N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 242, 22 March 1915, Page 7

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

TARANAKI EXECUTIVE-MEETING. A meeting of the Tanuiaki Provincial I'.xecutivu oi the New Zealand Earners' I n lun was held at llawera on Thursday, when there were present: —Messrs K. j-Jtiim (chairman), K. Maxwell, R. J.ainoie, J. S, Barrow, B. Booker, M..U, .J. Swindlehurst, A. E. Washer, J. Thomson and J. li. Sim (provincial secretary). Apologies were received from Messrs ,[. Davidson, 11. Buxton and 0. 11. Buckcridge, and they, with all other ab- [ sent members, were granted leave. IMPROVING THE PASTURES. Mr 1!. A. S. Browne, supervisor of technical education in the district, attended the meeting, and brought forward the matter of medals for bovs in the secondary schools taking tile rural course, tie suggested that the medals be given for a dairy course (particularly testing), sheep-shearing and wool-sort-ing, herd testing, and mil king generally, orchard work and horticulture, pastures, dealing particularly with research work in pastures; judging of stock, the fullest and best kept notes for the year on rural topics generally. Mr Hunter had given his assurance that lie would give facilities to assist tlie lads in the judging of stock. This would be given for the senior lads.

Mr Browne also referred to the development of tlie work lie had been doing with the farmers, but he said that there were a large number of farmers who were ifot in a position to develop

their land properly, and he desired the assistance of the Fanners' Union in this connection. He gave a number of instances where top-dressing had absolutely renewed the land and had given surprising results. He advocated the subdivision of the land into forty or fifty acres, and would like to see some system devised whereby the land would be jroperly prepared before the settlers were put upon it.

The chairman thanked Mr Browne for the information he had placed before the Executive, and he assured him that the points he had submitted to them would receive consideration. The chairman moved: "That Messrs Hunter and Mills be a sub-committee to meet a sub-committee appointed by the A. and P. Association for the purpose of dealing with the granting of medals t0 students in the agricultural classes; that Mr Browne be invited to attend the conference of the committee." Mr Swindlehurst seconded the motion, which was carried. The question of the sub-division of the land was left over until next meeting. On the motion of Mr Maxwell, seconded by Mr Washer, it was decided that Mr Browne be invited to give" a lecture at next meeting on top-dress-ing, and that members of the Executive he also invited to bring any members of Farmers' Union to the meeting. SHIPPING SPACE. The Dominion Executive, writing in reply to the Provincial Executive's enquiry about shipping space, said the position had now considerably altered and the Government were not making any offers in which the Farmers' Union could co-operate in obtaining a required guarantee. The Dominion Executive forwarded a series of resolutions passed by it, as follows: NAVAL DEFENCE. "That in the opinion of this Executive although the unity of the Empire Fleet must always remain imperative—the heart of the Empire being vital to the extremities—yet some form of local defence is a necessity and will tend to develop the sentiment of personal interest and sacrifice to the Empire to a greater degree than a purely monetary subsidy. The Chairman spoke warmly in support of local defence. The so-called toy navy was not merely for the purpose of assisting in the defence of the Pacific, but for acting in conjunction with the British Fleet. Mr Maxwell referred to the fine speech made by the Minister for Defence at the Farmers' Union dinner on the occasion of the Dominion Conference, in (vhicli. iie made it pcrfeci'y clear as to the purpose of tho local na\y. He (Mr MaxwelM ftaid he was in favor c' a local navy if io. v.o ether reason tliau i>at it would act as an incentive 'vr the young people in tiicse islands to jc:n the navy. He moved that tiia resoia'ion.of the Dominion Executive hp unproved. This was seconded by Mr Sw 'jidlenurw and carried. WAR TAX. •That, if a war tax has to he imposed, the Dominion Executive would urge that everyone in the Dominion should bear their fair share, and that it should he in no sense a class tax." The chairman said there appeared to be many curious ideas as to the best means for raising the additional money jn connection with the war expenditure, but in his opinion there was no need to create a separate tax. Such a tax would : bear more heavily upon some sections

j o£ the community than others, iuul tliis I would not be at all fair. Tile chairman . of the liank of Ken 1 Zealand had suggest- . eel 1 per cent, on exports and jmpDrts, . saying this would produce have a millon annually. This at first „ight seemed to be fair, but in reality it was not exactly fair, as it would be passed on to all sorts of people who perhaps could not very well ail'ord to pay it. A much fairer method would be to make a very small increase in their existing taxes; the machinery was all there and there would be 110 additional epcmliture in collecting it. The extra tax would be small, but would provide all that would be required and it would not bear heavily upon any - one.

