AGRICULTURISTS IN CONFERENCE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 18, 16 October 1919, Page 8

AGRICULTURISTS IN CONFERENCE

NEW ZEALAND COUNCIL

NUMEROUS REMITS CONSIDERED

'J ■' ••• i The,sixth annual conference of the New <'■"■•' Zealand Clouncil- of Agriculture opened i. ■ .in the conference hall of the Dominion !,. '■ ■';• v Farmers' ' Institute 'yesterday morning. ; ',-.' •: In the absence of the president,' Mr., li. [■' A. llacdonald, of 0:-an, who is at. preI- i'.- sent; abroad, Mr. W. D. Hunt occupied J'- , ' ,'the chair.'Members of the . esecutivo ~-■'' Dresent were: North Islnnd: M&sara. Q. !'•■'■■- Hunter, M.P., M. Hall (Onehiniga), E. i- ■A. Campbell (Wanganui), and J. H. !;: ; Perrett; South Island:- Messrs. R. W. iv-'-."-'-.'.liOchliead (Christchuroh), . J. Maepher- !. eon (Totaratahi), VJ. D. Hunt (\VellingV .ton); , and John Dean (Colgate)." Tho !• ■• various societica were represented ns fol- ' , low:—Ashb'urton, Messrs. A. Horsey nnd : ~B 'VV.Lochhead;..Canterbury, Mr. D. ]'• ■-. -■"■ W.. Westenra (Dunsandel); Clydesdale ■■■ ;. HoTse Society, Mr. J. D. Wylio (Sefton); i•'-. ■. Dannevirke, Meajrs. 11. S. Chadwick (Kua'Boa),. H. B, Stiickey (Dannovirke) ; , ; . ■ Egmont, Mr. A. Hunter (Hawera); Foild- /'.'■ : inR, Messrs. O. M"Elroy and J..Bnce; '■; iPranklin. Mr. D. R. Hamilton; Master-. j. : , iton...Messrs. E. Hnrpe: - and D. Smith; I-..-'---! Jlanawiitu. Messrs. ■H. Akers, M. A. }■:: ■: Eliott. T. Ri.Hodde'r, W. L. Penny; Nel- !■ ." son. Messrs. W.. U.' May and F. -W. ;■'.. .Hamiltonj; N.Z.,'. Mr; ! . James Knight (North> Island),- Mr. Jolm !:■..-Deans' (South; Island); N.Z. Eomney : Shospbreedere, Mr. A. Matthews Sr - (Featherston); N.Z. Hereford Cattle ; Breeders. Mr. H. B. StuckEy; N.Z. Short- ' born Cattle Breeders Mr. J. Drans; Otago, Mr. A. S. Orbell;'Southland, Hon. ■ ; ,'A. F. Hawke, M.L.C.; Taranaki, Mr. H. r , Benton; Timarn, Messrs. B. E. H. Tripp ', ,:'■ -..' and E.. R. Guinnose; Wairarapa nnd ■ '■•' , East Coast,, Sir Walter Bucliana'n and ■■"'. ( Mr. E. Eagle, junr. (Belvedere); Wai,kato. Mr/,T. A. Young, M.P.j Waikato Central, Messrs. 'R. Reynolds Carii- '-"■'' ' bridge) and H. V. Hammond; WangaJiui. Mr. Don M'Gregor; Waipukurau, , Mr. G. Hunter, M.P. Among those present were also Sir James Wiison, presi--1 dent of the Board of Agriculture, and : •■■ .. Dr. C. J. Reakes, Director-General of • ■ Agriculture, and other Departmental ofii- ..- c«rs'. '•' -;■'■■■■■ . ■ ... {. > .;. At the outset the chairman annoimcea I".) , - . .that tli© executive-had nominated Mr. U. Hunter, M.P., for the post of president, ;' ':> -ftnd -..Ihere being'-nu other nominations, .•-■■-/■ he'was unanimously elected by the con- ■■ •' "/ference. ' : • :; ;.■ "In declaring the conference open, the j *V': f Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister of Agrii • culture, who was suffering from a se£ri'...;.: vere cold, delivered «. v?ry short address. I Mr. N.osworthy'pointed out that it was t V.; the first conference thp.i.had been held j;v.;;' :.eince the terniiiiatjon of the war. Deal-.-...'ing with the question of rural efficiency (!:■■.. -he'.said, that tha ,loss' oVuriflg 'the war r:,,' ]. .would ■ have to be made .up. by greater '•>'i, i ; The Department lr.\d had p : ' : ' 'k : 'in..serious time on account, of the want of [ ■; ■ -y, Bufficient men, but he hoped that the j'.'V:."' next, time he met them the. situation f- : : frnuld.be.normal in this respect. Tiie }/ : , Mimster cow-luiled /by expressing hu !.-..-•. ' -'.pleasure, at-lieing given the opportunity ;-.-;. of meeting tho, delegates. ••;;'.'■ '• Consideration of Remits. ;.-: Consideration of remits was then pro. >-■.' -.--, eeeded with. , f .; .'■•". On tho motion of Mr. T. R. Hockicr 1. -...:. (Maiiawatu) 'the conference affirmed: I .-• ". "That the. Hon. Minister of .Railways bo i .'■ .urged to- ngnin reinstate all the p'rivi--1',:'..:. ' leges. granted to the A.'and P. aseocia- : ■■■-. tions on the railways which were withi'.:! - drawn during the war.",.' I£t. Hodder ;- ■v, ' jiolnted out that now that tiie war wa» ; - .' over thero should bo nc- bur. in tha way ! ■■.