FARMERS' CLUB.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 182, 24 July 1900, Page 2

FARMERS' CLUB.

(Continued from yesterday.)

Mr. Oonnett said that he was in t happy position, as his colleague at thi Conference, Mr. Tate, had touched 01 most af the matters that had been dia cussed. With regard to the first pro posal brought forward, namely, " Tha the yearly recurring insufficiency o grain trucks was a serious loss ant inconvenience to farmers, and urgently demands the attention of Parliament,' he had a good deal to say to the Oon ference on the matter, not as to iti bearing on the- grain trade, but in re lation to the butter business. Hi asked why all mention of the need for i better supply of trucks for dairy pro duce had been omitted from the resolu tion, and was told that there was n< idea that the traffic in that produce wai large enough to require special facili ties He, however, enlightened thi minds of the delegates on the nfotter and quoted figures to *how the enor mous increase in the industry, and thai it was sufficiently important to be in eluded in the resolution. He wai asked if, in stating the number o boxes of butter at 160,000, he had no exaggerated, as the delegates had m idea of such a large output. " Hav< you ever been in Taranaki?" asked Mr Oonnett. "No," was the reply, thi only thing they had heard about Tara naki was that a breakwater had bee) built there and had been washed away (Loud laughter.) Mr. Oounett though that probably now some of the dele gates would come and see for them selves. While the question of freight! was being discussed, some of the mem bers during the luncheon hour went ti the shipping offices to make inquiries but, on resuming, Mr. Oonnett pointe< but to them that the present contrac was for three years, only one of whicl had expired, and that it was of no usi asking for concessions. The Unioi Company are to be asked to carry stoct at more reasonable rates. The questioi of the weight of sacks had been referrec toby Mr. Tate, and the conclusion ar rived at to make the weight four busheli and adhere to the present size wai satisfactory. On the Noxious Weedi Bill both Mr. Tate and himself hac spoken several times. At first tb< resolution was confined to the Oali fornian thistle, and they pointed oul tbat while that weed might be only one that the Southern delegates attached importance to, there were other weeds such as blackberry, gorse, ragwort, sweet briar, etc., which .the Northern delegates considered should be included. Eventually, the blackberry and eweet briar were put in, and the ragwort, after great difficulty, was inserted in a permissive olause. The question as to gorse showed that what was a noxious weed'in one place was sought after and priztd in another, as the difficulty down South was to succeed in cultivating what in the North proved a diffisulty to eradicate. He thought that if he had not spoken on the question of taxation of dairy factories that no good would have ensued, but it happened ;hat Mr. Duncan, the Minister of Lands, was sitting near to him (Mr. Jonnett), and he pointed out that the sffectof taxing f&ctorics would be very njarjous, and would operate in favour if ihA producer of an inferior article, or all the while a farmer was making nferior butter he escaped the tax, but lirectly he joined a factory and a firstlass article resulted the tax would be mpessd. Mr, Duncan was impressed vith that argument, and there was ivery prospect of the tax being Iroppcd, From wbat he had seen of tlr. Duncan, Mr, Oonnett thought he vould make a very useful Minister, ,nd one that could be relied >n for going into and mas'ering the letails of any business coming under lis notice. There had been some discission on the question of maggot fly n sheep. Some of the speakers argued ibat the fly would not touch sheej: mless they were dirty, but experienct lad proved that the reverse was the ;ase. It was the greatest misfortun< that the fly had ever penetrated to thi solony. There were several proposal; brought forward on the subject o qualified veterinary surgeons, Tin resolution that was carried was to thi effect that no one should be allowed ti call himself a veterinary surgeon unlesi duly qualified to do so. The objec was not so much to stop men helping their neighbours in cases of difficulty but to prevent anyone doing so unde: the guise of veterinary surgeons, whili not possessing the necessary qualifica tion. A long discussion took place on thi question of anthrax—a matter on wbicl he was able togivesomedefimtei nf orma tion. He had called on Mr, Gilruth t< speak out and say what killed his (Mr Connett's) stock. Several question) were asked on the matter and answerec either directly or by implication. 11 was, said Mr. Oonnett, very to learn that in the North telephoni arrangements were much more complete, so far as connecting outlying dis tricts, than was the case in the South Tree planting provoked a short dis mission, but did not create much enthu siasm. In conclusion, he would like t( say that lie was agreeably surprised ai tile i'l-iss of men comprising the Oon ference, and it was quite clear thai with such delegates there was no fear foi the future prosperity of agriculture He was certainly mo-t pleasantly sinprised to hear the delegates speak, anc he considered that there was mon sense talked there in fifteen minutes than could be found in two or thre< hours' debate in the House. As far ai tbe treatment of the delegates was concerned, it could not be improved on Tliey were invited to inspect the Wellington Fie zing Company's and the Gear Company's Works and were entertained at luncheon. The Conference made up the time spent over the inspection by sitting till 10.30 p.m. Tc s!ibw l ow freezing works were extending, the Gear Company were spending over f-\O,OOO this year in improvements but ko far as the quality of the beef wns concerned it did not come up to f 1 at of Taranaki. At the close of tha Conference, the Qjmmittee provided a luncheon, and af erwards several very interesting papers- were read. Mr. Oonnett said he had sent two papers containing a full report of the proceedings to the Club, and a couple to the Reading-room. He thought that as the colony was progressing so fast these Conferences should be annual. One big mistake, however, was being made, and that was in fixing on Dunedin ns the localit| for (he next meeting, Wt-J,-

