FARMERS' REQUESTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1854, 13 September 1913, Page 8

FARMERS' REQUESTS.

; 4 MINISTERIAL REPLIES; _ Ministerial roplies covering.. resolutions.passed at the Farmers'.Union Conference, havo been received by Mr. E." C. Jack, Dominidn Secretary to tho union, as follows: — Noxious Woo-Js. With regard to the clearing of noxious weeds, tho l'rimo Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) writes: "I may. say that I duly brought this matter beforo tho (Minister for Hailways. My colleaguo ; liow informs me that tho Department sponds a considerable sum annually in clearing noxious weeds from railway land;! but in many districts tho adjoining lauds aro not cleared, and it would be of no use the Department undertakr ing the clearing of tho lino in theso disV tncts until the privato ownors also oloared their land. If, the Farmers'- Union havo any particular portions of tho line in view and will indicate tho localities, inquiries will bo mado as, to tlio advisability, of authorising extra expenditure." importation of Pedigree Stock. Referring to tlio resolution dealing with tho importation of pedigreo stock, tho' Secretary for Agriculture' sqys: "I havo : . .to inform you that tho Departnient has under consideration tho question of reducing .the -'quarantine charges oh imported live stock, and of shortening tho period of guarantino, as - 'far as this course can safely bo adopted. It is. hoped to issu6 shortly consolidated regulations governing tho importation of stock, and tho reductions, if decided upon-l will ho notified in those regulations. < In regard to tho reduction _ of freight, this matter has been receiving tho attention of tho Department, and / representations havo been mado to the shipping, companies. There does not much hope, hqwevor, of their ' agreoing to a reduction at present." Protecting N.Z, Meat. With referenco to the resolution i passed : urging tho Government to support the High Commissioner in his efforts to prevent the fraudulent sale on tho Homo market of inferior meat from - other'.countries as New Zealand, meat, tho Secretary for Agriculture replies: "I liavo',the honour, to inform, you that tho Government is in full accord with tho,measures taken by the High Commissioner, aud his action in the matter • lias beon triken with the sanctiCn, and, indeed," by tlio direction, of the Government. It -must' ho, recognised that the great difficulty met'with by." the; ' High -.Commissioner is that of. obtain- , ' ing absolute proof of fraudulent, sales. However, ho and his officers aro on tho alert,-and any case brought uridor their notice.' or which thoy discover, is fully investigated with v the view to obtaining sufficient evidence to sheet the offence , homo." * Home; Markets. In reply to the resolution ' dealing with the necessity for better control of the salo of New Zealand produce on the Homo market, the; See rotary for Agriculture says: "1 have the.hoppur by direction of tho Hon. Minister for 'Agriculture to inquire in what direction you consider this control should be ex- ' ercised. This Department is in symr pathy ,with.tho desire of tho producers to receive full value for- thoir products, but how this is to ho attained by 'any action , the New Zealand Government can take is 'a difficult problem. Any suggestions which your executive lias to ~7 offer will receive careful consideration. , Dealing With Fern. In answer to the resolution that the. Government should assist settlers in dis- "' covering some natural enemy .to the fern, tho Secretary for Agriculture writes: "I havo to inform you that tlio export officers of the Department aro going into the matter, and it is hoped to put in operation shortly# number,or experiments for determining the best Miethod of dealing with fern.'