Stratford News

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 283, 27 May 1912, Page 3

Stratford News

I From our Resident Reporter. Stratford, Saturday. AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE A STATE FARM FOR TARANAKI. SUGGESTED LOCATION: STRATFORD. The Stratford A. and P. Association's circular drew representatives on Saturj day from the Mangorei, Moa (IngleI wood), Ngaere, Stratford, Tariki, Ka- | ponga and Oakura dairy companies, and members of the executive of the A. and P. Association, to discuss the proposal of the convening body to urge upon the Government the necessity for establishing a State model dairy farm in Taranaki. In addition to those companies which had sent delegates, there were received letters from the Tikorangi, Tarata, Midihirst, Lowgarth, and Cardiff companies, enclosing resolutions in support of the proposal, and the chairman announced that many of the companies circularised bad not since held directors' meetings, else the assurances, of cooperation would doubtless have been still more numerous. The chairman was Mr. W. P. Kirkwood, president of the Stratford A. and P. Association, and Mayor of Stratford. He moved: "That the Government be urged to establish a model dairy farm in Taranaki, in as central a position as possible, for the purpose of demonstrating the working of a model dairy farm, the area not to exceed 100 acres."

!The question of locality was not mentioned in the report, but the delegates ! from other factories insisted later on the establishment of the farm in the vicinity of Stratford, on account of its centrality and the suitability of its soil and climate. Mr. Kirkwood said the idea of the executive of the association was to have the farm centrally situated, and not too large. The present farm at Moumahaki was doing good work, but it was not doing the work that would be done on the farm now suggested, which would be run on lines appertaining to the management of a small dairy farm as a business, not merely as an experimental station. He wished to make it clear that he had no intention of belittling the work done at Moumahaki in its manuring and other experiments. I .HANDY LOCATION IMPERATIVE. I Mr. R. Dingle, in seconding the motion, said that the Stratford A. and P. Association had agreed th/it a State model dairy farm was essential. The Moumahaki experimental farm, whilst valuable in its way, was on a different soil to that of Taranaki generally. Besides, the present farms were too far away for da-irymcn, and there was not enough of dairying interest there. To reach Moumaliaki meant putting in a very long day, but a station in Taranaki near the railway line could be visited often without necessitating long absences from the farmers' work. At present many people were unable to go to Moumahaki in the seasons when there was most to interest them. A PLEA FOR BETTER FARMING.

Mr. Mundt urged that if farmers would improve their methods and .their cattle they could greatly increase their output, and more would, be led to o do this if they were able to see the result of the actual working on better lines. He advocated the placing of the proposed experimental farm on the. medium quality country, not on the rich country in the south.

Mr. J. Knowles (Tariki) agreed with. Mr. Mundt in the main. STRATFORD'S SUITABILITY.

Mr. J. Rowlands (Mangorei)' said that the centrality of Stratford must he considered. The country here would fill the requirements, too. Stratford would be very convenient to the whole of Taranaki. At any rate, the proposed farm should not be farther south than Stratford. He emphasised the necessity for closer attention to the improvement of dairy herds, and hoped this would be the main function of the farm. The Government would, he trusted, introduce good dairy cattle of high butterproducing strains. Mr. Dingle thought tie locality would be decided by the Agricultural Department's officers. The association, at any rate, had not urged the claims of any locality. BUTTER-FAT PER ACRE. In the opinion of Mr. Swadling (Kaponga) the settlers wanted a practical model dairy farm, to show what butterfat per acre a farm could produce. Mr. E. Marfell, Stratford Co-operative Dairy Association, said-he believed in getting a practical model dairy farm, but not an experimental farm. The balance-sheet of the actual working should be open to inspection by farmers. Of course, any farmer with plenty of funds, or any Government with unlimited capital, could get big returns, but the average farmer could not go round and buy up the best dairy cattle. Mr. Marfell strongly urged that the resolution should state definitely that the farm should be located near Stratford. Ho was quite satisfied that the class of dairy cattle which would suit the country from Stratford northward would not be the best cattle for the Waimate Plains, .so added his plea for a farm on the medium class soil.

Mr. J. R. Rowlands then moved, and Mr. Jones (Moa Dairy Co.) seconded, an amendment to delete the words "in as central a position as possible" and insert "in the vicinity of Stratford." Mr. G. A. Adlam (Oakura) nsked if the farm was to be for dairying, or for breeding dairy cattle.

The chairman said the 'lea was to run the farm on the line? m "?hich the small dairy farm should be run.

Mr. Adlam was of opinion that if the Government was to he allowed to buy the very best country and the best cattle the model farm would have a "pull" over the ordinary fanner. He complained that at the present experimental farms there were no statements as to the profits made from their cropping. Anyone could fro on to a really tip-top piece of land and make the.business pay, but where land had to be manured properly before it could become productive there was need for some practical farming. Tie favored establishing the farm near Stratford. BREED VERSUS BREED.

Mr. (t. Songster said something morn j than a model farm was needed. For | instance, different breeds of cattle should I be used, and their returns kept, for scarcely any two farmers thought alike on the question of breed. I Mr. Thos. Webb said that the present State farm at Moumahaki was too large, for one could not see the whole of 'it in one visit. He had seen Moumahaki five times, and had learned something each time, but as yet he had only seen the nicely cultivated parts of it. ' As for breeding, that was beyond the requirements of the district. That could be done by the big breeders, and on the other State farms. Mr. J. D. Healy supported Mr. Rangster's ideas. The State farm of from 125 to 150 acres .should stock representatives of the four leading dairy breeds. The butter-fat returns should be open to farmers visiting the, place, and the proseny of the cattle for sale to them. He believed, moreover, that the farms should he stocked from the best cattle in this district.

