N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8112, 17 May 1906, Page 2

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

TARANAKI PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE.

BY OUB SPECIAL HRPOBTBR. The third annual conference of the Taranaki Provincial Farmers' Union oponed at Ellliam on Wednesday morning, at the Masonic 11 all. Mr James Boddie, Provincial President, occupied the chair. Delegates were present as under -. Messrs J. Davidson (Hawera), J. Boddie «udT. 0. Hodgson (K'fliam). '"!'i!t'i-:i»n (Awatunaj, G. Mackie (Kaimat 0, A. Atlhuscn (Kaponga), R. Turnbull (Lincoln road), D. C. Martin (Matapu), J. Marx (Mangaloki), W. Coleman (Ngaire), W. Baker (Normauby), S Forsyth (Opunake), W. Honeyfield (Oakura), E. Maxwell (Rahotu), J, W. Jones (Patoa), W. O'Neill (Riverlen), J. A. Jones (Stratford), F. J. Virgin (Tarata), J. Hine (W.'.itara), and others. Several visitors, including the Hon. W. Carncross, M.L.U., were also present.

The chairman, in his opening remarks, touched upon a variety of matters affecting ilie Union and farmers' intorests genorally. He cordially welcomed the delegates, and spoke his pleasure at seeing so many branches represented. The Union had made good substantial progress during the year, and good work had rosulted from the past conferences. He instanced tho fire insurance scheme, towards which this province had contributed £70,000, He thought it would aot be long before this amount would total £IOO,OOO. Farmers were bound to recognise the benefits of such a scheme. Their risks wore easily the best that could be .undertaken, as their properties were isolated. He also spoke of the benefits farmers could get by having an organ of their own. The N.Z.F.U. now had an organ in the shape of the " Farmers' Advocate." Farmers should not fail to support this journal and utilise it. Mr Boddie spoke of the good work done by the Press as a whole and particularly the Taranaki papers. As they were aware a conference had been held in the summer months in the South Island. Taranaki had been well represented and much good had resulted. Another matter in which the Taranaki Executivo had done good work was urging the Government to institute a better system of rural education. The Executive had held ten meetings during the year, all of which were fairly well attended. Still there was much apathy shown among farmers regarding Union matters. He hoped, however, that this would not continue; in fact, ho felt sure farmers were awakening to the responsibilities encumbent upon them. He was quite satisfied that in all farming communities there was sufficient energy, ability aud enthuiiasm to make the Union a power in the land. Regarding the Land Commission held throughout the Colony, the Executive, as well as farmers generally, were disappointed that not more sittings had been held in the province, seeing that so much useful information could have been gathered in those parts. Other matters touched upon were blackleg, roiling, organiser, tariff, taxation, valuation and local government. The Chairman concluded his remarks by hoping that the conference would be conducted on harmonious and clear cut lines, and that the results would show to other classes of the community that farmers oould give a clear perception of their ideas on the various questions affecting the farmers of the province and the Colony generally. (Applause).

BLACKLEG. The fjrst business before the Conference was a; motion, from, the Stratford and Lincoln roads branches, as follows : granted to farmers in cases whore the compulsory innoculation of calves with blackleg serum of doubtful quality, or insufficiently attenuated, has resulted in loss of same, or in various injury by earrying infection into cloan farms."

Tlio Chairman, in his opening address, spoke at length on this matter. Some of the southern papers had created, through their columns, a misconception in the public mind that the Taranaki province was badly affected by blackleg. This was not truo by a long way, as the disease had been conlined to certain areas, and on the whole tho mortality had not been great. Certainly, in some areas, through faulty innoculation, much trouble had arisen. He "would not say that the work had been faulty or that the vaccine used had been bad. He would gay, howover, that on many farms where innoculation had been carried out the mortality had been very heavy. Within 20 days over 200, deaths had occurred. What farmers wanted to know was tho cause of the blackleg outbreak, and also how to fight it. They had not been able to learn much from the Veterinary Department, although its officers had investigated. The speaker dwelt at length on the matter. The motion, was put by Mr J. A, Jones, and seconded by Mr Chapman (Awaluna).

MrAUhusen thought that compensation for the calves was a right move, but whaf about compensation for farms whioh were affeoted P

Mr Burgess opposed the motion, stating that many of the calves wore better dead anyhow. Mr E. Turnbull said that seeing that restrictions had been put on farmers whereby they were barred from selling their calves or moving them about they were entitled to compensation. Especially was this the case where good calves had died. He had lost 25 per cent, of his ealyes, all wellbred Shorthorns. His neighbor had lost some fine Jersey calves. These calves were kept for replenishing herds and could not be valued on a market' basis. Officers •of the Veterinary Department had been in the district but were not coui'teeus to farmers and did not keep their promises. Mr Mackie opined that the infection phaso had beon overdone. Ho instanced a case where several iundred calves had died of blackleg and had been buried in a gully. Calves had since been kept on the same property but no fatalities had occurred.

