TARANAKI FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1916, Page 3

TARANAKI FARMERS' UNION.

PROVISIONAL CONFERENCE. The annua! provincial conference n{ the Taranaki Farmers' Union was held nt Kltlmin yesterday, Mr. K. Dunn (Auroa), occupied the chair. Members of the executive present were: Messrs. A. K. Washer (Patea), J. Swindlehurst (Eltham), R. Lambie (Piliaina), F. Mills (Tokaora), E. Maxwell (Opunake), H. H. Buxton (Auroa), J. S. Barrow (Te Roti), S. Norris (Eltham), J. Davidson (Hawera), H. Hodge (Alton), 13. Orr (Ngaere), C. E. MeGuinness (Mangatoki), M. A. Voullairo (Riverlea), ,T. B. Sim (secretary). The following delegates attended: Messrs. G. Looney (Opunake). W. Duff (Auroa), E. Burke (Otakeho), H. Sutherland (Patea), G. H. Buekeridge (Eltham), J. Cleaver (Te Roti), W. A. Burrell (Kaimata) T. Perry (Mangatoki). An apology was received for the absence of Mr. A. Hunter (Hawera).

REPORT.T -'" eliairmnn submitted the report of the executive The subjects dealt with during the year included: Agricultural instruction, Wounded Soldiers' Relief Fund, organisation, supply of manures to farmers. Railway Act. taxation of benzine and kerosene, labor for harvesting, handling of produce at wharves, commandeering eff produce, establishment of a Dominion Farmers' Institute, income-tax returns, compulsory military service, shortage of rennet, industrial disputes, New Zealand Fertiliser Compniy, embargo on hides, afforestation, etc. On all subjects representations had been made to the authorities, and satisfactory answers had been received. Need had been felt to make an effort in the matter of or.?anisat:o]>, and the services of Mr. Buckeridge lnd been accepted. CHAIRMAN'S ADDRESS.

The fololwiug address was given by the ch.vrman: — "I extend to you a hearty welcome to our 16th Annual Conference. These conferences should be a factor in doing good to the cause of the Farmers' Union Association in bringing it more prominently before the farmers and the public generally, and in bringing delegates from one branch into touch with those from another so that they can exchange views on matters of interest to each other. Since the Taranaki Farmers' Union last met, twelve months ago, the dreadful conflict between Britain and her Allies and the German despoiler has been waged with unabated fury, with the result that the enemy has accomplished one thing of certainty and that is to put Britain and her Allies on tneir mettle, and by their unity of purpose to show the" whole world that there will be only one ending to the conflict—when Germany sues f.'.r peace on the Allies' terms. The past season has been a, very .lood one for the farmers of Taranaki. Weather conditions have been all that the dairy farmer could wish, and when the season's results are made up it will be found that it is a record one as reyards price and quantity, and it is hoped that the dairy farmer will be so fully alive to his own interests that he will only supply the best of raw materials to the factory.

It i» the duty of every farmer to do his best to increase the production of his land, for by so doing he willjiot only increase his own wealth, but also increase the wei.lth of New Zealand, for as yet only by the products of the soil can the prosperity of the country be maintained. There will be a very heavy bill of costs to meet when the war is over and the present high prices will not conr nue when peace is restored. How is the increase to be obtained in the case of the dairy farmer? By cow-testing and weeding out the robber" cows, and by using only bulls in the herd v ith authentic butter-fat records in their sires and dams, and by the judicious use of fertilisers. The very richest land in Taranaki can be improved in carrying capacity by the use of fertilisers, and the animals, more especially young 'stock, will be better grown and more thrifty on the farm where the quality of the grass has been improved by the generous use of fertilisers

The question of trade after the war is exercis ; ng the minds of our leading men at the present time. We often hear the words, "Be British." Let us be British and give preference to the products and manufactures of our own Empire, which is making unparalleled sacrifices in men and money to maintain the libertv of Europe and to uphold the traditions of the British race. Whether the Home Government agrees to some i form of preferential trade within the Empire or not, let .die farmers of the Dominion be British and deal only in the Empire's goods where possible. Let us ask ourselves this question, Who has the right to the first fruits of our markets? Surely those who have made the SRJ'ifice to make our Empire what it is to dav.

Education.—A sliort timp ago the ~nd College Council deliberatelystated that the time was not opportune for the establishment of a chair of agriculture. It was, however, desirable that provisions should bo made 'or the teaching of agriculture to meet the needs of agricultural students, and pave the way for the ultimate establishment of a chaiv. llr. 0. IT. A. Opie, chairman of the Xorth Canterbury Education Board, recently gave figures showing the cost per head of education in New Zealand. Those figures prove that the cost of the higher education is £l7 (is 3d per head, while technical education, which is intended for the practical workers of the State, is only £1 18s Q d. A comparison with previous years shows that tlu. cost of primary and other educat'tn has increased by leaps and bounds and that technical education, which should fit a boy for his vocation, is decreasing. Mr. Opie said that the educational system in New Zealand required perfecting by helping those in the primary industries of the country. School* should be established wh"je a boy who had left the primary scl-*'s, at, say. the age of 13 years, could attend for the purpose of acquiring knowledge of agricultural subjects, and farms should be secured near the cities where a two years' course could be undertaken, ft is said that Benmark is built upon the ideals and enthusiasm of one man Bishop Gruntvig His thoughts and his systems are as enthusiastically discussed to-day as they were*'ifi the first half of the nineteenth century. Oruntvig held to the cardinal principle that education should never be rendered in such a manner that it breeds despondency and a contempt for work, but that it should ennoble a man's work, and heigliten his ability to perform it well. Denmark is covered with agricultural high schools. Their terms and courses are so arranged that the boys and girls get their education, and yet are kept in close touch with work. They read, atudv and work on the farms, and their

school education goes right along/- with tlicir work. It is to the high school that the Danish farmer owes most. If the Danish farmer owes so much to agricultural education, would it not he well for our educationalists to investigate with a view to improving the system, or rather want of system, of agriculturil education in the Dominion?

