COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 258, 19 July 1918, Page 8

COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURE

,: (Terence ends BUSINESS DONE YESTERDAY i; ' Tho-cbnforen.ee of the Council of Agriculture was continued in Wellington vesterdavf. Mv.Ji, A. Macdonald (Orari) presided. '..._, To"E)(teriTiinate Rabbits. Masterton moved:'—"That tliß Agricultural Department be"askod to take drastic steps.to keep the rabbit pest withinbounds." i .. v Mr. G. H. Andrew (Marlborough) suggested the following.addition,to the remit :—"By preventing export 'of preserved rabbits and rabbit sktns." Sir Walter Buchanan (Wairarapa) said that where the natural enemies of the rabbit were allowed-free play there.was no trouble. There, and not in trapping, ■ lay the road to suocess. The export' of rabbits should be discouraged. Mr. B. Eeynolds (Waikato Central) ' said that people should be compelled to poison or wire-net. Mr. D. Smith (Masterton) said that the only- way to deal effectively with/ the pest was -to use poison.' .Ur.Eeakes, replying to a'question, said that some years ago the Act had been amended by.lessening tho powers of the .In the original Aot the inspector's .evidence was generally accepted as being correct, and there was provision, for heavy fine. AVhen the Act Was .amended, the onus of proof was thrown ;6n the inspector to a muoh greater extent. , Tho amendment seemed to bo-reasonable and-constitutional, but the effect had been greater difficulty, in obtaining deserved convictions, and frequently the fine had been so' small as to have little effect as a deterrent. The Act-as;it stood now was extremely unlikely to'be effective in coping with the pest.. . , , .The motion in its original form was carried. . Conference then adopted the following Waikato remit:—"That this conference recommends to the Government that the Kabbrt'Nuisanco Act bo amended in In,, direction of making it applicable to • country held by both small' and large holders, and to that end the conference 'suggests that Part 111 and IV of the Babbit. Nuisance Act, 1908, be amended and joined up into one workable part, providing for more, extended rating than already in-the Aot, biit with -no further subsidy on rates than the 3-lCths of ona penny as 'at- present provided under Part 111, and with powers to borrow for rabbit-proof fenarog; the area, over which a board may be created to bo reduced to 500.aoree or more."

Stud Stock. Mr. G. H. 'Andrews (Marlborough) moved—"That it be a recommendation to - the Government, that instead ■'of submitting surplus young herd bulls to auction, an upset price he placed upon them, and they be balloted for, a proportion of such being allotted to • different: districts' indicating their desire to obtain such animals. The motion was defeated. Mr. 11. G. Lewis (Wangunui)'moved:— •"That registered herd and flock assbcia--1 tions make arrangements for the periodical inspection of all registered nerds . and flocks belonging' to their respective societies, and any herd or flock which, after careful inspection -aiid due con- , sidaration with ' regard, to general conditions is in the, opinion of the inspector , being neglected' and 'coiise(|iiehf,ly deteriorating, the same may be ixpunged from its respective herd or flock-book." .- Mr. C. G. Russell (Nukumaru) seoonded. , After being discussed, the remitwas ■withdrawn. , ' (< Mr. W. D. Hunt (Southland) moved :- • •'. 'That, in tho opinion of the conference, there should bo only one breeders' society for each breed of animals, and ono register for each." Tho motion was carried. Should Opossums Bo Protected? Sir .Walter Buchanan (Wairarapa and East Coast) moved;—" That the conference is of opinion that the protection of is not in the interests of the Itominion." The mover said that in Feathcrslon a great deal of fruit had been lost through the opossums. <Somo well-intentioned but misguided people had pitted the sale of "opossum skins against the fruit industry.... In some seasons I ere ,■ the opossum was protected, and ho thought such legislation should be done away with and an enactment made 'that anyone who harboured the opossum to tho detriment of the fruit industry should be penalised. ... _ •Mr. H. B. Bunny ; (Wairarapa) said that if the opossum was'an enemy of • the fruit industry it should be got rid • of. He seconded the motion. Mr. W. D. Hunt (Invercargill) said that in tho fruit-growing districts of the south the opossums did no harm, and they, were not considered a "nuisance in Tasmania, which was a fruit-growing country. He thought it would be sufficient if they were left unprotected in fruit areas. Mr. J. A. Young; M.P. (Waikato) sa i rt that local conditions had to be considered. He understood that opossums wove a nuisUnce in the Nelson district. The remit was defeated. Railway Facilities for Shows. Mr. W. J.'Bassett (Timaru) moved:— "That the Government be urged, to run special trains to and from bgricultural shows where suoh can be, done without interfering with the requirements of the Efficiency Board." . ■ , The mover said that without 'such facilities it was difficult, to make shows financial successes. Shows should be considered because they were of great educational value. Mr. "W. Perr.f (Masterton) thought the matter might well be left over till after the war. The Railway Department had cut down its staff 60 much to release men for the war, that it.was hardly-fair to: ask it to do more than it was doing now. . Mr. J. A. Young. M.P. (Waikato) said that it was not necessarily special trains that would be asked for, tut a rearrangement of the • service for show days., The motion was amended by deleting . the word "special," arid adding the words "to suit tho convenience of A. and IV : Shows." > In this new form it was carried. Qualified Hunters at Shows. - _Manawatu moved:—"That, owing to the difficulties faced by hunt clubs in con-, tinuing operations whilst tho war is on, it a recommendation to A. and IV Association committees to accept as qualified for their competitions during I the continuance of the war hunters which have been qualified previously with any club which may have ceased operations on account of tho war as be-fore-mentioned." Tho. motion was carried. Taxing Showgrounds. A familiar subject was introduced by Mr. J. Balsillio (Manawatu), who jrfovcd:—"That the Government, having recognised tho principle of exempting ' showgrounds from land and income tax, be again strongly urged to make mandatory those clauses in the Rating Act whioh give power to local bodies' to exempt agricultural show grounds fro.u local bodies' laxntion, provided (hat the grounds 60 exempted are bona-fide show grounds, and any revenue'accruing therefrom is used only for the purpose of advancing and building up the agricultural and pastoral industry." Tho motion was curried. Territorial Camps. Mr. Gifford Moore (Wnnganui) moved: —"That the Government bo again urged to discontinue Territorial camps during Ike period of tho war." i The mover said the war had depleted the country districts of labour, and farmers now" had to rely on assistance from boys and others. The Government had a'habit of holding such camps at mostinconvenient times. Further, the coun-

