FARMERS UNION

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1753, 19 May 1913, Page 8

FARMERS UNION

THE TARANAKI CONFERENCE. The annual conference of tho Taranaki branch of tho New Zealand' Farmers' Union held at Eltham was presided over by Mr. G. Hunter. In his address, tho chairman said that several of the reforms for which they had been striving for had bceii brought about during tho year, and others Jv?ro in sight. Telephone and postal facilities had been improved, especially the delivery of rural letters. Tho suggestion put forward by the Socicty for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals conference that it should be made illegal to dehorn cattlo showed that the promoters were not familiar with farming. As a matter of, fact, from six months up till IS months was tho most unsatisfactory timo for dehorning. The process of dehorning by chemicals was not very efficacious, except in eases where extreme care was exercised. Tho matter was ono which the union should watch.

Amongst the remits tabled were tho following:—Two urging a Puro Seeds Bill. Mangatoki moved: "That it be a recommendation to tho Government to bring in a Seeds Control Bill to pass legislation mahing. it illegal to sell or distributo seeds of liny kind that are impure or contaiu any mixture of noxious weeds." Auroa and Otakeho moved:. "That the Government bo urged to bring down a Seed Sale, Control Bill."

Tlio remits were token toge'her, and considered as one, and in the course of a- general discussiou, one speaker urged that the Government should seo to the inspection of seed-growing areas. If farmers saw some of. tho pastures in the South Island shut up for seed, said the speaker, they would simply not buy the seed.

Mr. Maxwell said that where there were almost similar weight and bulk of fieed, it was practically impossible to clean it. They should get at the root of the evil by insisting on cleanliness of paddocks. The trouble about the last Bill introduced in tho House was that the suggested percentage was far too high. A groat many merchants were too reckless, only half cleaning their seed. Mr. Capper i (Kaimata) said that there had been more noxious weeds introduced into Taranaki by means of chaff than by seeds. It was 110 use passing a Bill, unless somo expert was appointed to see that its provisions were carried out. . Mr. Buckeridgo (Eltham) said that in various other countries all the vendors submitted their seeds to a microscopic test, which threw out a very large quantity of impurities. The seeds were sold under'warranty.

Mr. Lambie contended that it waa no use asking the Government to draft a Bill, unless the farmers gave them a lead on what lines to go. He also pointed to the difliculty of coping with impurities in imported, seed. In the south tho Califernian thistlo had got such n hold in certain districts that it was useless trying to eradicate it. The weed was therefore being cut for ensilage. The farmer who tried, to sell adulterated s.x-ris should get "six months." (Hear, hear.) It was hardly fair to expect the merchant to take over the responsibility of selling seeds with impurities in them, when the fault lay ab the door of the farmer who cut paddocks that were too dirty.

Mr. Orr said that the timpiest cay would i)t> to condemn paddocks that wore dirty. He moved in addition to the amendment that at harvest time ,i qualified man bo sent round to inspect nil seed areas, refraining from giving a ccrt.ificnto in eases whero there were noxious weeds in the crops, the vendors to refuse to purchase stocks where no certificate had been given.

The amendment was withdrawn in favour of tho motion, which was carried unanimously. llr." Washer moved: "That stock inspectors ho empowered to assist noxious weeds inspectors in enforcing the provisions of tho Noxious Weeds Act." Mr. Harrison seconded the motion. Mr. Maxwell considered that the purity and health of stock, etc., was a more important matter than tho ; spread of noxious weeds, I and they knew it was sometimes difficult to get the stock inspectors on to the farms. Tho motion was carried. Mr. Harrison moved: "That the Government bo urged to make it compulsory on vendors of chemical manures to include in lewt. bags a guarantee analysis." Mr. Dimu seconded the motion, and slated that tho farmers could not get an analysis of proprietary manures, though it was a simple enough matter to give them this ' information), -Ho suggested that tho motion should bo. amended to read: "To include in every bag a guaranteed analysis," and the motion was carried in this form. Mr. Maxivell moved: "That tho Valuation of Lands Act be so altered as to permit of the value, on a 5 per cent, basis, of any. special rates paid on such laud for reading, etc., being reckoned as improvements." The law at present only provides for tho allowance of such proportion of principal as. is repaid at tho timo of Miluution. Mr. Uuckeridgo seconded, and the motion was carried. On behalf of the executive, Mr. E. Maxwell moved: "That, with .a view to counteracting tho injury caused by tho.dissemination of fallacious views by the Socialists and single-taxers, this conference urges that political economy be mado a ci.mpulsory subject in tho higher schools." In tho mover's opinion, the troublo all arose through the so-called agitators not having been given a reasonable, grounding ill political economy. 110 had no desire to mil into an attack against the Socialists and siugle-taxors, but ho simply wished to remove the eauso of tho fallacious views of the extremists. His idea was to afford reasonable ground, wlicieon every person, bo he Socialist, Kiigle-tnxer, or what-not, -would bo able to base his own particulars. Air. Dunn seconded tho motion, which was carried after some discussion. The following ofiicers were elected for tho ensuing year-.—.['resident, Mr. A. Hunter; vice-president, Mr. I!. Dunn; honorary treasurer, Mr. E. J. Virgin; lion, auditor, Mr. A. Vonllaire; executive, Messrs. E. Maxwell, 11. Lambie, 11. It. Buxton, .1- Swindlchurst, A.' E. Washer, G. 11. Buckeridge, 3. Capper, J). -f. Willis. -T- Thomson, .1. Davidson, S. Forsyth, E. Marfell, and .7. S. Harrow; delegate to Provincial Conference, Mr. E. Maxwell. ■ One man writes:—"l have received your little book," but, what is more to tho point, have YOU received our littlo hook, which gives particulars of tho famous "Victor" Vats which will help you to produce better quality cheese? The "Victor" is well made, and will outwear many of the old-fashioned Vats. Of course, the "Victor" is renowned for its sloping bottom. which allows the whey to run freely. Send for booklet, to-day—you'll profit thereby. Albert J. Parton, Plumber, Carterton.—Advt. For Chronic Chest Complaints, Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is. 6d,