'■'• s j ; . -V. :Mr. Tl W. Kirk, Government Biologist, a > gave an interesting lecture.on ''Farm Seeds I< '■■'■'■ and thoir Impurities." .' He described tho t ' Various impurities usually found in, seeds and | chaff, and the modes "of detecting them, and g V.'" showed by a : diagram 'the' gemination' re- i; ''-'■ suits of itests conducted by his division.-- The t ': Bignificanco by-difierencea-in timo occupied in i; !'■ . g^inatWVa^esplaiiied, jM '.samples. -J i ■" were 'likely. .to'.gormiiiat«'\vith moro-.or. less .- t ;' irregularity, 'but when the difference was t , v^hiartea'itdually Indicated;- .staleneM. i: Thete were also seeds known as-hard seeds, i whose tough coits could not the c ) water neco^ary., to.gorminatiou.;. When >n i ' tho'-soil. however, about one-third of these, j I : germinated.- He Lad at former times, urged q ! Ehe.need of a law to secure purity of seed, ; but) Whether or not the. tune was ripe ioi lull t j ■•' legislation on the subject was not tor him to 1 I say: If legislation were not .to be passed, lie s suggested co-operation among 1 farmers to securo -warranties from the merchants... it r I -tfe.Department:of Agricultur.o : were.to.pub- t ' liih'full details of all seed tests, with names, 1 i of-'the vendors, the Departm.ent,. and . also., ( I himself .would be. liable to' prosecution for , r -libel; -It had been suggested that the De- \ partment: should engage, reputable persons .to 1 obtain samples for ana ysis,; because if .the , f Department itself applied;-for them the. I )■ wduid;.ppt, S oV,.the W of, sample, thoj , ( .Wanted.: 'Several-representatives - seed \ ■firms ;Md'oxf)f«'s«d'their, approval.of that, . { a„a;'fo.the^ubUcition,of ; . results, provided . i.' this'prices were':published a|6o.;,'J.hK t .wuld : .., \ be' a inagniaeent advertisement for the firms./ .| f-ielling good seed, and. 'a: : splendid guide to I--- fa'rmei-s wishing' tot buy. W;. ; ..; i -< ') ,";Th&.preaident,.in- ? mi)Viiiga vote; of .thanks , said: the Canterbury A. and. ■ 1- P/* Association-would- gladly find, room in , ; their?collection for a duplicate set of .the ! separated seed sampjos and impurities which \ MriVEM.had exhibited." ;-■'- - ■■'■ •'Mr* Kirk replied.that so long .as all tho K: societies wore not wanting ; samples.'.':: .-.no • ", thought he-might supply thein. f . ■"ii'Mrj" "W. .C,,Buchanan-;,askcd..if...Mr,.:Kirk , •' coiild'.suggest'-a ::good. way .qf eradicating weedtseeds /from land.*. In; England the fcr-niers-did this by :tho •employment •of labour: ■ . for i hoeing,-but-labour mvNew Zealand-was ;tob dear.'. .* ', ."• :.'' ..,',,' ', '. ■• : -u : vMrrKirk said lie was afraid that he could v ''ndtsuggest any way of doing it without labour, but, as this was a. cultural matter* he"-'would refer Mr. Buchanan to his friend ■Mr.' ; 'Clifton. (Laughter.)' ;" ; . •' -• ;' vMr N. -Kettle- urged the need- of'law. to prohibit any farmer from using, any but ' machine : clcaned::seed. / :.;■,•-, iv./'i.'' •' i Mr; W. Perry (Masterton) stated that ho never sowed-seed without first testifig it: ■"■ "becanse ho had. begnj.sq'often, "had, . and Mo'didnot wish ; bis'se&soti's ;work : to bo ' .wasted He miivedr^"Th'at'•: the" 'conferr encaAirge that'a Biirbo-introducea^em- .-■ powering the' Agricultura- Departmeiit.: to > puhlish full particulars of. tested' to ' prfevent the sale of inferior; and■■ impure • ; - - 'Sir;:- Buchanan (Wairarapa) 'asked ''Mr. -•' :• Kettle what would happen to Otago and . ■.' ■' Southland" if his;. suggestion ■ into .- lawi/- ! :K'''was'. sometimes-Stated that these ' ■distnc'is.vhad.yscarcflly./.'ariy.-clean.; land ••• ''Mr..'Kettle;.;it;might.be bestto • and' 'Southland 11 ''under 1 ' 'f6r' 'a" ''fortnight. ' (liiiughter.). He-would, if necessary, prohibit the export of -: from ba.dly- •■ ■ in|ected -■ Clifton,';- ih";charge. of.;thaii-.-uosious; wieds' control, ..thought a system of clasrfiifym'g lands' according to value would get. o/cr the lands cll/an, which, were held,,te.he,not,worth the ■ eitponse';. '''o'wri'ofs of'. lands': of high value ; sbould certainly"be called upo'ri to'keep.their % lin'ds .'clean:-: Owners of'-largo .pastoral.