SOUTH CANTERBURY FARMERS UNION

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2668, 13 January 1916, Page 8

SOUTH CANTERBURY FARMERS UNION

-At a meeting of tlie execiitivo'of'tlie South Canterbury branch of tlie New' Zealand Fanners' Union, the chairman (Mr. J. Talbot) said tliey had liad a very trying year, especially over the Canterbury Plains. For the year, according to his own- gauge, there had been scarcely • ono inch of rain per month, hi the' back- country the season had been more favourable. Rain was badly needed on the Canterbury Plains, and they wanted the whoje 24 inches of . rain which was the. average, fall.. Not'Hvithstanding the weather conditions, they had. cqme through fairly well, and ivlule the crops were light , he. was of the opinion that tho crops might.go up to 25 bushels per acre. This he put as the outside figure, and thought that the yield would most likely be below that. Last year tliey liad an exceptional i yield, but this would not be repeated tin the present harvest. As to, the prices' ifor-the coming season, they should be good,but even then many would be heavy losers. The supply ■ had to go over twelve months, and if some farmers held. their wheat they should get ss. • a bushel. Taking everything into con-/ sideration, the present-indication -wa-s ■not'' very encouraging' .'"to" those "who might contemplate taking up wheat growing. The chairman reported on the' conference at Ashburton, and the various -resolutions passed. The conference had so many , important questions before it that there was not .time to deal; fully with all'the business. Sir • Joseph-'.Ward _ had addressed the conference, principally on the question of /taxation. With, regard to the-question of the,'.payment for-'frozen;-mutton,,the Government had decided to continue the method employed last year.. . The conference as a whole had been, most useful; and it was the business done would result in much good. It was the first conference that had •been held on those lines, and a continuance of these conferences should be of : great- value to farmers, for there vital questions could be well,thrashed out. The conference was in favour of compulsory service, and while nobody liked the sound of the word, compulsory servicer seemed the. only right aijd "fair way at present. : , ' .

• i There has been o great demand for the celebrated Victor cheese vat during the ! ipast few months; anyone requiring. new .vats are urged to write immediately; to the maker, as material is extremely ■ : short. Albert J. Parton, Carterton —Advi.