FARMERS' CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1806, 19 July 1913, Page 8

FARMERS' CONFERENCE

THE FINAL DAY.

MANY REMITS PASSED.

The Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was continued yesterday morning, Mr. J. G. Wilson presiding. Political Attitude. The following Southland remit was considered in committee, and lost:—"That this conference again takes into consideration its attitude in politics with a view to some definite and decided action being agreed upon."To Prevent Strikes. Mr. C. J. Talbot (South Canterbury) moved: "That this conference considers that tho time has arrived for each provincial district to set up defence committees to take action to prevent strikes, and also to organise free labour to take tho place of tho strikers should the employees cease work." In moving the remit, Mr. Talbot referred to tho Central Defence Committee formed at Timaru during tho recent strike. This consisted of merchants and farmers, and tho good point was that the merchants were in the town, and could at once get to w,ork in case of any trouble arising. There was the after effect that an' attempt was made to shut out free labour. Mr. T.. Moss (Wellington) seconded the proposal. He thought the committee had done 'good work in Timaru. They had had experience of such committees in Wellington. Ho thought the idea was a good one. Mr. S. Chambers (Hawke's Bay) supported the remit. Mr. Talbot asked leave to add, after "defence committee," the words "consisting of both town and country residents." Mr. Moss thought it was more simple' as'tho remit stood. The separate committees could be set up and amalgamato. The remit, as printed, was carried. Water Pollution. Several remits, urging careful watching of tho reintroiluction of the Water Pollution Bill were considered. Mr. J. M'Queen (Southland) moved: "That this conference is of opinion that owing to the great danger to the farming community that 1 would result from tho passing of the Pollution of Water Bill, 'the Farmers', Union should join forces with other bodies in opposing it." He said ho would like to see that any legislation proposed was carefully watched, so that the interests of the farmers were not sacrificed. Many farmers were badly treated bji acclimatisation societies, through their complaining that pollution of water was caused by farmers, and endangered trout. He .thought the fishing industry, as regarded sport, was secondary to the farming industry. Mr. J. Begg (Otago) thought they should not «ntir«ly condemn the Bill. The executive should consider such a Bill before it was passed. The following remit was substituted, and carried: "That the Dominion executive te asked to carefully watch the reintroduction of the Water Pollution Bill, with a view to the prevention of undue I hardship falling- upon dairy factory owners and others.' Accident Insurance. The, following remit was carried "That the request to the Government to amend the Farmers' Mutual Insuraheo Act in certain directions, and in extending its scope to apply ,to accident busi-'' ness, be renewed." I A. further remit from Otago, covering the same subject, was joined with the above.. Farmers and Arbitration. Mr. D. M. Philip (Otago) moved: "That this conference protest against the farming industry being included under the provisions of the Government's proposed Arbitration Act." The remit was carried. Pea-Rifle Nuisance. "It is a remit that requires little or no discussion," said Mr. W. Ford (Southland), in moving the following remit:— "That as the pea-rifle nuisance is still a menace, not only to stock, but to human life, the Government bo urged to take yet more vigorous action, to .suppress same." . • The .remit was carried. The.Outfall Difficulty. Mr. Ford moved:—"That it is the opinion. of this conference that the present Drainage Act be amended so as to make •it compulsory to give sufficient outfall, and maintain same in good order." The matter was one aftccting the farming community, said the mover; Farmers on low land sometimes prevented those higher up from improving their farms. . It was an old-felt grievance in Southland. Mr. J. M'Queen (Southland) seconded the remit, lie'had seen occasions where the present Act was unsatisfactory. The Drainage Act at present did not give much relief. Drains should be cut through some people's land. Mr. Wilson: Who will pay? Mr. M'Queen: Each man should pay according to the benefit received, l'ho man who does not want improvements should be made- to pay. Mr. Wilson: It might not be an improvement in all cases. Mr. A. A. Koss (Wellington) did not think the remit was one ior the conference to pass. There was provision made for gettiug over' tho difficulty. The remit was lost on a show of hands. Purity of Seeds. Mr. A. H. Cockayne, Government