- runs ! '.- .of small,':value:;,pbr, aqre might perhaps', be merely ''to -'.-provont.,- seeding. ~ Crown atfd- Native lands and reserves were probably "riot-, worthj-the • immense ■■; cost ■■} their 1 . "':■ '. r ~-■■ . • .•;' •■ > :'iMr,: Buclianan asked what would; be.,clono '■ with broken' land, worth, £20-per :acrq. , r < ,-':-jMr. Clifton 'said'-preventibii of' seeding ' injg'ht bo sufficient. ■■■Esc'eptions .would arise,; • ; and l -would-hav.e.to..be dealt with in the best -interest of the district.... •... , : . v ,.,_. . ■ -;3>lt. W. -Perry. (Masterton) considered Mr. I Clifton's suggestion -to clarify the lands ac- ■ cifding to val«o..wa«-an excellent. one; ••> ■. ■■. ■ ?;The motion was carried: unanimpusly.. ■;-- ; '■ Analyses of Stock F00d5.;.,-;, .V...- ■" -'-Mr. 0. B. Pemberteri tdanterburyjv moved: • —fi'That the Government be urged to. make it ooinpuLsorv that analyses, be given with' oil stock foods' and.:pondiments,;as'is done in- the case, of manures." He gave; instances-of ' adulteration ofv pig feed", with: sawdust ;instie'ad of grain husks, and c cotton seed and ' weed seeds instead of barley-mcarand v/heat - scfee-nings. •; Ho .urged that the. law of.an. -. al£sis : as-''applyirig'te waniirds-should ; bo ex- -. tended to stock foods. . ~ 'Mr. : BteveiiEori"(Ganterbury) seconded':and ,' the .motion was carried. ■' ' '■ .' "■ .^^--^D^i'Sh^Savlng.v;^^;) : . -~-; / ' D. Macfarlane. (Can-; torh'u■r : • daylight > Gay ; ing: .Th^at'.dtibo'W-'recbinHeudatioh. M tho Govehi:: » ,meri'tsth^hct^e4n-?tKe-third 'Sunday;, in ,octehgr.''.aiid:'.'th#;''third Sunday, in, March-; local . ti§e:sh'air^a;-oiie'.hour.an ! iiidvaiicfi..oLNew . Zealand-'rnean-tirno in New/Zealand, ..the obat wwk'lh'VtJe ; ''suhime , r v mouths and .the cnlargemefit'toftheXiperiod hi leisure/in .the. :afterno6h..and f '6v,ening.'" pointed out .thatthe 1 -hours -were found.te be;tho ' mtfst'.valyahJeV.forJdMlragvwith / inMsb'moVcasW'- already'-Kd t;now:slteepfarmerii ' in'ithe : '"&outh-whose <md'n 'worked early .and had 1 their.afternoon's, for cricket-..;,;-'/;'.■ 'Mr. Pemberton 1 (Canterbury) seconded.. i "■■ >Mr,''Ayiqoler'■' (Maha'watn) thought thqt instead''of':'having^an''Act ofviParliameht' 1 and - al'tsririg tho:;raihv'ay .timfctabloi-it/.would ho test'--, if.'.' those, who.apprpy.e4,: the J adopt it.-H'oluritaij'ily.;!,/,,. , ) '■•Mr^ ; agreed' -.with - Mr;:^heeler^'-S;•' -&/ ' : S : ?C:p- -.,ri ■■■ :-; ; : 'U\ - said-we labour,- laws hVd;-de ; lßbbUT4,uorie./oufsideJ-of .xertami .hQUrs,., t 'and a this niii'si'he considered "-in approaching; this to;. holidays, ho;, approved of^:'giving:tbo,'ineii'.several days ~holj: day-'at convenient periods-rather, th'ari'a few hours frequently, because the workers could not-; in those few hours'meet other workers from distant faruis. :■:;.■- ' ■:■. ' '•■''■ ■Mr. Harkhess.observed that if this movemerit was 'going ;tb affect the farming indus; try alone,he would .support ,it ; ..but it would ■ ■ como into conflict with .other industries, ano , wo'uld / iiot''bo v wbTkdblo.:"'..'-.'• '■:■ '.". ■■'■■' ' r'jfhe motion was 'defeated, by one vote. ■r\ ' '-J- ■(• ~'i UßhtvHDi'3a :i Dr9oding.«.,■;■ ■Mr. ;SteTeririn'it'(Cahterbury) ..-moved:— ' "That the'conference'takerinto v considera 'tion-what can be dono to .encourage thi "ii'wding of .-lighf.'lipresSi'.V' -He said that light Woree brtsdirig- was not profitable-at present ' j*t it r/a« desirable.that, the breed, slioulc W:.mSin't«i'Md tind improved.; He doubted i: racing improved their strength and stamina i - :aiythir,g eioept speed. . .. , ~ •'■; iii':; oyerteri «iid-that it was- lmportan ' toi find for thoso horses. -New .Zea kn'ci hu-Vises had proved their fitness in Soutl Africa' for'jarniy purposes, but the"lmporia GiKernment would not tend-a buyer to Nei r /. : :W:d to purchase them. : . ')*,- ■••■■■ I'bpe (,=Jncretai-y.for,Agriculture)-sail ' ;-,;' ,' ~;:.,•• yf.irs ago tlio New Zcilaml.Gpv 'e; : ':'i"'-'-t (iffer«l to; select.some thousands' o ' , re',/o'uins each' year" if,tho Imperial .Govern mcn.t-would give tb'cm"en-order, but th 'sriggestioii wan-riot.taken up., "-,'■■" ,-.'•' _" '..m ; lleakes (Ohief : -Government' '.yetcriri ' ariariy- riwritioried '.that ;-ah ■; Imperial -~ Arm, , reprdssiitativo from' India- visited ~ Zca ' Md.'and lriply. of Zea land horses. He had hoped then .that: pri vatp enterprise would: build-up.;-a; trade i