try wanted all the money it could get, and money could bo epent better than on Territorial camps. Also, tho officers engaged at such oamps could bo better omployed. : . .Several - speakers' spoko against what they regarded as a proposal to interfere with the authorities. The remit was defeated heavily. Enemy Aliens.! Mr. W. Keed (FeiMing) moved :-"That tho Government be urged to conscript for national work all eligible aliens and persons of enemy alien descent." Mr. J. A. Young, M.P. (Waikato), thought that the motion was good down to the word "alien," but if the rest ofthe motion were to bo put into effect the Government might, have to begin in high places. He suggested the following addition to the motion:-"Who might claim exemption from military servico by reason of their onemy parentage." The mover accepted the addition, and tho motion was carried. ■ The Place of Meeting. It was moved by Timaru:—"That the annual conference bo held in the North and South islands in alternate -'ears." Sir Walter. Buchanan thought tho suggestion if good one, and supported (ho remit. Mr. P. W. Williams (Pukekohe) said that the motion wjas not in order. Be suggestod the following, which the mover awopred:—"That it be a recommendation to the'executive that when dealing with suggested new regulations they should consider the question." The motion was lost. Carry On! Prom Canterbury came the following remit:—"That the conference, at its rising, should adjourn sine die." The mover (Air/ J. Deans) said that this was u time whon ilou ought to be on their farms instead of "sitting here talking." Mr. W. J). Hunt (Southland) said that New Zealand was a stock-raising country, and: these conferences were of great assistance to agricultural, shows,' which did much to improve stock. Sir Waller Buchanan (Wairarapa) expressed surprise at such a resolution emanating from Canterbury. He was sure the lemit would be thrown out. Other members, opposed the motion, which was withdrawn. Other Business, The following remits were adopted: — Poot-Ko.t in Sheep.—"That, in view of tho want of uniform treatment by piistoraJists of fooWot, whioli has seriously increased in flawke's Bay this year, tho Governmcht be urged to make -exhaustive experiments and advise as lo the best treatment.". . ...... "That tho : question of increasing tho powers by the Council of Agriculture bo reforred to tlio executive to report to Uio next conference, and the Maniiwalu As-; sociation bo asked to .confer with tho executive to' formulate the alterations they wish' to be made in the constitution aim secure the additional'-powers (hey are asking for." / By Mr. J. O. Coop:-"That the controlling authorities .of the various Stud, Herd, and Pldck Books be strongly recommended to take into consideration the cases of owners of stock eligible'for registration who have failed lo register within a given period, and make some provision for .the. udmission 'of such stockto their registers." By Mr. J. H. Perret't.-'That this conference considers it advisable, on account of the shortage of shearers, that all sheep-owners should be askeu to engage wherever possible one learner to (very four shearers or part thereof." ' Dry-Hot in Turnips.—"That further steps'be taken to urge upon the Government to have investigations made for the cause and prevention of dry-rot in turnips." Sheep Dips—"That the Department of Agriculture bo urged to certify to tho valivVor otherwise of all sheep-dip mixtureaNifl'ered for sale in the-Dominion, with a view to ascertaining whether the mixture put up may be deemed-a satisfactory, dip for killing ticks and lice on sheep." • -' The New Council. . The blowing new council was elected: North Island.—Messrs. Q. Donald, K A. Campbell, and E. Hall. South Island.—Messrs. I. Macplierson, .G. A. Macdonald, and W. D. Hunt;. The conference has concluded.