Biologist, addressed tho conference on purity of seeds.. He said that practically none of tho seed produced in New ilealand could be calkd pure. Of the area devoted to growing grass and clover seeds, some lots wero much freer from weeds than others. To secure purity of seeds it became essential that 6eeds should bo properly machine-dressed. There wore two methods of buying seeds in Now Zealand—one from the seed merchant, when, if the price was paid, clean seed could be procured. The other method was to buy from a neighbouring farmer. Tho seed was then not always clean. When a man bought seed from a farmer containing 15 per cent, to 18 per cent, of impurities, the question arose: Would it not be better then-to have it machinedressed? He drew the attention of the conference to the fact that the worst offending seed was the imported seed, simply because tho New Zealand seed was far. better dressed than American and European 6eeds. The reason was because in New Zealand the seeds were taken from mixed fields, and required careful dressing, and in Europe and America from fields devoted to mowing one class of seed, where, if weeds were not very prevalent, machine-dressing was done away witli. Mr. Cockayne referred to tho good results to be attained from danthonia planting. • It was necessary that the price of danthonia seed should bo reduoed, and the only way was for the farmers to produce the seed. He advocated sowing ot latest in the second week in April. The yield of seed from about 20 acres would be, approximately, a ton. He considered danthonia as probably the most valuable grass in Now Zealand. There were large tracts in the north (tho pumice lands) which waro highly suitable for danthonia planting. The North Island and the northern parts of tho South Island were the most suitable for danthonia. In certain districts he would like to see "rafs-ta.il" and _danthonia mixed. There were many objections to "rat's-tail," as it was a coarso grass. Ho did not think inspection of fields was going to do much good towards punty of ' Mr! A. Mackay snid tho spread of noxious weeds was going on in the country. It was a menace which should be stopped. ' . , Mr. Cockayne said that if the highest class dressed seeds wore used it would stop noxious -weeds to a great extent in new lands. He would like to see' the total abandonment of planting of seed which. hid. Pot Haa. prnrvrlv raacltitlß'dlfaJfld,

A remit that competent officers should be appointed to inspect and issue certificates before fields were cut for seeds was withdrawn. Mr. Leadley asked what the stock inspectors were doing in tho summer, when tho Californian thistle flowered. If they wero all doing their duty, flowering of these weeds would be prevented. Mr. Leadley further asked wnat had become of the Seed Warranty Bill, which would enable farmers to get pure seed with a guarantee. It was drafted at the instigation of the farmers. Mr. Cockayne said he had little knowledge with regard to the Seed Warranty Bill. Mr. J. Bell (Westland) moved: "That the Government be asked to bring in a Clean Seeds Bill," and this was carried. Miners' Rights at Elections; Mr. J. Bell (Westland) moved that it bo recommended that no person should be allowed to vote on miner's right at county elections unless ho had been the holder. of a miner's privilege under tho Mining Act for three months previous to the election'. It was a simple thing, said Mr. Bell, for a man to go and buy ,£lO worth of miners' rights for the purpose of handing them out to secure votes. Men had openly- boasted that they could get a seat on the County Council for .£lO. The remit was carried. Agricultural Education. Eemits were carried viewing with pleasure- tho proposal of the Government to establish a Board of Agriculture, and expressing tho view that the board should be a continuous Board of Agriculture. A remit was also carried, asking that a North Island Agricultural College should be established. Stock Auctions. "That it shall be' imperative for the auctioneer to give the names of all vendors and purchasers at auction sales," a Wellington remit, was lost. Prevention of Cruelty. Mr. J. Begg (Otago) moved: "That tho Government be asked to put any amendments to the Act for the ■ Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which ielate to" country stock, before the Union Executive before bringing them into operation," and this was canned. Inspection of Scales, i Mr. C. H. Ensor (North Canterbury) moved: "That all scales with threshing maohines should be subject to inspection the same as other weights and measures." Tho motion was amended to include chaffcutters, and carried. Californian Quail. Major -Lusk (Auckland) moved"That the Government be asked to rescind the proclamation protecting Californian