irmy horses for India, where the require- ol menfc of about 2000 artillery horses per an- ,u aum was chiefly supplied by Australia, lho bi liorso required in India was a good active ci half-draught or quarter-draught; There wero ol not many horses of that stamp'-in Now. Zea- n. land, but ,tl>o farmers should sot about pro- tl [hieing tliem. ••'■ -• , , "■' . '.;Mt. Stevenso.r said it,was now hard to a< Grid a thoroughbred with eight inches of bono below : the, knee. The motion was carried. Ci Soundness of SJud Horses. u Mr. Bishop (Taranaki) moved:—"That tho ■ Government 'be 1 asked to inspect for soundness all stud horses standing at,tho services " of breeders, with a view to issuing certificates o of soundness." '~ Mr. Mawsou (Ashburton) opposed compul- " sion, because tho breeders in his district, v although they possessed tho best horses in v Now Zealand, would object to it. Horses Cer- J tified sound might be of poor quality. „ Mr. Charters (Otago). moved an amendment:—"That thd Government be asked.to r appoint inspcetors, whose duty should bo to ° inspect stallions voluntarily submitted to ° them and give certificates on payment of £1, " if such' stallions were, proved free from here- , ditary,disease and defective ..'conformation, t the;system--to be' oiv the; lines of the j yic- s torian scheme, which.hao come into operation * in the last two years." \ Mr, Rutherford (Auckland) said - that C ownors of mares would be able and likely to t patronise a well-built 'uncertificated horse, in ,1 preference to a certificated horso of inferior quality. ' . Mr. Ewcn Campbell (Wangaiiui) supported c the amendment,' because ho considered it b likely to be acoepted while the compulsory t scheme was not. . ? Mr. Reakes (Chief Government Vetcrin- t atian) said. Yictprian. veterinarians were now ( examining horses on this side before exportation. Thoso which' passed inspection were exported, and; thoso which were found unsound: of course remained in New Zealand. He recommended that in Nov/ Zealand the 1 horses now in service should be permitted to 1 remain in service, hut that compulsory corti- i fication should apply to.all horses subse- l quontly coming into use. Owners should have the.: right 'of, appeal' to a board specially sot up. •..-..■•''■■.'-'• -■ -■ ' -.'.'■ •-. ■'■'•'•. The original compulsory motion was de-, i feated, rind tho'-,Voluntary. amendment then : ■b6tJaiTao.;the substa'.itivo motion;, ';;, >. ! Mr. "T: Winks (Egmont) moved a further • amendment to make inspection voluntary for stallions '"over two years old at the the "passing of the Act, but compulsory for ; alt stallions then'under that age, and until they are sis years of agei ... .... Mr. Overton seconded. .' Mr. J. G. WilsonJßulls) favoured a voluntary scheme,, as being more likely, to .bo ; brought into law..' '• . % ' . Mr. "ff. o.'. Buchanan-(TVairarapa) agreed with. Mr. Wilsop -that it was advisable. to 'hasten slowly,.'.- ,_ ' Mr.' Rc-akes strongly favoured a compulsory law (ipplicablq to all stallions which, at tee time of tho passing of the law, were not over .two years old. . . m .' , . . ,:,Ir. Ewen Campboll .(Wanganui), favounag a-voluntary scheme,- 1 clurgcd supporters ••of the amendment with trying to got m the "butt'end' rather, than the thin end of the •wedge. '•■••■-- •-.' •'• .--• The amendment was defeated, and Ur. Charters's voluntary motion carried. : Mr. G. C. Wheeler,(Manawatu).moved,:— "That the veterinary inspection of ] stud horso the Dominion agricultural shows he'undertaken by the Department of Agriculture, and', that no -prizre. be awarded to- exhibitors in. such, classes unless certified as sound by tho .qualified: veterinary officer.