AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 11 August 1909, Page 21

AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETIES.

CONFERENCE OF DELEGATES. .VETERINARY SCIENCE. FIRST DAY. WELLINGTON, August 3. A conference of delegates representing ; the A. and P. Societies of New Zealand was opened in the Chamber of Commerce this morning, Mr J. G. Wilson (Bulls) presiding. The following delegates were present :—-Ashburton: — -Ashburton — Messrs Thomas Mawson jand Derishley Wood ; Amuri — Colonel Chaffey and Mr W. 0. Richards : Auckland — Messrs J. G. Rutherford and Edwin Hall; Canterbury — Messrs D. D. M'Farlane s , Arthur Chamberlain, James Stevenson, and 0. B. Pemberton; Egmont — Mr T. Winks ; Franklin — Mr John Schlaepfer'; Ellesmere — Messrs J. S. Eoag and John Cunningham ; Feilding — Messrs Hugh Burrell and H. J. Booth; Hawke's Bay — Messrs N. Kettle and R. D. M'Lean: Kaikoura — Messrs Davidson and Andrew; Masterton — Messrs D. M'Gregor, jun., an-d William Perry; Manawatu — Messrs iJ. G. Harkness and G. E. Wheeler ; I Northern A. and P. Association (Rangi- , ora) — Messrs K. M'lntosh and J. W. Foster; Nelson — Mr H. D. Harkness; Otago — Messrs W. J. Charters, P. Pattullo, and H. V. Fulton; Opotiki — Mr A. K. Hayward; Oxford — Messrs H. T. Cooper, John O'Halloran, and George Rudd ; Southland — Messrs John Gilkison and James King; Strath-Taieri — Messrs W. J. Charters and P. Pattullo; Taranaki — Mr George Bishop; Timaru — Mr Thomas Teschmaker ; Wairaxapa and East Coast — Messrs W. C. Buchanan, M.P., and H. R. Bunny; Waikato A. and P. Association (Hamilton) — Mr John Knight ; Wanganui — Messrs Ewen Campbell and James Higgie; Waikato Farmers' Clvb — IMr Robert Fisher. The Minister of 1 Agriculture (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) and several heads of departments were also I present. I In reviewing the work of the year, the president said that the last conference , had been most interesting and successful. ! The delegates had received considerable assistance and'verv valuable information on many subjects from the officials of the 1 Agricultural Department, who not only read valuable papers, but were on nand to reply to any questions on <-übjocts I under discussion. The president then | gave a detailed outline of the work done 'at the last conference. The committee set up to deal with the question of files ' (dangerous to crops, etc) had been un- ' able to do anything in the direction indicated by the 'motion passed by the conference. On the quej-tion of the appointment of a committee to cany out the le.-o-lutions of the conference, Mr WiNon *aid it was to be regietted that it had not i been found practicable to give ehect to the motion. Considerable delay ensued before the various belies appointed thai' representatives, and the difficulty was i accentuated by the fact that in certain J cases the motion only provided for one ! member to represent two separate clv- ( tricls, which led to a little fuetion. it j was eventually thought desirable to allow ; all the districts named in the motion to ' nominate one reoiesenHtive. It wa% found again, however, that it was quite impracticable to t^t suc-h a lai£>e and widely-scattered committee together or even to obtain any definite resnhs. With regard to the federation of the A. and P. Associations of the Dominion by <orre j spondence. the matter would come up a^ain for consideration dvum;: llif p-c>-=ent conference. The conference had v-n. out some lht»iii*arr4s-ei-ijUi'iie^ n i.i."_ subject of grasses to a<-cuit?ir v.hpt vamtic? had pioved the bev t throutrhoat N*< '■■ j™land, and the ic-ults would be U.,d befme the <onferenre at a later Mv4<\ lnrpresident, continuing, saul t> <>t ns .ie wn-. not nov/ t.il in- any a<-t.\o i-pit in the management o: :.nv A. md J . A -.so ci l : on. though :i.- nuich int )■ - <■■> a- ( < / ;>i thrm. hi- v.odll In.- i<> .';-' }^]]'\ n. net to i-nc oi '.o •'. Uis %I ''•''', Vll j" olo l moment, to iV •' - I -"-"'' ''•''' r "" ! '' .^ to:-'l crmiiiMMiitv ih ' ' "- (1 to L jl " mi, oi .v '■ Huiai idi.'Pt! ,n -,n i 1 •_• cetl Li <.*.'. >V.i !.:" a - a '-'.hool oi vctcu-