lington was not only central, but had the advantage of having the Government on the spot, and therefore when meeting there they were in touch with the Department; He was afraid that the move to Dunedin would kill the Conference.

The Chairman asked whether in the shipping companies' contract there was not a clause providing for a reduction of charges if any other company offered freights at a lower rate. Mr. Connett: When the contract was made the question was not so much one of price as regularity of shipment, and during the past season, in spite of the upset of shipping arrangements consequent on the war, the shipments had been got off as nearly as possible to dates. There was no probability of any other company offering lower terms, but of course, if such a thing did happen; the contract price would be reduced. No doubt a reduction would be made after the expiration of the present contract', as the shipping companies never anticipated such a large increase as had taken place. In all probability next year would see the output rise to 200,000 boxes.

The Chairman said he had much pleasure in moving a hearty vot9 of thanks to Messrs. Connett and Tate for their valuable services, and for the able ! addresses delivered by each of them, j Mr. Westmacott, in seconding the! i motion, said thai the Club were greatly indebted to Mr. Connett for attending the Conference at his own expense, and for succeeding iu getting the tax off co-operative factories. The mere fact of this important gain to the dairy industry should suffice of itself to make every farmer join the Club.

The motion was carried with acclamation.

Mr, Tate, in acknowledging the compliment, eaid that he considered the time was not far distant when there would be a conference both in the north and in the south. It was only by such institutions as the Farmers' Olub that the hands of delegates were streng-; thened. Again and again it had been! i pointed out how necessary it was to have union amongst the farmers, and until they became more united and obtained representation in the House they would never get their wants attended to. The Noxious Weeds Bill would be administered by the Government and not by local bodies, but power would be given to local authorities to obtain an Order-in-Oouncil to insert any particular weed in either the Ist, 2nd, or 3rd schedule. Several questions were aßkad as to weeds and the individualisation of native lands. Mr. Tate said that the Bill once on the way, deficiences could be pointed out by local bodies, who could express their views to the Government.

The Obairman said that after what had been said by the delegates the Olub ought to continue, especially as the number requited to guarantee i's existence was small.

Mr. Weßtmacott moved, " That the Olub continue."

Mr, Tate, in seconding the motion, said that formers did no"; appreciate the l Club as they should, The good donei was incalculable, and the subscription was only 10s a year. Mr. Connett said, with a view of giving tho farmers another opportunity of coming forward to support the Olub, he would move that the meeting bo aijourned for a fortnight in the hops that fifty guarantees would come in. There would be no gocd in continuing tho Olub if that numbor of farmers could not be found to taka an interest; ia it. The motion was agreed to, and the meeting adjourned.