^ ' . ' Mr. ■ J, S,-' Harkness seconded, :■. and the ■motion was -carried. .'■ Bogus "Vets." An Otago delegate moved':—"That the Government be-asked to take step 3 to,prevent anyone describing himself as a veterinary • surgeon, .or using'the. letters M.K.C.y.u. after his name, unless;ho is a du y qualified arid registered veterinary surgeon. ' - He said '•thai 1 -there>were, l unqualified; r n«jn,,travelling tho country professing to boveterinanans ml even using the letters M.B.C.V.S, after their ' " a Mr. 3 'Rcakes said the of Ne| ■' Zealand did not rwssess'''d'|; : m-uch':..protection as was extended to pluaihorS; was ' an unqualified man eVcn_ .nb\y:':.-;practising within 100 miles of We)lingtelv;as:a vetorm- - arian, and using the who ; had served two termsuu...prison ■f.or-,-.offence> against the law.-" r-Vv v'< ■'' •• » ■■■'■■•Tho motion was amchded..to.'apply;:- i againat ' unqualified men calling-.thc'.m.sc]yeß*s;,yeterin- '• arians' and using ■tho;<;letters l I and. was then passed,.';;:.; j'/;-; ;;;.'/;;.;, ' ':'■' Mr..Gllru'th's VetorJhaVy".Ooiidß?..; ., ', ■',:& Taranaki remit .proposed: -"T;hat the ,'■ Goveriimeiit appointments, for alt;.,Agi'icul- '. tural Inspectors shouldihe: niado.;from certi- ! T ficated men'iriWoh separate Department. • ' -'Mr. M'Lean. : ;(Uawk6's , ..-Bay)r:.mdved tho following-,.' amendirient :4r''.Thati,-GQvernineiit appointments: of;: agricultural .inspectors be " made' : from certificated, 'men .in/Veach dc- : partment;;and, in order, to.afford tho youth of the country-'oppor'turiityv-'of-. filling such . positions,'that-thb'Government, through the Ministers if or Agriculture and .Education, bp, 1 asked to'-adopt some.such scheme as was I outlined in tho address of the retiring chairman, so as to provide .that a number of !' Vefcrinary surgeons, traiucd in' the Me> r bo'irrio universitv,'■ would■: -be vavailablo for ', Gove'fnrrient offices'in New Zealand in the near future; and.it. is suggested that if the ■ A.°. and'F. Associations subscribed a fixed " sum annually,. they, would... he, able to give ' oiie scholar tho charico. of taking a five-year i courso-under Professor Gih-uth." Tho president said that the. amount stated by the chairman . to. bo necessary . for. a ■. scholarship. was; £75.; It .'would, bo,' desirable ; to ariiount of tho: coritribution- from "■ bach of thoSS societies, connected with the : conference. - '- ; - •■■• -. • ' • - ■- ■;'-- -.. : ■ : ; ; Mr. Ewen Campbell •(WaiiKanui);-proposod \ £2 : fo'r : small societies,., and ~£s: for -large ones.: ■" •'■ ■' ■' '' ; '■ '-.' ';.";-. ■■;.'" ' '• . : Mr. W. C.. Buclianar. .'(Wairarapa), seer: bri'din'g the aniondmeiit;'sii'ggested that each -: society, be- left to; decide-into-which; category " i't should -be,.-placed,,.-'. (Laughter.) ■;.- - He "■• thought that' iu.:this. way -more: five-pounds j? would bo .'obtainpd., - -•: •,.■•, ■'.: ? ; VPinMlT..:tße' , the' '^ ■'.metropolitan■ societies-to''pay '£5, and the j others '£<!.* --•;■-•-■;■• .""';".""",' .""" ! Mr'. RoakesTon Stock Dlsoasss. : ;The. Chief Government .Veterinarian, Mr! •j jCV-J, Reakesj deliVered- art-interesting paper 'on.'"Tho Prevention-: of. Disease." He described.,the caus'es,;'syiriptonis, and preye'ri- ?■• tion of various 'disease's, of sheep; liorses, l cattle,, and othor,...istqck, -In, tlie, course,..of his' statements, i.ho'said'. that;iiifliiei)za..had lately-' caiised'i.'coiisiderablo trouble.:in stahles, ■J. iespccially. -''in -'Auckland; ■ ■ Fdr , the ; cure.-, ot 5- soirio foot'; ',:evi|s:;' "-' ho-..advocated, -the „ Icertilicafiijg 'of 'qiialified:smiths;'.'ln -regard '_ ;to sterility, arid cbrit'agio|i3 ahor'tloii, ■fie.'sa'id f' ,that though, .this, disease'.-became ;trdubleU jsomß/only. aboutisev.dri;-years' ago,' it-'-had a obtained a strong hold,'and was now almost . B as prevalent as ' ever it ; v/as. If was curable by injection. • Tuberculosis 3 . was-' tho- worst ,'disease. It had been "increasing yearly, in-cattle at the rate d 'of 1 iper cent-' per annum in the'last three j years, and in pigs in Btill greater proportion. In viev/'of provod facts, ho was of . opinion tliat the following preventive measures wero immediately , I : ;, : -(i-.);Weeding put and, slaughtering: all _ ' noticeably affected ariiirials. .'