f nary science. He also referred to the ' demise of the Meteorological Journal, the publication of which the Government had discontinued on the score of expense. H-s hoped better counsels would prevail. Ten years ago, 6aid Mr Wilson, the question was raised at the Christchurch A. and P. Conference that we should have a school of veterinary science attached to some of our universities, and Mr Holmes moved a motion asking the Government to make provision for it ; yet nothing had bean done. They had the man to fill the chair, but the Victorian authorities offered Mr GOruth a position, and he had been lost. Melbourne, however, was not so far away, and why should they not take advantage of Professor Gilruth's teaching, even if it were at Melbourne? The Victorian Institution had an annual endowment of £4200. He had a scheme which would give this country two New Zealanders with a degree after five years' training at a maximum cost to the Dominion of £750 per annum through the medium of scholarships. The scheme was ac follows : — Two scholarships, "value £75 per annum, tenable for five years, to be awarded annually until the number of Government scholars is 10. Each scholar to insure his life with the Government Insurance Department for £400, the premium to be deducted from the annual payment of £75, and the policy -to remain the property of the Government till the termination of the agreement ; each scholar on graduating to serve in a State department for -a period of three years at a. stated salary (£2OO per fjimim) or refund the amount received (granting the minimum salary paid to others to ba £300 per annum). • The whole sum would thus be recoupedi in four years.- Should the scholar die the policy would more than cover the disbursement ; a monetary guarantee could be tjiven by two "responsible citizens that the scholar would pursue the course. By this he would (a.t no expense) participate in the Victorian liberality. The cost would be as follows: — First year, two scholars, £150 ; second yeaT, four schclars, £300 ; third year, six scholars, £450 ; fourth year, ei?ht scholars, £600 ; fifth year, 10 scholars, £750. Therefore, for an annual expenditure of £750 we would be in the position of securing two colonial graduates of veterinary science every year for State work, and further, that exoenditure would be ultimately recovered. He believed that the Union Steam Ship Com- ! pany would grant fares at reduced rates, and he hoped that the conference would not rise before it had taken steps to put '• before the Government the "wisdom of starting such a echeme as lie had out- | lined. j Mr D. D. M'Farlane (Canterbury) tras elected to succeed Mr J. G. Wilson as chairman. In addressing the delegates, Mr M'Farlane expressed pleasure at seeing the Minister of Agriculture present. Since Mr Mackenzie had joined the Cabinet he had shown great activity. Reviewing the past two sessions, he referred to the fluctuations in prices of produce, particularly of wool. The la-test available statistics showed that the sheep flocks of j ths world had decreased from 522,564,000 ; in 1895 to 482,884,000 10 years later. The consumers in the same period had in- I creased from 522,836,000 to 610.391,000. For wheat there was likely to be good average prices for a time. Frozen meat, unfortunately, had greatly fallen in value. He showed what the agricultural community was doing for the country, and spoke of the need of dealing fearlessly with all questions that came before them. The Native lands and unoccupied wa.stes of the country should be settled, and there should be a practical pffort to advance agricultural education. The man who wa3 on the land now was the man who required education in scientific methods. Fxpart teachers shouV] be sent, to instruct them in their own homes. The distribution of in formal ion was the crvincr need of aoriculturp in New Zealand to-day, and t-lip whole puccwis of such n scheme would dptvMid upon having competent men a« insti uctors. Further resolutions were carried at the Aciicultural Conference as follow :—: — " That it be a recommendation to the Agricultural Department that experiments by farmers be conducted under the supervision of the Government Director in grasses, fodder crop?, and root crops, and that experimental plots be provided in the South Tsland, where new seeds and plants rould be tested, and those found suitable afterwards distributed to farmers." " Tliot it Is desirable to enforre ths j picnisions of the Noxious Weeds Act more sfi intently, especially with reference to Cnlifornian thistle."