■Mr Maxwell said Mr Dunn had taken the suggestion out of his mouth, which he considered would be the best way of raising the additional money required to meet the. war expenditure.

The chairman moved; "That the Taranaki Executive enn-iders that the fairest way of raising the extra revenue required would be by percentage on a'l existing taxes." lie yes quite satisfied that this would be the fairest and cheapest way.

Mr "Maxwell seconded the motion, and supported the chairman. Mr R. l.ambie said that, while he would not oppose the resolution, he iVnld not help thinking Unit the present sy-lem of taxing needed improving.

The chairman >aM the of tlio resolution di<l not t;tJ;o away their to consider the question of improving the present system of taxation. This was a dif!h.'ult tiling to do, allift believed the system was now fairly e<jiiit;;hie. The resolution was carried. FARMERS* IXSTITCTK. Mr A. l.eru'li limit. !nan:i!:er of the Farmers' Cn-n:ieraHve Disl ribuf Oomi!ie nireiiiiL' on the subject (if a 1 =lnstitnlc, vhtre far;>ieiV ni-at'<;e ; in;/jht oonr -'ir/'e tlirir Hi'nrts. a. rallvin? - ! •' i" l ' '■ v " r >• '(■<*"« . luiciu.—, eU\ 4 '.Vila tut

up to confer with Mr Hunt and see what prospects of support would be forthcoming.—Received.

MEAT SUPPLIES. ''That this Executive views with surprise and regret the fact that the Earm■ers' Union has not been olliciaily recognised in connection with the arrangements being made in the commandeering of the meat supplies of New Zealand, and that a copy of the resolution be sent to the Prime Minister."—Approved.

NOXIOUS WEEDS. J Xlie following resolutions were passed by tin; Dominion Conference and ordered to be sent to the Hoard of Agriculture:— 1. "That this conference would suggest that the .Noxious Weeds Act should lie stringently enforced in cases where the land is capable of close cultivation, but in such oases enforcement should only take place after consultation with the Feilds Inspector and the members of the local body in which district the land is situated, and in all eases the local body should have power to decide what portion of the Noxious Weeds Act should be enforced in their particular district." 2. "That the Board of Agriculture be urged to have an illustrated book of the weeds of New Zealand, on somewhat similar lines to that issued by the Agricultural Department of the Dominion of Canada, published with particular relations to conditions in New Zealand." 3. "That the Crown should clear the noxious weeds from Crown lands, reserves, river'frontages, railway lines, prison camps and other Government property when? such weeds have been declared noxious weeds by sucli liody in their district." 4. "That the Government be requested to introduce legislation empowering local bodies to excise from the schedule of tne Noxious Weeds Act any noxious weed previously declared by such body in tlteir district." A motion objecting to clause 4 -was negatived by an amendment expressing the sympathy of the Executive with all the clauses. BELGIAN REFUGEES. "That the Executive of the Farmers' Union express a wish to the Government to give passages to Belgian refugee women and girls who might come to New Zealand, and who arc suitable for domestic service." / The chairman: I.think wo are thoroughly in sympathy with this. Tile motion was approved. EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS. "That the Government l)e asked to find some employment for alien subjects who are not interned as prisoners of war. but who have been thrown out o£ employment, so that they may be, enabled to maintain themselves and families, as if unemployed and without means of support, they may become a menace to the Dominion."

After discussion, it was agreed—'"That tlio executive has no recommendation to make in regard to tile proposal." Members appeared to be in the opinion that it was a really difficult question to know how to deal with, because many unions would not work alongside the people referred to in the Dominion Executive's resolution. Tne rules for the rifle competition were approved. PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. It was decided tliat the Provincial Conference be held at Inglewood on Thursday, May 20, and that branches be re-, quested to forward remits for the conference in time for the next meeting of the executive on April 15. FACTORY MANAGERS' EXAMINATION. Mr Maxwell, in referring to/the development of the dairy industry, said the weakest point was in connection with the system of management of manufacture—he did not say that the Department of Agriculture had not done anything in regard to grading and instruction—hut nothing had been done by the farmers to improve the control of their manufacture of butter and cheese. He referred to factory managers and assistants. At present there was no control or check over the factory managers, and what was needed was that these men should be required to pass an examination and hold certificates of competency. The question should be taken up by the Board of Agriculture.

Mr Maxwell pave notice to move at •next meeting:—"Now that the dairying industry has become such an important one, and takes such a prominent place in the primary industries of the Dominion, tiie Taranaki Executive is of the opinion that dairy factory managers and 'cheese and butter-makers should be required to bold certificates of competency, and this executive would ask tho Board of Agriculture to consider the question of proper training of such men."

This concluded an interesting meeting. —Star.