ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE FARMERS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1294, 31 May 1880, Page 2

ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE FARMERS.

Thp Secretary of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Assoc|atiqn has received the following correspondence on the above subject, and with the view of carrying into effect the request of the President of the Corn Exchange, Christchurch, he has handed it to us for publication. We shall be glad to have the opinions of the farmers and brewers on the subject : Corn Exchange and Farmers' Club, 3 Christchurch, 22nd May, 1880.

Sir, —I beg to enclose a copy of a letter which appeared in the Lyttelton Times paper of the 21st inst. and popy of resolution passed by the Committee of this Association,

I shall feel obliged by your doing all you can to ventilate the subject referred to, and ascertain, as far as you can, the views of the members of the Farmers' Club and farmers generally in your district, I request the favor of your afterwards informing me the result ? and to what extent they would support an application for an Act to carry out the suggestion proposed. —Yours, &c., Thos. Bruce, President. J. Church, Esq., Secretary Farmers' Club, North Qt^go. The following are copies of the letter and resolution referred to : (TO THE EDITOR LYTTELTON TIMES.) Sir, —I recollect some years ago the English Government wished to give an encouragement to England's sugav-grow-ing Colonies. The Government therefore passed a special Act, allowing the use of sugar in the manufacture of spirits and beer. The state of things is the reverse here. We want to improve the condition of the farmers in this Colony, and are not particularly interested in the sugargrowing Colonies to the exclusion of our hard-working farmers. I therefore think they should bestir themselves, and urge the'passing of an Act prohibiting the use of sugar in breweries, and (enacting that beer manufactured by public brewers should be made—to use the old term — from " malt and hops only," The addition of water and yeast is always understood.

I think there is no question but that beer made from corn is far preferable to that made from sugar. An Act of this s.qrt would encourage our Colonial farmers to grow a larger area of barley, which would always command abetter price, and be more remunerative than other cereals. If anything can be done to assist our struggling agriculturists, by all means let a trial be made. —I am, &c., E. B. Bishop. Christchurch, May 20, It was unanimously resolved, " That the Committee of the Corn Exchange, Christchurch, approve of the suggestion of urging the passing of an Act prohibiting the use of sugar in the manufacture of beer by the public brewers in this Colony, and compelling the use of malted barley in lieu thereof." "That the President of this Exchange be requested to communicate with kindred Associations with a view to further co-operation."