FARMING AFFAIRS

Lake County Mail, Issue 22, 22 October 1947, Page 8

FARMING AFFAIRS

This column is supplied weekly by Federated Farmers’ of New Zealand. The information given is official, but any views expressed are those of the Federation and aie not necessarily those of this newspaper. FENCES ON RAILWAY LINES The Railway Department will repair fences damaged |by fire caused by sparks from railway locomotives even in cases where there is no legal liability on the department. That information has been received by Federated Farmers from the general manager of the department, Mi J. Sawers. In replying to various points concerning the damage caused by sparks from railway locomotives recently raised bj the federation, Mr Sawers advised that the department’s libility was founded on common law. It was true, he said, that in some cases ex gratis payments had been made where it was dear that the fire was caused by sparks from an engine, although there were no grounds upon which legal liability could be established. Such payments had, however, been approved only where financial hardship had resulted. Every case had to be considered on its merits. The repair of fences damaged by fire due to sparks from an engine had recently been reconsidered and the department itself would carry out such repairs. CONTRIBUTORY WOOL CHARGE Federated Farmers has recently received advice from Australia that the contributory charge made on growers in connection with the sale of the 1947-48 Commonwealth wool clip would be only threequarters on one per cent. Last year the charge was five per cent., the same as the future charge on New Zealand growers. The five per cent, charge previously levied was considered too high by Australian growers. The value of the 1947-48 clip has been estimated at £92,335,940 and on that basis the five per cent, amounted to £4,600,000. As the impost for publicity and research was only £300,000, the remaining £4,300,000 was more than ample to finance the growers’ share of the cost of administering the scheme. Obviously, say Australian growers, £4,000,000, was well in excess of actual requirements and so the charge has been reduced. Those in charge of the scheme claim that it was only sound policy to build up a large reserve in a year of high prices so that the levy could be reduced in subsequent seasons. Provided wool values hold in the coming 12 months, the new contributory charge will amount to about £700,000 of which £300,000 will be represented by the 2s a bale* 1 for publicity and research and £400,000 for the administration of the wool scheme. Although Australian growers arc well satisfied with the amount of the reduction, they are pressing for complete details of the expenditure of the 1946-47 contribution. They paid out a large sum of money last season, and feel that they are entitled to full particulars.