N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 13, 16 January 1915, Page 2

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

TARANAKI PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE. $ The Tarannki Provincial Executive Now Zealand Farmers' I'iiioii met afcl llawora on Thursday, when there were present: Messrs K. Dunn (vicepresident, in the chair), E. Maxwell, G H. Buckeridge, W. Pennington, F. Mills, A. E. Washer, H. H. Buxton, J. Swiudlehurst, J. Thomas, and J. Davidson. Apologies for absence were received from the president (Mr Hunter), and Mr It. Lambie.

NOXIOUS WEEDS. A letter was received from the President of the Board of Agriculture, (Mr J. G. Wilson), stating the difficulties in dealing with noxious weeks and asking if the Union was of opinion, whether it was advisable to have the Act fully enforced: (a) In the whole district, or (b) in any portion of the district.

Mr Dunn said the Union had been dealing with this matter for a number of years, and had passed resolutions that the Act be strictly enforced, but the questions put by the Board of Agriculture put them in the position of defining where it was judicious to strictly enforce the Act and where it was not.

Mr Maxwell said this had been dealt with as an important matter by branches, executives, and Dominion conferences of the Union for years, but it had now been taken in hand by the proper body—the Board of Agriculture. The subject had been threshed out thoroughly at the Dominion conferences, and also between officers of the Agriculture Department and the Union. The difficulty

vvas with the different classes of land. in a case where there was on the one side deep gullies and on the other side ploughable land it would be impossible to exterminate weeds in the ordinary way in the gullies. It was absurd for any one to say that the Act could >e rigorously enforced. Where the configuration of the country was such that weeds could not be exterminated by the process of cultivation of the land then there was another way of loing it—viz., by planting certain classes of trees, such as pinus insignus. The point was that they should isk the Department to enforce the Act where possible, but they should not ask for impossibilities. It could j be worked by dividing the land into two classes, but not by dividing it into two districts. He moved: '"That the Taranaki Executive of the Farmers' Union is in favor of the Act being # stringently enforced in cases' where the land is capable of cultivation, but be enforced with discretion in cases where the land is of poorer luality and of rough nature where weeds have secured such a hold that their eradication would be too great m undertaking on the holder. The Executive also that on interior and rough land, where eradication of weeds is practically impossible, the owner be required to plant pines and other suitable timbers (such as pinus radicta), or that the State take over the land and plant it." Mr Pennington seconded the motion. Mr Buckeridge agreed with the suggestion, of planting, and quoted instances where it had been beneficial. The point was to devise some means that would not be too oppressive oh those who were doing their best and iilso to assist as far as possible in the. eradication of weeds. The motion was carried.

Tt was also resolved that the Executive do not think that districts loan he classified, as in many cases the «ime farms would contain two classes. SIR J. G. WILSON. Mr Buckeridge brought up the matter of Sir J. G. Wilson, the New Zealand president of the Union, having recently been knighted, and said it was a fitting occasion for the Executive to send its hearty congratulations on his receiving so high an honor, and lie moved accordingly. .Mr Davidson seconded the motion, which was spoken to by several members, and carried. THE LATE CHIEF INSPECTOR BRAIK. On the motion of Mr Dunn, seconded by Mr Washer, a vote of condolence with Mrs Braik and family was passed.