■.■'"' . of placing the societies on their old foot- ■••:.;■■ ingv .-■'■■". ; : '•'; A difference of opinion was disclosed I'; ■ .when, it wn? moved by the Franklin r;-';;■■;■. .i-tfelßsjate thai: "Consiiieriug that agrii-\■'.■'.;. cultural and - pastoral.-societies are run jlviiOy..voluntary subscription, and that they '■■%:■" are run -with the-philanthropic principle r,V::..:of encouraging agriculture and etock/:•.breeding,, the Government be asked to ,'/•'•;'■{ remit the stamp .duty on receipts in the y.- .same wav as this, concession is'made to i v local bodies and friendly societies." i : ':. : ., In opposition to the remit, which was •:■ :■■ . lost bv' 12 votes to' 11, it ; was pointed :■-(;.. '"out that it, seemed a '"very paltry thing" [ ■ .-'■ to be nskins the Government for. V','. ;.-: , -.--11y.'..W. L. Penny (Maiiawatu) then .'..'. ;: moved: "That the Government having :;.'.'■} ■ recognised , the principle re exempting :•■ • showgrounds-from lanvi and : income tax, >: -..... :be actain strongly urged to make manda- ..;:." .tory those clauses in' tho Hating. Act ;■"■, give power to local • bodies •' to I, .exempt agricultural showgrounds from ;,,;■:'. ..'-jocak.hodies , ; taxation, provided that the ■;■ '.■/-.' prbunds so exempted are Ixma-fide showt..; '. grounds, and any revenue accruing there.- •;•;■; from js used only for the purpose.of ad- ■.-': vanciiip; nnd building up tiie A. and P. : '. ■industry." . ..,;' ; The mover stated that the same re- ;■ '-.■'-, mit hail been carried year after year, t '.'■ . nnd that it was only by repeated nppli- : . ,:' cation that they could hope to prevail :. ■ Upon, tha Government to accede to their j ... Wishes. ■. ' [-.' ' The motion was carried unanimously ..-/ tithout discussion. ' • ■ h"-.:.."' ■ More Scopo for Societies. 1.,-;.'.-.. The 'dominating position of ngficuli ■■■ 'ture in the Dominion was emphasised iV- , :■•■.■■Dγ. the chairman in moving the followi -, ; ins remit on belmlf of .the executive:— [■; •"•.■ ■... 'Thai now. that the war is over, and cont. :' ditions are returning to normal, the ■■•y,'. iime has arrived when A. and;P. asi-oci- .' ..b. tions should take into consideration : '.. 'what are tho best, means to adopt to ; ■■'■' .'■' improve tho work of the 6ocie!ies, and ;..' .•; add, to their usefulue« a means of ; : advancing knowledge in the practice of. ■''-.• acrieulturo and the breeding of live '' Btock. and that it should bo nn instruc- ■ tion to the .incoming executive to submit • concrete propavals to societies for con- • sideration by them prior, to the next an- '■ nual conference.-". ;, . Mr. Hunt went on to state that tho / ..unyortanee of A. and P. associations in ■' '.epreading the knowledge of agriculture ■ should be more fully recognised. They ehpuld mobilise their effort, and conycrt'lh'ei:, conference into a ruling body , 'which could organise and direct the ;' whole of the work of the associations. , 'Hie Government eouM not do butter , .than utilise tho as-ociations us a means : of carrying, out educational work, as re- ./ . Rards agriculture. The associations •:' ehould be subsidised by the Government, , ftnd -the. Department should hav<j some ;■ meaeure, of representation-on the assocl- ." ' ations. This was his own fiuggestion. ' .motion was seconded by Mr. E. ■ . R., Guinness (Timarii), who warmly com- : 'mended the proposition. ' Mr. E. Hall, n meinljer of tho executive, said that in Ontario (Canada) and -Victoria (Australia) a scheme similar to that 'Suggested by the chairman wns operating successfully. Them the Gov'erhment subsidised the A. and P. nsso- ,; ciations. which bodios carried out important work relegated 10. them by the ~ State. Sir Walter Buchanan urged that no opportunity should bo lest to obtain ' from the Government any support of o, practical nature, eanecially in the di' rections indicated. Further discussion ensued when the agreed to tako the following ** from Canterbury and Otago in