.. Doubtful i- cases to .'bo treated with tuberculin.- (%) jo VSo dividing the. farm into paddocks that !t . . each paddock can in turn, be' kept for t some months' clear of cattle • altogether. [ c i Sheep could to advantage bo grazed. if upon these paddocks while the, cattle n were, off them. (3.) Tho constant main- '' -tonanco of cleanliness in milking sheds, 3 t ' and also,'so fai as is practicably pos- , i'sible, holding yards. (4.) The pasteur- <\. isatio'n of all separated milk and whey at 1] (lairy factories and, creameries before its, removal by.farmers for ,tho, purpose of "■ feeding calves and pigs. (o.)'Tho,provi-- ; if l ',-sion ol; good, winter ..feed both for cows ' ' and for young stock, thus enabling them n { to maintain a.high standard of vitality and giving thoin a better chanco of rel,g sisting infection. •. : -;, ; . , .. ,/ .' Mr'. Reakes ■ .said , ho .knew. o vi- 'two dairy' factories (within ~ three min ny utos of one ; another. Olio,, - pasteui a- ised 'the skimmed milk and whey,, and th. 'k- 'othof- diet not. In. tho case "Of tho supplier ri- to the first factory "tuberculous .. pigs won in ' a rarity, but in the case of suppliors to th

other factory a pig buyer whose factory was under' inspection refused to buy them at all because of the- large percentage of tuber- | culous ,animal 3 among them. Pasteurising t of skimmed milk and whey was one of the 1 most valuable Of all the means for. arresting this disease. Discussion followed, and Mr. Reakes was ■ accorded a hearty vote of thanks.' Utility Herd Book. A remit of Taranaki proposed: "That the conference discuss tho advisability of opening up an advanced register for dairy stock." ' : Mr. Wilson (Bulls) explained that the remit had not really tome down from the Taranaki Society, but was suggested by Taranaki breeders and .others at the National Dairy Show, and was put on the order paper to give it discussion. The desire wis to have a system established- under which dairying stock Could be sold under a pedigree of ■ milk yield. Mr. -M'Crea - (president of the Jersey Breeders' Association) said his association already had. a .utility registration scheme [in operation, arid ho thought. other societies could tako the same Stop in their respective breeds. : ' ..,' ; Mr. J. G. Harkness feared that some of . the promoters of tho movement desired to sell crossbred' bulls, which would bo disastrous. He thought it would be undosirable to assist the formation of a crossbred herd book. AVhile crossbred' coivs were admittedly profitable,:thoy must always.have the purebred bulls. Another Taranaki delegate opposed the motion, which received no support-from the delegates, r.nd was.defeated. A remit of Taranaki proposed: "That before any bulls are offered lor public sale for stud purposes a certificate of soundness must bo produced,' signed by the vendors and Govornmont inspectors." ..' ■'.'', Tho motion was defeated; Cow-Testing Associations. . Mr. Rutherford (Auckland), moved: "That tho agricultural organisations throughout the Dominkm urge-the various breeders' associations to promote and foster tho formation of .cow-testing, associations:" . Mr. Hig'gie seconded. '■• . : . ; Mr. J. G. Harkness .(secretary Nationo.l Dairy Association),[' supporting tho proposal,: , expressed, the; opinion that the average.but-, tor-fat'-yield of tho dairy cows-, of -New -Zealand did not exceed.lßolb. .per annum, while' it ought to'be'up to 2501b. or 3001b. The.output could be greatly increased, by testing',' from the same number of cows, and he predicted advisedly that beforo long tho dairying 'output would -bo the biggest • industry of Now Zoo'land, notwithstanding tho Wool. : Mr. : Bishop (Taranaki) said'that it '>vas: agreat pity,,that-the -boned..beef trade'' was stopped, be'rou'ao it afforded a splendid out, let- tor' the dairy nulls. Cow-testing operations would sbondcrid to. a utility Jiord hook.' Mr. D. Cuddio (Dairy Commissioner) stated that this movement was, from": thb dairy farmer's point of view, one of the first importarico.,"An instance came to his no. tice recently of a'.