NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 407, 6 September 1918, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION

Franklin Sub-Provincial District

The usual monthly meeting of the Franklin Sub-Provincial Executive was held in the Board room on Monday last. The members present were Messrs H. 0. MellsopJPresident), W. L. West, A. L. Hull, R. W. Johns, A. Bell, E. Piggott, A. Jones, 0. Hodginson, J. Schlaepfer, L. Morgan, L. L. Allen and the Secretary (Mr S. Oldfield). In discussing the constant rise in the price of manures and cement it was thought that the freights alone were not responsible for the continual rise. In view of the disastrous effects on the production of the country, there not being half of the crops planted owing to the unreasonable high prices of fertilisers, it was decided that the Government be requested to inquire into the continual rising prices of all fertilisers. Dealing with matters relating to the Trading Company, the suggestion was made that possibly some arrangement could be arrived at between the Trading Company and the different Dairy Companies whereby a shareholder could order his supplies through his Dairy Company and pay for the same out of his cheques for butter-fat from time to time. The Secretary reported that he had written to Mr Laidlaw on the subject and had received his reply that the matter was at present under negotiation. The Secretary reported that the feeling of the branches was strongly in favour of the Hydro-Electrical Power resources of the Dominion. He added that he had attended the lecture in the Auckland Town Hall on August 30th when much useful information was given. When the scheme was established in the Waikato, it would be possible for all the country towns to obtain a supply of energy by using stepping down stations which would cost from £1 to £2 per kiliwat. Brs a Be Be

were passed from the list of perish* able crops to one that might be grown in almost unlimited quantities and shipped to any part of the world, the reduction in weight being 60 per cent. By this process the potatoes are made into flour for human consumption and into cakes or cubes for stock. This new system of handling potatoes developed in Germany, ten years ago they had about a dozen factories, ia 1914 the number increased to 400 and in 1916 to 840 with a capacity for dealing with one billion bushels per annum* The Secretary was instructed to write the Department of Agriculture for further information.

The question of the formation of a Mutual Fire Insurance Associativa was deferred until next meeting in order to enable delegates and members of branches an opportunity to study the proposal. Amalgamation of dairy companies came in for a good deal of discussion in which Messrs Allen and Piggott reported that the meeting convened at Hamilton on August 12th were unanimously in favour of it. Mr Hull considered that the advantages of amalgamation of all co-operative producing concerns would be more of a national than a monetary value and that its influence in cementing the interests of the farming community would be widely felt, and every step in this direction spelt greater efficiency. A suggestion was made that a letter be sent to all branches and to tho other Sub-Provincial Districts pointing out that as a means of improving the quality of our butter, a greater difference should be made in the payment for Ist and 2nd grade cream.

Mr Piggott was elected to represent Franklin Sub-Provincial district on the Amalgamation of Dairy Companies Committee The Secretary suggested that the Sub-Proviucial district should en-

deavour to impress upon the local authorities and the Education Department the necessity of agricultural education. Something in the way of an Agricultural College was badly needed in the Auckland Province. In view of the fact that a Technical High School was likely to be shortly erected in Pukekohe he advised that the faimers should give it every support and should endeavour to make it an Agricultural Technical High School. This suggestion was strongly supported by the Executive and Messrs Mellsop, Piggott and the Secretary were appointed a deputation to wait upon the Local Authorities. Mr Allen asked that a circular letter should be drawn up, setting out what the Union had accomplished, its many advantages and what the Sub-Provincial District had achieved, this to be sent out to each member with a view to increasing the membership. Accounts totalling £.jssCdwere passed for payment,