1 SECOND DAY, WELLINGTON, August 4. I At the Agricultuial Conference resolnj tions were carrieU asking the Government to legislate in the direction of ensuring1 supplies of pure seed ; to make it compulsory that an analysis be given Trith all 1 stock foods and condiments, as in the casa of manures ; also to encourage the breeding of light horses. DAYLIGHT SAVING. . The president (Mr D. D Macfarlane) , moved, re daylight saving — "That it be 1 a- recommendation to the Government, that between the third Sunday in October and the third Sunday in March, local time shall be one hour in advance of New Zealand mean time in New Zealand, the i object being to secure an earlier attend- - anco at work in the summer mdnths, and < the enlai'gement of the peirod of leisure > in the afternoon and evening," He said. '■ that the principle had been adopted in '■ Cincinnati. Tn the House of Commons a > Daylight Saving BUI was passed by c > majority of 30 votes. 'Here, he thought* | the agricultural community would welcome : the- change proposed. He instanced tha case of one settler whose shepherds went • 'to work at 5.30 and stopped at 2.30 p.m., having the rest of the day to themselves. The system worked most satisfactorily. L Mr 0. B. Pemberton (Canterbury) ' seconded the motion. Mr G. Wheeler (Manawatu) opposed tha motion. If daylight saving were wanted, • it could best be accomplished by private 1 arrangement between employer and em ; ployee. What of the railways? Mr W. C. Buchanan eaid all work an<( | no play made Jack a proverbially dull boy f In his opinion the best thing for countrjf , workers would be not to give them hourf t or half days, but several days periodically , at the most convenient time. ; ' Mr J. G. Harkness said the president ( had not . advanced sufficient reasons in support of hie motion. The motion did \ \ not . stop, at .agriculture. It "was general ! and far reaching in its scope. Unfortu^ nately the spirit of confidence betweenf l employer and employed had largely beenj \ destroyed. If anything, the motion should express the advisableness of mutual ar-. ! rangement betweeij master and man. Mr N. .Kettle .(Napier), as a busines* man, heartily supported the motion. Tlieres , were thousands of young men in offices to whom half an-hour in the evening meant everything. The suggested change would not" interfere with commerce ta , the slightest extent so lotfg as all house--observed the change. Several speakers opposed the motion.In reply, the President said if th« change were universally made it simply I amounted to this: that on the thiril Sunday in October every person Mould find his watch one hour slow, and on the . third Sunday in March one hour fast. The motion was lost by a narrow ran* jority. VETERINARY SURGEONS. It was resolved, in order to afford Dominion youths the opportunity of filling such j positions, that the Government, through* j the Ministers of Agriculture and Educa- . tion, be asked to adopt some such sen em « as outlined in the opening address of thtf retiring chairman, so as to provide thatf a number of veterinary surgeons trained in the Melbourne University (and therefor* colonial) would be available for Govern-: ment ofiices in New Zealand in the near future, and it Ls suggested from this conference that if the A. and P. association* were to subscribe yearly, a sufficient sun* would be raised to give one scholar th« chance of taking the five years' course under Professor Gilruth. Ifc was decided to ask smaller associations to contributa £2, and the largest associations £5, annually, towards the scholarship ; that tha «ystem of veterinary examination and registering of stallions at present in usa m. Victoria be adopted in New Zealand ; that the agricultural organisations throughout ihe Dominion be urged to promote and foster the formation of ;ovr-te&ting associations. THIRD DAY. WELLINGTON, August 5. The following motions we're carried althp Agricultural Conference to-day: — " That the Government be asked io invite schemes for the better ear-markin» of sheep, and if the schemes be considered feasible they be referred to a committee of competent sheep owners for consideration." i " That, in view of the approaching Argentine show being held at Buenos Aires on June 1, 1910, the conferenca • take united action and lay before th<