-farmer whoso herd .five' years ago gave.an.average 0f,1661b. of.butterrfatjhut.lie bought a purebred bull costing £25, kept tho. progeny of his best cows, 1 and-now his. average wis 2'iplb. The Minis-, tor for .'Agriculture had authorised him to tako this matter up,- and it was, proposed to start in. one of the' chief dairying districts with tho aid of One of the large dairyj jng companies. TKoy would ask tho farmer | I to boar sohio'of-.tho .expense of tho sample j bottle spring balance, dipper : and 'sample [ box,, and to. ask'the factory to find tha [ tester and the steam, while the Department >■ would ; find the ' man to do the testing., j Monthly reports would be'niade, and'aii'an--jiual summary,. This' wa,s to bo Started with : 500 or. GOO cot/s, a few weeks hence,' and tho .. results' when published would iiiterest > others. ' ' .;.'...: .. • " '. i 'To ,Mr'. l Wilson, Mr. Cuddie estimated, tho j New' Zealand average yield: of. butter-fat at; about 1501b. per cow. '..';' '.' j : Mr. AVilson 'expressed his delight at hear-, 1 ing Mr. Cuddio's alinouncomcnt that the i Minister had authorised ass.ist'aric'o' in this ;l matter, arid, ho,thought the 1 Minister should r be; heartily thanked.' ".' " .'.",.'' V i ,Mr.' W. 'G: Bricha-nan a,' .vote,',;.of \ jtKd'riks;'.,to; the^ i ried'." : " :'.;; ' ;••'.•■■'"• .•".-'■' s : The Minister (Hon, Mr. M'.Keiizie) briefly, ; reblicd, stating he rcalisedthat-dairying '-. wo,u.ld; .do.ijno.ro' tliah.any,., other; industry to o pedple'.'qiir country'...:,'' .'.'.'.■, '~.-,-.. fi i The motion.was',parried. ~,,,, ,-•■',,,

|| : ::■■ ' : THE : MEAT : TRADE, ■ '■'■'.'•.' '.:

i HON.\-T.. MACKENZIE'S VIEWS.; : Mr. Boag . (Ellesraere) , proposed :—"That . theconiercnco. discuss the question of making, suggestions for the improvement of the meat. export-'trade.' 1 . . ... . , •; .:.',;' Mr.' Cunningham (Ellcsmere), seconded,. '- Mr.. Wilson (Bulk) remarked that the meeting accurately represented the feeling in the country—they did not know whatvto, do. There was-a'slump in. our frozen,',meat, and they were aghast at it, hut know not w)iat was the best solution' of it. Apparently the meat freezing interests were the;most able ! to deal wittr the!position,, and Mr. Foster, I ..who- was now.'at- Home, would, no' doubt, . learn; something of the position, Mr. W. C. Buchanan .(Wairarapa) said that he "had;been for 25 years associated with a ■ freezing company established by farmers, and whoso directors . always had been .practical 1 farmers. He would gladly give any mforma- * tion ho could, having ho secrets that he need 1 keep back. ..The New Zealand arid Australian > and South American mutton exports had in- ' creased, and thero was a want of purchasing power at'Horae. So soonas trio stores became I over-filled the market became something like a i man who had already .eaten two chops of i mutton and did not'want a third-at any ' price. The groat danger .they had. to face ■ in .New 'Zealand was- that other countries might have the power to compete with New 1 Zealand at a less cost. They must try to ! reduce the ;cost of,, production, the cost of ; ships calling at so' many ports to pick up ■ supplies.'They must also _;hope foria com--1 filiation among the freezing; companies to ' 'reduce expenses, whjeh Mr. Foster had long - endeavoured \to bring about.'.. : ~...' ' ' Mr. Ewen Campbell (Wangahui) stated ;, that he .had'grown grey in a 20-years'. en- ' .dcavour to' solve-the meat-market problem. 