quail, on the grounds that they have become so numerous and destructive both to fruit-growers and farmers in general." After a brief discussion, the remit was lost on a show of hands. Game Pests. An Auckland remit, drawing the Government's' attention to the desirability of transferring from acclimatisation societies to the rural local bodies tho powers of tlie former in regard to the protection, or otherwise, of deer, opossums, pheasants, quail, and other destructive game, was passed, so that the local, bodies should be the authorised advisory authorities to the Minister for Internal Affairs in regard to the game. It was considered that tho local bodies would be the best authorities to decide when the game became a pest. Home Markets, Better control of the sale of New Zea .land produce on the Homo market was urged in an Auckland remit, moved by Major Lusk. who said it had been asserted that there was something like id. per lb. lost on butter, cheese, mutton, etc., through New Zealand sellers not being on the same footing as Denmark, where the sellers and not the buyers decided on the price. The remit was carried. A North Canterbury remit was also carried, as follows:—"That the Government be urged to support the High Commissioner in his effort to . protect our producers by prosecuting persons who are selling Argentine and other products as products of this Dominion." Mr. H. A. Nevins asked, was there any danger of "New Zealand getting into tho bands of Swift's, in Amcrioa? American buyers, he thought, were always able to get trucks in New Zealand, while local works were often, held up. Mr. Nevins mentioned one shipment of 37 trucks of sheep going to Auckland to be frozen and shipped to Vancouver. Mr.'Birch: If we can establish a good trade with Vancouver, surely it is a good thing. : Workers' Homes. Mr. C. H. Ensor spoke on the necessity of building workers homes in the country. They wanted single homes constructed, he said, and not groups as around the towns. He was pleased to ace that the Prime Minister intended taking.up the matter. Mr. Leadley favoured- a remit that not more than six dwellings should be erected in one locality. The following remit was finally carried ;—"That this conference considers that the scheme for Tural workers' homes, to be effective, should enable one or more workers to obtain sections in suitable localities where work could be found near at hand, but that it is inadvisable to have groups of more than six homes in any locality." Co-operative Concerns. A remit from the Wellington branch was carried strongly urging upon all farmers the advisability of (supporting farmers' co-operative companies. "Sprint" Races, An Auckland Temit was moved by Major Lusk as follows:—"That this conference express an opinion to the racing associations that races under one mile for three-year-olds and upwards should bo abolished from rrfce programme." It was an objectionable feature, said Major Lusk, that horses were being bred to go three-quarters of a mile and less. They, as farmers, should oxpress an opinion against tho breeding of such horses. Mr. A. A. Eoss said it had teen pointed out that under the present conditions a breed of inferior horses was being encouraged. Another thing was _ that a "weedy" class of men was being bred to ride on them. , . Mr. E. Campbell was not of opinion that an inferior breed of horses was being encouragedThe remit was lost. Farmers' Machinery. Mr. A. A. Eoss (Auckland) moved that the Agricultural Implements Sales Act should be repealed. It had been passed to protect the manufacturers here against the American and British manufacturers. Before the Bill was.passed there had been a promise given that the prices would not be raised, but such had been the case. The manufacturers who had promised to assist the farmers had gone in for selling foreign-manufactured machinery, and prices were artificially kept up. The present position, went on Mr. ltoss, was that the clauses covering the protection wero expiring shortly, and the union should see that they were not extended. The Act was thought to be a 'dead letter" bv several members. Major Lusk was of opinion that if the Act was swept awny they would get better and cheaper machinery. Mr. Wilson thought the Act should remain, as without it there might be a danger in the end to the farmer. "We referred to the American Meat 1 rust this morning," said Mr. Wilson. "If the trust name here and offered tempting prices to the farmers, would they sell their products?" Mr. E. Campbell: Would a cat cat fish? (Laughter.) The remit was carried. Preference to Unionists. The following remit was carried:— "That this conference enters its emphatic protest against preference to unionists, and io of opinion tbit awy mail snd wonma. whotlicri of a union or,.