1 Mr. Geo. Hobbs sought to correct the impression that the Moumahaki State Farm was originally good land. On the contrary, he said, it was wry poor land when acquired by the Go\ eminent, and had been worked up to it.; present productive state. The motion was then amended as proposed, and, on the motion of Mr. Mundt, it was decided to add that the "farm be established, on medium quality land." "KNOCK US ALL OUT." Mr. Swadling reckoned it was useless for the Government to start a farm with mongrels. They must bring cows "that will knock us all out, and give us something to work up to," if the farm was to serve its purpose. Mr. Kirkwood pointed out to the advocates of a breeding station that the Government would probably meet their request with, a statement that already they hwl experimental stations carrying out this work. There were already what were practically model dairy farms, but as they were privately owned there was no demonstration of their success to the other dairymen. Mr. J. D. Ileal y pointed out that at present the different breeds were scattered about, the different State farms, which made comparisons between them almost useless. If they were herded together the comparisions would be of some value. Mr. McMahon (Inglewood) concurred. An amendment by Mr. Healy recommending stocking on the lines of his remarks was withdrawn. The motion was put and carried. It was decided to ask the various dairy companies to communicate with j the Department supporting the scheme, and' to lea-ve it to the executive of the Stratford A. and P. Association to arrange a deputation to the Minister of Agriculture, and to notify the dairy companies of the date arranged, when they will be asked to send delegates. "A BRAW SCOTCH NICHT." All the way along the line the Scottish Society is having wondrous success, and the first social gathering under its auspices surpassed all previous successes. Of outsanding merit were the items by Mr. F. H. Wilkie, undoubtedly one of the finest amateur Scotch comedians seen on a Taranaki stage. "A Wee Scotch Nicht," "Jock Mackay," and his other items were equally good and equally encored. "Annie Laurie," one of the gems of Scottish song, was given by the Stratford male qunrtette (Messrs Lewis, Lander, Wilkie, and Liddington), and was sung as it had a right to be. Madame Groome, of Wellington, sang "Caller Herrin'," and "A Hundred Pipers," and was vociferously encored for both items. Miss McNab, of Auck- J land, charmed her audience with "I'm a Scot," "Comin' thro' the Rye," and "Down the Burn," the last-named being perhaps the vocal success of the evening. Other well rendered song's were "My Ain Folk" by Miss M. Mackay, "Loch Lomqnd." by Miss E. Cameron; "Mary of Argyll," bv Mr. E. W. Lewis, and "Scotland Yet?' by Mr. H. W. Douglas,) who contributed much to the enjoyment - of the evening, Mr. Douglas being encored and replying with "The March of i the Cameron Men." Miss E. Ross Mori-1 son was the accompanist, assisted by j Mrs. McNeely and Miss Wilson. Scotch j dances loomed large, and they were per- j formed by skilled performers in the j Misses Weston and Todd, of Inglewood, j and Mr. Angus McLeod and Master I Todd. The pipe music was supplied by I members of the Taranaki Pipe Band, •] who also playect the overture. The sup-J per was another capital item. THE POULTRY SHOW. Captain Allen, a recent arrival from Home, and a poultry expert and fancier, has accepted the position as vice-present of the Stratford Poultry, Pigeon and Canary 1 Society. Mr. James Rutherford is a new member of the committee. The baby show and root competitions are attracting a good deal of attention from the ladies on the one side and the farmers on the other. BERNARD'S PICTURES "An Aeroplane Elopement" is featured on to-night's new programme at His Majesty's Theatre. As the title, implies, it deals with an old-time characteristic of the human race put into effect by means of one of man's most modern and remarkable inventions. "A Noble Enemy" and: "Thrown to Lions" are no less sensational in their different classes, whilst "The Inhabitants of Jungletown" and "Hypnotising a Hypnotist" come with a great record of delighted crowds elsewhere. Saturday's matinee was very success- I ful. GENERAL' NEWS The installation, of the new plant by the Electrical Supply Company has made a tremendous improvement in our Saturday night lighting, the demands of ' which were too great by far for the old plant. The change is appreciated. Mr. Watson, representing the Christchurch Meat Company, was in Stratford on Friday, 'and inspected the Electrical < Supply Company's new Diesel oil engine plant, with a view of having one installed at the works. He was greatly . impressed with the engine. Amongst other things which he took back to Ohristchurch with him was a sample of crude Taranaki petroleum, which is the fuel used here for the Diesel.

Messrs. Robinson, and Christophers are to report on the condition of the Victoria bridge over the Patea river. Residents in the southern portion of the borough would not care much if the structure were ordered to be re-built, for then there would be some chance of a full-width bridge. What a contract! A full-width bridge on a 99-feet street! At the Scottish gathering on Friday night, Mr. W. L. Kennedy, the,president of the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society, in the course of his presidential remarks, said that as Scotsmen gathered together on Empire Night, they gave way to none in their loyalty to Britain and Britain's King. "But," he continued when the applause died down, "while we are British, we are distinctly Scottish. The tang of the heather hills still in fancy fans our cheeks, and tonight the songs of 'bonnie Scotland' will recall to us her mountains and streams, her birds and her flowers, her .spartan mothers and brave men, the men who since the union have .given of their blood and brains for the benefit of Great Britain and the British Empire." Which sentiment evoked, applause that made the welkin ring.