FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1000, 17 June 1930, Page 11

FARMERS’ PROBLEMS

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE OF UNION VETERINARY SERVICE PLAN Press Association WELLINGTON, Monday. The Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers* Union met in Wellington today. Mr. W. J. Poison. M.P.. presiding over an attendance of about 30 members. The following remit was submitted by the Southland Association: —That this conference recommends to the Board of Agriculture for its fullest consideration the scheme for the provision of a more adequate veterinary service for livestock owners in New Zealand, as outlined by Mr. William Pierson, which provides for tlie appointment of fully qualified veterinarians whose services shall be available at a small fee to all who agree to contribute the specified levies, their salaries to be guaranteed up to £I,OOO. Dr. C. J. Heakes said the scheme was that suppliers should pay 2s 6d a cow per annum into the veterinary fund, to be deducted from their milk cheques. It was decided to forward the remit to the Board of Agriculture. A remit from Nelson asked the executive to make further representations to have the fireblight legislation amended, and that the support of the Fruitgrowers’ Conference be sought. The remit was carried. The following remit was agreed to without discussion: —That the conference considers that the time has arrived when an emphatic protest should be lodged against the growing list of questions farmers are expected to answer in the compilation of agricultural and pastoral statistics; and considers further that a great many of the questions cannot serve any useful purpose, even if it were possible to give substantially correct answers. The executive agreed to remits concerning the pork industry. One urged that the Department of Agriculture should give more attention to the bacon and pork industry, and furnish producers with all information which will assist to increase the industry with profit to the Dominion. The other was that the department be requested to provide for the reinstatement of the pork subsidy. The executive decided, on the recommendation of the South Taranaki Union, to protest against the continual changing of school books, urging that all school books should be standardised and made available at the lowest possible price. An Auckland remit, that the arrangement for the finance of the conveyance of children to school by vehicular or launch transport be applied also to horse riding, was carried. A resolution was carried that any increaes of wages of any description should be opposed, as the cost of living had materially decreased. The Wanganui branch recommended that the New Zealand Fanners’ Union sohuld oppose the six days’ week for dairy factory employees. The remit was carried.