Mr Maxwell thought the department had, dono its best. Nevertheless, through carolessness, oversight or vaccine, farmers had sustained heavy losses, In cases of carelessnoss and through no fault of the farmors, he would strongly favor conipoqsatjcm. Mr Hodgson spokp at some length. In cases around New Plymouth whore farmers had used blacklegoids procured from local chemists, no losses, or but few, were reported, yet the department had compelled farmers to use the department's serum, with the rcsultjlhat the disease had been introduwd to f ir.ns where previously it was unknown.

Messrs Hiqc, Baker, Davidson, Marx, Davidson, Jones and Burgess also addressed tho meeting. The motion was oarriod, after the words "of doubtful quality " had been cut out,

L GOVERNMENT STUD STOCK. L Mr Hodgson moved that this branch ■ is opposed to any further importation . of live stock and. poultry by the , Government, considering the importations arc not appreciated or used, and therefore the importation is bettor left to private enterprise After considerable discussion, the motion was lost on the voices Tliß LAND TENI'HE. Mr Hodgson moved, "That the finding of Land Commission be not treated as final, and that the agitation for the, freehold le prosecuted witl\ ut. most vigor." Mr Burgess neoondod. Mr Maxwell would like to refer to tho commission deleted from the motion. Mr Marx movc.l that ilio words " option of" be pui in boforo the word "freehold,"' This was agreed to and the motion was carried. HATIVE LAKDS. Mr Burgess moved, "That this branch urges the necessity for at once dealing with native funds in such a way as shall lead to their beneficial, I'i'iipation, and so add to the mo*. 1 crity of this district and tho eatony " SeuQudcd by Mr Madwwxl carried,

I Mr Maxwell, on behalf of Bahotu and Opuuakc, moved, " That further endeavor bo made to secure the right to native leaseholders to obtain the [freehold." He strongly advocated the handing over of nativo lands to leaseholders, pointing out that much good would be done to the district and the whole country. Natives would not work land, they added nothing to the value of lauds and paid no rents. Mr Hine seconded.

This matter was dealt with al length, aud eventually was lost on the voices by 7 to 9.

NOXIOUS WEBDS. Mr Hodgson moved," That sn alteration in the Noxious Weeds Act be suggested to enable Inspectors to have ragweed and other wing-seed noxious woeds destroyed at any other stage of growth," He stated that ragweed was becoming a curse. 'Twas not enough to cut it down at no vering time. The weed should be cut and burnt. Two diseases were contracted by oattle and sheep by eating this weed, For a while the animals thrived, but afterwards died, Mr Marx seconded.

The Chairman s lid he had tried to I kill ragwort but had failed when the weed was not in flower. He had chipped roots badly and used sheep dip but this was no good unless the plant was ripe. He thought that with proper attention at the right time of the year the trouble could be readily overcome. He would oppose the motion as too drastic. Tho motion was lost.

Mr Maxwell (Bahotu): "That the Government's attention be drawn to the serious injury and expense caused to settlers by the spread of noxious weeds on Native and Crown lands, and special attention be drawn to Panhaka Block and the Police Reserve at Pungarehu and Inglewood and surrounding district."

Seconded by Mr Burgess,—Carried unanimously.

LOCAL GOVBBNMBST. The Chairman moved :" That this conference affirms that it is imperative that local government measures be placed on the statutes of the Colony at the earliest period possible; as the local government statutes under whioh local bodies at present work, are altogether inadequate and unsatisfactory, but that every endeavour be made to resist any attempt to alter the voting on local bodies in the way of extending the franchise beyond astual ratepayers." Mr Coleman seconded and the motion was carried unanimously Mr Baker (Normanby) moved; "That this conference again protests against the introduction of the second ballot, believing it to be prejudicial to farmers' interests."

Mr A. J. Jonos seconded.—Carried

TAXATION AND VALUATION. Mr J. A. Jones moved: "That where loans have been raised under the Loans to Local Bodies Act, and lands mortgaged to the Government to secure repayment of same with interest, that the proportionate amount of liability be deducted from valuation in computing Land Tai, is same manner as ordinary mortgages are deducted." Seconded by Mr Chapman, and carried.

Mr Forsyth moved: "That in valuing land the increased valuo given to same by improvements made by Government loans and expenditure, of local nites and contributions, shall be aided to improvod value, and not to | unimproved value, and that the Valuation Act be amonded in that direction." Seconded by Mr Maxwell. After considerable discussion, the motion was carried.

The election of offloers was held, and the conference rose till this morning. A smoke concert was held in the evening.