Acting Prime Minister the desirability of the Government assisting breeders thiough their associations, and also other breeders an this Dominion to exhibit their slock at that show." "That the grounds held by an A. and P. Association for the purpose of an agricultural or winter show be exempt from local ratec-, and that the Government be asked to favourably consider the pioposal." Mr D. M'Gregor, jun fMasterion) paid he thought it was useless asking tor exemption. The local bodies lender sd them service which was necessary to the proper conduct of the *>hows. "That section 7 of 'The Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Act, 1908,' be emended to give associations further powers in dealing with the purchase rnonej of laiidis 6old by the addition of a j clause empowering them to apply the pur- I chase money received in the repayment of ! any mortgage previously given to allow j of the purchase of land required for the ! purposes of the society." j *' That it is desirable that one uniform eet of rules re disqualification of exhibitors be adopted by all metropolitan "A. and P. associations, and that the following be among those adopted l : (a) Any exhibitor or other person interfering with or using insulting or improper language to a judge or to any of the officers of the association in regard to the execution of their duty, or being guilty of improper conduct on the show ground, may be disqualified from exhibiting at future shows of the association, and, if a prize-taker, shall be liable to have his unpaid prize money forfeited , at tie discretion of the council of the '

a.s*ociation, whose decision shall be final ; (b) should any person or firm be disqualified or suspended by a kindred metroj}o]'itan association, or by any other A. and P. association in the (local) distiict, the council of this association shall have power to endorse disqualification or suspension should it see fit ; (c) .should any exhibitor, in the opinion of the council, be guilty of any fraudulent or unfa'r practice, or any deceit of concealment, either in entering or exhibiting stock, all the exhibits of 6iich exhibitor shall be disqualified, and hi.* nanv shall not appear in the official prize li.^t."' .'"That a li^t of competent judges in all stock classes be prepared, and the tame be forwarded to the secretary of the diffei ent associations, to enable the committee to choo.-e the judges fn_>m the Paid li.«t." "That in the opinion of this confeience it is most desirable that all grants in aid made by the Government to A. and P. associations, either in la.nd or otherwise, should be on a definite basic* and, further, that this conference inquire into and report upon the methods under which grants are obtained and the conditions giving the same." "That the policy of with holding from Native owneons of land the opportunity of (1) either occupying them under the same conditions as Europeans, or (2) disposing of them k detrimental to the settlement of the country, inasnTuch as it festers the spread of noxious weeds, delays the eradication of fruit pests and disease, affords pi<oiection for tuberculosis and other diseases in animals, and leaves an enormous area of unproductive land." Mr Stevenson read a letter written by i

Mr Ensor, of Canterbury, on the subject. The writer contended that the dip killed the ticks, but not the eggf, which subsequently developed, and caused irritation and trouble Ticks damaged wool to the extent of Id per pound. He dipped twice v ithin 20 day.-, and thereby made the dipping effective. An owner could not keep hi« flock clean iinless others were compelled to dip effectively. Mr Sttva^nn snid he had trouble with a dip, anJ found that it ■nas caused by want of unifoimity oi the dipping compound." " That the Government be urged to encourage the extension of the telephone ■system in rural dL-tricts by local authorities or local residents power to e-t.ibli.-h telephone systems in centm* vhere the Government cannot undertake to do 60 it-elf." " That tho Crown should undertake the samp responsibilities with regard to tho fencing and local rating of its unleashed reserves and the control of the noxious weeds and vei'min thereon as private land ownei'p." "That all exhibits consigned to a show should, without any certificates, be c.irriedi at quarter rates, and that all such exhibits or part thereof, if returned to the oiiginal sending station within the stated time, be also charged quarter rates, the returning stock to be consigned by the association at the show of which the stock was exhibited, which will be responsible to tho Railway Department." " That only the original exhibits or part thereof are returned, and that the Minister of Railways be approached with, a view of giving effect to the proposal." " That some eyetem. of universal train-