coniunction with the executive proposal: '—"That the Government be asked to subsidise metropolitan shows in New Zealand. ,, ■Several delegates objected to the exclusion of tho smaller shows f:om any measure of Government assistance, and nn amendment was accordingly moved that "A. and PI shows" be substituted for "metropolitan shows." Mr. T. It. ][odder (Manawatu) cousided that it would l:o suicidal to ask the Government at the outset to subsidise all A. and P. shows. It was too big an order. After further rtisciuMon the amendment was carriKi en tho voices. Both remits were subsequently carried without opposition. Finance, • Porno better system of financing 'associations in the mattrc- of providing for the erection of buildings and the like was urged by Mr. D. R. Hamilton (Franklin) in moving: "That A. and P. societies bn allowed to borrow money from the Advances to Settlers Office for purchasing . and equipping show grounds." J The remit was adopted, but ,i further J Franklin remit— "That the Public Trust ,• Office place A. and P. societies on the .pame footing as jneal bodies when lendiiv? money"—met with considerable bpposr.rion. Various speakers, including Mr. ,T. A. Youne, M.P.. eontendeil that the proposal was too comp'es and not practicable, Hint the Public Trust Ofih-p was run on business,lines, and its'policy should not be disturbed. The.cluvipnan polnjrd out that one d'.fficnlty :'n the way. of the motion was that A. and P. PociVtics, unlike local bodies, did not havp rutins poWM's. The motion was lost on the voices. Show Regulations. After undergoing some alteration, a Jianawatu remit was adopted in the foSlcwinpr form:—"That all A. and P. asso-' ciafions. ehuu'kl adopt a standard rule with regard to the measuring of horses, at shows." On behalf of the Wanganui Society, it was moved': "That where chn-llonge trophies are competod for, in'judging events at snows, and two. or more horses fc'e, even after OJi additional round has been ordered, tho council 'w asked to decide the best method .of dealing with the innttsr." - . Objection was raised to the remit on the grounds that the matter should bo •left to the judges to decide. Obviously, it was urged, those on the s|>ot were bettor able to give a, deu.'sion than a standing committees The remit was rejected. On tho motion of a FmitMand delegate, the conference affirmed "that only roistered sheep aiid cattle, should be eligible to compete in piivA-kw! chisses. At tin's stase the newly-elected president, Mr. G." Hunter, M.P., took the chnnRural Education. ■ impotraneo of efficient rural etluear tioii was stressed by tweral speaker in connection with a Jlasterton remit, Which was adopted, recommending the Department of 'Agriculture to extend the principle of instruction to formers by itinerant instructors. . The .Director-General of Agriculture) who was in attendance, explained that this Department was thoroughly in sympathy with the ■Irishes of the conferencu in this direction, and had tho matter under consideration. The difficulty, lay in procuring tho right- class of instructor to undertake this work, which was of a epec'al character.. The Department was at present making inquiries for suitable men both.within the Dominion, and abroad. , A Southland remit,- which was carried unnnimonsry,' ran as follows:—"That the Department of Education be asked to recommend that a boarding allowance be granted to. country students attending, high schools-ami-technical schools, so that country children may thereby be • enabled to benefit' equally with town children;" .... . More than one delegate, in speaking to the remit, po : nt«l out that on account of the lack of hostel accomraooation, and the inability of many small farmers to pay board for their children, many country, children were ' not able to take; full advantage of the opportunities of secondary education. I Various Mattel-;. Bearing upon hydro-eleetrioity, two remits wwo carried: "(1) That the Public Works Department boi asked to facilitate the distribution of electric, current in country districts .traversed by transmission lines; (2) that the Government be urged to push on with the general hydroelectric schemes." On behalf of tho Masterton A. and P. Society, it was moved: "That tho Government be urgrd to take tftepj u> purchase more land for the settlement thereon of soldiers, as there are now largr> numbers of returned soldiers in the Domiin'on wnit.inT for the opportune ity of going on the land." ,lt was explained th.it since tin remit was'foamed the Government had brought down certain proposals to copa with the situation. All prrsent reco.sn'sed the de--nira.blc-n.css of <l«';ri<; everything possible to. further the settlement of soldiers on the land, rliiil to this end the remit was uimnimously adopted. A Southland remit that the conference be held in Wellington and Chris;tehuirch alternately found but little support, and. was lost on the virlefs. . A comprehensive printed paper was distributed among delegates by Dr. L. Cockayne, 0.5., on "the. i.vlatability for eheeo of (II the plants of tussockgrassland aud (2) certain forest plants." Officers Elected, Officers for tin* ensninij yrar wWp pleeted {is follow:—TCxecntivo, Xorth Island , Merav;. W. M'Gmjor. J. H. Perrett. G. l<. Bpflini*: South Inland; Messrs. H. A. ICi'vihr. .T. Tumbull, and John Deane.. Tlie conference wis th?n brought to a close with i> vote of th»nks to the chairman ar.r. fi. Hunter. M.IM. A deputation from the conference will wait on tho Piime Minister this morning.