SHEEP FARMERS MEET

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 117, 3 June 1937, Page 14

SHEEP FARMERS MEET

-Own Correspondent

Refresher Course at Massey College

(By Telegraph-

PALMERSTON N., This Jf&i. Wid.espread interest was taken in thc sixth annual conference of * sheepfarmers which opened at the Massey Agricultural College yesterday. Sheepfarmers from many parts of the North Island were present and were accorded a welcome by Professor G. S. Peren, who presided. The chairman prefaced his opening remarks by expressing the indebtedness that the association owed to Sir William Perry, who had occupied the chair for the past five years. He then moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Sir William Perry, which ^as carried by warm applause. In outlining the syllabus which would occupy the atteution of the conference, Professor Peren explained that the committee had used its best endeavours to arrange an interesting programme of lectures. The committee had been particularly fortunate in securing the services of a number of external lecturers and he was confident that those attending the conference would be afforded a most interesting time. The name of tho association had' been changed by substituting farmers for breeders; The committee," he explained, had gained the impression that was beng felt that the conference was for the benefit of breeders rather thaa for sheep farmers in general. This, he said, was not the object of the association, whose aim was to cater for the farmer on the hill eountry as well as for the man farming on the flats. Discussions would b.e invited, as they were regarded as being a very importaiit aspect in connection with the various lectures. The question of the method of appointment of the management committee would be raised during the conference. It had been felt that the time had arrived when the committee would become more representative if elec'ted at the annual gathering in preference to the present method of appointment. If this step wus decidea upon the annual gathering may have a greater interest in the work carried out by the committee. The first portion of the morning session was occupied in detailing important results of the survey of land utilisation in Hawke's Bay. Addresses covering the work so f'ar accomplished relating to soil, pasture and farm management were given by Mr. I. J. Pohlen, of the Soil Survey Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research; Mr P. A. Madden, of the Grasslands Division, Plant Research Bureau, and Mr R. P, Corineli, Pields Division, Department of Agriculture. The two former. addresses were i/lustrated by lantern slides showing rich Hawke's Bay pastures in comparison with some very poor types which have been embraced in the survey. The slides revealed the great amount of work already accomplished and eonveyed some i.dea of the great value that will result to the farming industry once the survey is completed" and the knowledge gained can be applied. • The ultimate aim of the survey scheme once the naturai resources were known was briefly explained by Dr E. Marsden, of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, who expressed the hope that it would be the means of guiding the thougfits of farmers towards increased production and increased profits. The atteution of the conference was next occupied with a lecture on arthritis and stiffness in lambs prepared by Mrt W. G. Barry, director of the Live Stock Division, and given by Dr Hopkirk, of j the Wallaceville laboratory. j