3 Ho believed that the chief causes, of the 'slump'were l over-siipply': ahd ; .'decreased purchasing power. With all the low prices in , England they were not 'eating our moat. The * lAmerican combinations were able .to underr sell New Zealand meat all the time, and,; in 3 time,.he'believed tiia't the great §outli'Ameri- " can-firms would,-as they, themselves prei dieted, " wipe Australia out." There were f now Mr. Foster and numerous others of the 5 highest meat authorities in Britain, in addii tion to the.Premier, and if they could not ' right matters, nobody! could. ■. -, 8 Mr. O'Halloran' (Oxford) expressed him--1 self as having greater .optimism, but hoped * that.tho Minister for Agriculture and.others " would assist in opening up new markets,', so i that London ' might not bo asked to take t it all. A, reduction of shippings ; esperjses * Should also be attempted, and freezing charges s !wero disposed to.rise. , Ho understood his 3 lamb, shipped in' March,-would realise 12s. 3 9d., which was " not so killing." He beB lieved the effect of the slump was not quite I so bad as they 'wore inclined to think. * Tho Minister (Hon. T. Mackenzie) stated r that he had hoped to get some suggestions from, producers: Tlicso suggestions had chiefly .referred- to -reduction -of- loading and • shipping charges. Ho believed that thero was a lack of purchasing power at Homo, but it was a fact that there, were 358,000 cwt. of ,sheep and lamb less in the' Old Country'than there Were ten. years, ago. 1 Thero was : a slight increase of meat, but not in duo proportion to the increase of population. The most marked increase was in pigs. There was no doubt about the loss of. purchasing power,, and it must bo patent to all that, 'Britain was losing her grip on tho .world's;trade. This was • shown, by the published trade figures. The deereasD of imports and exports with increase of ro-ex-ports showed that raw material was passing away from British workmen to Germany and other countries. We wanted preference,, or better access to continental trade, but even France,', with whom wo jwere on friendly term's, had lately .increased , her _ duty on )f foreign meat. Even in the colonies ortlors i. were"sent to Germany and other''countries i- that could be well filled in Britain. Her io rivals had taken the trade from Britain, rs and wero now disputing.' the supremacy.' of i-e the sea. A system of fair' trade was wantod, io and so soon as wo gave Britain the power

to retaliate against .tlio'tactics of her'rivals wo would' bo. able-'.' to send our products to those countries that were now'closed against us.. . iTtio/r'unfair claims, mado at' Homo, for meat alleged to be "daiiiuged" and,"not up to quality" by some of the greatest scouudrelsiin the world, enabled them .to 'undersell other agents. Tho. insuranco companies had not' properly grappled With : this question.. Tho . claims, liad increased in spite of the improvement in tho shipping -service. Chilled beef also had doubtless affected,, our market. It was unfortunate that' representatives of freezing .companies' refused,to hold a conference on.this important matter. Would thoy . beliovo it when ho tried to promote a conference, the manager of one of the freezing companies absolutely refused to sit at the same table as the manager of a rival company?' (Shame!) These personal quarrels ought to be set' aside in view of the .urgency of the situation, affecting tho industry. The • American system of trading under trusts must be fought, for the system gave tho trust a powerful hold on <i country s trade. New Zealand had a trust in the Colonial Sugar Company, and if a froe vessel came with a cargo of other sugar even at a cheaper price there wore probably very fow firms in Now Zealand free enough to buy t. The control of the Argentine meat industry mi"ht bo. used against us; while managers of New Zealand meat companies were refusing to confer at a-common table. (Hear, hear.) The Hon. Mr. Mackenzie read a letter from Mr. Nelson, of Napier,- who attributed the slump to over-supply. He pointed out that a few. years ago the New Zealand thought that if they could sell their 'ambs at 7s.'eaoh'their fortunes would •be mad*. Yet now they expected very 'much more. _!n view of'the preEent.situation it was ■■ inevitable that lower prices. n)ust be accepted, and he believed Bs'. would pay them. i The conference wilj be resumed this morning. ■

THE POSITION AND THE REMEDY.