not, should have tho privilege of earnin" a livelihood." ° Waste Native Land. Mr. S. Chambers (Hawke's Bay) moved: "That it bo a suggestion to tho Government to bring down legislation authorising the Crown to acquire the waste Native lands prior to investigation of ownership by tho Native Land Court—tho purchase money to be deposited with and held by tho Public Trustee until tho persons entitled to it havo been ascertained by the Court." Tho remit was carried. Local Bodies' Amalgamation. Mr. A. Mackay (Blenheim), in accordant with notice given, moved: "That in the event of a Local Government Bill being passed, local .bodies should not be amalgamated unless by petition of the ratepayers of two or more districts concerned." Mr. Nevins was opposed to tho motion. It seemed to him that the districts in New Zealand wero too small. The motion was lost) by one vole. Votes of Thanks. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Dominion secretary, Mr. E. C. Jack, for his good work in connection with the conference, and generally. - A hearty vote of thanks was also ac-' corded tho chairman and to tho press, and the conference concluded. MR. S. E. LANCASTER'S SALE. At Mr. S. R. Lancaster's sale at his homestead, Fitzherbert East, Palmerston North, an opportunity will, it is stated, be offered to those interested in dairy pursuits to obtain tho highest class of cows and heifers which it is possiblo to procure in tho Dominion. The 600 head to be offered are said to include the pick of a number of the best herds in.the district, besides 100 milked on vendor's own farms, and they are all practically grade Jerseys and Holsteins, and iu ,the very best of condition. Those in search of pedigree and high-grade Jersey bulls are advised to make a point of attending this fixture, when they will bo able to fill their requirements from the 30 two-year-olds to be offered. This important sale will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 2!) and 30, starting first day with Jerseys at 12 noon, and following on tho second day at 11 a.m. Conveyances will meet all trains, and the sale will be conducted by Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd., and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., in conjunction, from whom catalogues may be obtained. A PUMP SEPARATOR IS THE BEGINNING OF A LARGER BANKING ACCOUNT. One of the greatest aids in raising tho percentage of profits on the farm is to cut the cost of production. Had we still recourso to the old hand-skimming method of winning the cream with a perforated scoop, dairy-farming would not be worth "powder and shot." Thanks to a generation of progress—and principally to the ingenious invention known as tho "Pump" Separator—dairy-farming is a more profitable game than ever. The won-' derfully clean skimming of the "Pump" is a real "cost-of-production reducer." Tho official test shows only 0.02 per cent, of fat left in the skim milk—truly a great performance! Thus you will see that from extra butter-fat alone, the "Pump" is a profit-winner far above the average. A "Pump" Separator is yours, Mr. Farmer. at a _saving of pounds in money; while it will mako additional profits, at less cost and with 'greater efficiency. Write for particulars of . our Free Trial offer. The "Pump" Separator No. 13—capacity 33 gallons per hour—Cash pTice, .£l3 10s. ; terms, .£l4 10s. Joseph Nathan and Co., Ltd., Queen Street, Palmerston.—Advt. Change is the order of tho day! Therefore we change an old adage. /'Where there's a Vait there, is Whey." But where there's a. "Victor" Vat there are better results in tho Cheese-making industry. Tho "Victor" Vat—the sloping bottom and oentre drainage ensure a freo flow of whey. The "Victor" will help you to success. Albert J. Parton, Carterton.—Advt. Five pence per calf per week for "Gilruth" Calf Food added to the skim milk or whey will rear calvcs for the Dairy better than whole milk, and at one-third the cost—Advt.