ing is necessary for the defence of -the Dominion." " That in all future valuations of agricultural properties by the Government for valuation purposes water races should I be counted as improvements as against ; taxation, and that water supply boards I should receive a . subsidy on the total amount of rates collected similar to other local bodies." " That the Government be urged to compile and publish at cost price- to farmers books on the' diagnosis and treatj raent of diseases and common ailments of horses, cattle, and sheep z special attention being given to the /subject of obI stetrics, the most necessary drugs, io. be ! kept on a farm, instructions in making ] up inscriptions, and the uses of veterij nary instruments." " That the Government be urged to consider the advisability of issuing an up-to-date correspondence course" of instruction in agricultural and' pastoral science with a > view to reaching a laige number of students in their own -homes who are at present unable to attend the agricultural classes and colleges ; -such course of instruction could be under the control of the Education Department, and examinations held at snch times and places as the several boards may think fit. ' The conference has closed--DEPUTATION TO THE HON.- T. MACKENZIE. WELLINGTON^, August 6. A deputation waited on the Minister of Agriculture (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) this morning, to bring under his notice the resolutions passed Dy the delegates attending the A. and P. Societies' Conference. The President (Mr D. D. Macfarlane) referred to the work of the conference, and said that -the cletaile<l resolutions would be forwarded to the Minister by Mr Edwin Hall (the secretary) when he returned to Auckland. As the Minister had been at the conference nearly all the time it was not necessary for him to lay stress on the particular resolutions they expected the Minister to give effect to. Mr Macfarlane referred briefly to the need for some change in the method of combating noxious weeds. In reference to the frozen meat trade, he said he hoped the Minister would continue his efforts to bring about a conference. It seemed probable that reduced prices would have to be faced for some years, and the only way to meet this was by combination and reduced shipping handling and freezing charges. Mr Chamberlain spoke of the necessity for individualising the titles to Native lands. Tlie Secretary (Mr Hall) urged that greater powers should be given -to A. and P. societies to deal with moneys received from lands sold by them. The Minister, in reply, said a good many of the points had already been cleared up. He was glad that something practical was to be done in regard to facilities for rural telephones. The Government was anxious in every way possible to improve the conditions of country life. The noxious weeds problem was a most difficult one. and before anything was done he would endeavour to go over the worst country. If country was to be abandoned as hopeless it would only be clone after the most careful inquiry. The frozen meat question was surrounded with difficulties. It seemed to him that they should work in unison .with Australia. When in London he realised how difficult it was to do anything. At one stage he had planned a new market, but he failed to get support. At that time the meat wa6 sold through the Smithfield salesmen at a charge of 2 per cent; Some of the merchants were sufficiently candid to say that this did not pay, and that the " difference " had to be made up somehow. Changes were made from time to time, and a great deal of trouble resulted. He explained the dodges that were resorted to to get insurance claims and " poor quality " claims on the same shipment. When in London he had a scheme for a new market covering about an acre of ground, and if it had come off the trade of New Zealand would now have been in a different position. He .repeated that, so far as the future was concerned, it was difficult to know what to do. He did not think the American trust had done much harm up to the present, but it was impossible to say what it would do in the future when it had a larger hold on the Argentine market than it had to-day. They would hava to work with Australia, and he did not think the time was far distant when they would be able to ->end chilled beef from New Zealand. Under the new system it could be kept ior 50 days. He iepeated some of the v, hich he had previously made to tho delegates, and .said that if the condition of trade at Home improved there would be a hardening of prices. It was haid foi southerners to understand why the Native land problem was not more speedily settled, but he assured them that tlu-ie were difficulties which were beyond their ken. Sometimes there wa:. i cully more being done than the public was aware of. Be said that the Hon. Mr Ng.ita v.a- do'ng all he could to bring t lie Mjoii to a pioper appreciation of his responsibilities. At meetings addressed by the Acting Prime Minister at Te Kuiti and Taumarunui recently the Natives expie-^ed their willingness to undertake the same obligations as those imposed on European.-, providing they received the same privileges. The Government was alive to the necessities of the Mtuption. Tt h?d to get the country bottled. Agriculture was the hope of this country, and it was the one great industry we possessed, and an industry that would be profitable. He showed that we did not produce nearly enough to supply the British maiket. No less than 79 per cent, of the imported butter consumed in Great Britain was from foreign countries, and 21 per cent, from British dependencies. Cheese was the only article in which Britain's own dependencies supplied anything like the quantity they should, nine-tenths of the trade being supplied by

countries under the British flag. Sixty* five per cent, of the meat consumed in; Great Britain -was 'from foreign countries.This should not be, and he would be glad to do what he could to give the A, and societies necessary increased s powers. The department was desirous ofi extending co-operative experimental work. A little had been done in the south, but he was of opinion that more should be done, fn due time an experimental farm, might be established in the South Island. He promised to see if the weather reports could not be published a.t the country post offices. The president thanked the Minister fo» his satisfactory reply and for the manner in which he had dealt with all the questions brought under his notice.