: "SIMPLE, BUT NOT" OVER NICE." , The following letter has been •f'orwardwHo the Hon. T. ; Mackenzie m connection with the salient -aspect of. the meat trade as outlined above:—:• ■ " . .. Dear Sir,— Following my-telegram of this : morning in reply to yonrs of yesterday s idate, I am quite satisfied that the present giiimp in London is entirely due to supply 'exceeding demand. Trouble began in the latter "part of last .year, wheir the demand for lamb practically ceased arid for was very much restricted, the result being that wheir this season's meat,-began to ar-rive-'there were still large stocks (large-by comparison with the-demand) of last'soar sou's meat-on hand; money still remained scarce, that is, in the handß of the habitual frozen meat consumer, and old Btooks had to be moved somehow, thus. a. lowering of prices was inevitable. Then, to make matters worse, shipments were larger and earlier than over known in our history, due to an abnormally fine winter and spring in the North" Island. A' few figures referring to shipments of Australasian mutton and lamb afloat are instructive:- igog _ - — On January 21" 475.000 925,000 On Januarv 28 ......... 550,000 1,050,000 On March 2 875,000 1,200,000 On Mavlß G30.000 1,540,000 0„ j„ly 20 : • M 5,000. • 690,000 " Now, remember that trade- in Groat Britain still remained bad and money scarce, then isj it'necessary to look-any further than supply and demand for tho deplorable conditions which have existed and do e.vist? • Then comes the question of remedy. It.is very simple, but not over nice. It meann lower prices' to'' the -''producer. Takq• it this

way: Amongst the frozen meat consumers, in "the Old Country there arc M many halfcrowns to be spent in meat every week; Arc we to give them 51b. or 101b. : of meat for their half-crown? I say that if .supply exceeds demand, then we must give 101b.. for tho half-crown, or we can't nio\:o the quantity. The producer will of course not approve this line of reasoning, but ho has got to. '.. A few years hack we in tho North Island thought that if wp could average 7s. to Ba. for as many lambs as we could grow our fortunes \vould bo made, but of late years wo have been getting from 12s. to 165., so that the smaller figure looks like ruination, but it is not so;we can still do Very well at Bs., and wo havo got to face it. No doubt, thoro will, for various reasons, bo ups and downs in the trade, but a shecpfarmcr need not 'starve on the average result ccept where ridiculous pricos have been paid-for land. Ono reads in tho papers a good deal about the American trusts,' etc. No 1 , one knows what tho'Ultimate result to thb trade will bo owing to their methods; for all Iknow it may bo utterly disastrous, but ".at'the moment I'am quite certain that, supply' and demand is the solution of the troublous conditions existing. There is one itom which I suggest would to some extent'mitigato a possible increaso of the evil, and which ■ I commend to every freezing company in the Dominion, viz., not to increaso killing accommodation, as already wo are killing toq fast. I am aware that proposals to increase killing capacity exist, and I am sure it woula be much wiser if such proposals were not put. At the same time, increased, storage .would be of considerable value.—(Sgd.)w.. Nelson, Tomoa.ua, Hawkc's Bay, Ju)y 29..' ......