I/and for H"turncd Soldiers.—Farmers should give the greatest consideration to the question of land for soldiers. I do not think it advisable to put them on rough sections in the back country, whVe they may have to wait a long time before they could get a return, and where the recruits would be doubtful. Tt should be the duly of the Covernment to secure good dairying land (speaking for Taranaki), where a return would be got right from the first season, and settlements might be established '.-'here a number of soldiers would be in touch with one another, and would foster a spirit of contentment among the men, and where the inexperienced could be in touch with others wdio hove some knowledge of farming, or one farm in the settlement could lie used as a demonstration farm with an experienced man in occupation ar a guide to the rest of the settlement. There is plenty of suitable land in Taranaki, (lose to the railway line, which the Government could resume lender the 1 ands for ' Settlement Act, and which under cnroful supervision, could be made to give good returns in areas of 50 to tin acres, and where, also, financing tlis settler:- would be an easy matter, as returns would be certain." REMITS. Pure Seed, (Kaponga): That the Union strenuously urge upon the Government the necessity of compelling a Ihorouph cleaning of all grass and grain seeds, and m.ike sellers of seeds containing unclean seeds liable for heavy' damages.—Carried, as amended.

Free Carriage of Lime (Patea): That the Government be approached with a view of getting agricultural lime carried free for any distance on the railways for the benefit of bona fide farmers.—Lost.

British Preference, (Executive): That the Executive urges the farmers of the Dominion to practise the strictest economy, and ii> the purchase of machinery and farm necessaries that preference be given to the manufacturers of the pr)ducts of the British EmpireCarried.

Hospital Boards (Ngaere): That no cne but a ratepayer be eligible for election to Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards.- -Lost,. Lucerne Growing (Patea): That, as lucerne growing is becoming such a milk-prancing fodder, the Government be urged to grow seed for the small dairy farmers at the most convenient State farms for the purpose.—This was amended and passed as follows: That as the dairying 'industry is of such National importance, it is suggested that the State should grow lucerne and other valuable forage plants at experimental and other State or educational farms for production of seed for sale to farmers.

Soldiers Under Land Laws (Kltham): That Khere a tenant or joint tenant under any of the Land Acts has gone to the war, the time for improvements under the present Act should be extended until the end of the war.—Carried with the addition of the words, "And for a further period equal to the duration of the war." 'Preferential Trade (Executive): That tlce principle of preferential trade within the Empire be re-affirmed.—Carried.

Alien Ownership of Land (Executive!: That the land laws be so amended that no alien subject be eligible, to acquire the freehold. This was amended to read, 'So as to provide that no alien subject or any one of full enemy alien blood slid birth, be, eligible to acquire the freehold cf the land in the Dominion "—Carried.

Back Block Roads (Eltham): That the Government be urged to construct wheel traffic roads into new blocks of land before opening same for selection, and push on the work of present roads in the backblocks.—Carried.

Afforestation (Riverlea - Eltham) : That in view of the desirability of reafforestation for timber and shelter purposes, the Government be urged to encourage it in every way possible, such as by exemption from taxation of all properly planted lands. (Executive): That the conference urge the planting of all badly broken weed infested hunt with pines, preferably pinus insignus, as the most effective means of suppressing weeds of all kinds.—The remits were carried. .

Manures (Executive): That when a new manure is placed upon the market the Government should, in the interests of farmers, have experiments carried out on the varbus experimental farms.— Carried, with the addition of, "And the results published." Noxious Weeds (Executive): That where noxious weeds are present in grain seed the grade note be endorsed to that effect.—Withdrawn.

Reeri itng Appeal Board (Eltham): That tanners have a representative on the Recruiting Appeal Board.—Lost. Loans to Local Bodies (Executive): That loan moneys of local bodies may be banked ir. the general account so that the credit in one account will stand against the debit in the other account until the particular loan is required for th: l special work for which it is required.—An amendment that legislative provision should he made whereby the bank should only be allowed to charge jiterest on the net debit after all debits and credits in the different accounts had been taken into account, was carried..

Stallion BU (Executive): That the Stallion Bill as drawn up by Mr. fieakes and presented to Parliament be made law.—Carried.

War Tax (Executive): That this Conference is of opinion that, in order to distribute the war tax fairly, a percentage increase on the sources of taxation obtaining previous to the war would meet the case.—Carried.

Industrial Disputes (Executive): That in the matter of disputes between employers and employees, a third )>arty be called in before any definite action is taken.—Carried.

Land for Soldiers (Executive) : That the Government be urged to acquire good dairying lands in Taranaki for returned soldiers.—Carried. Mr. Maxwell: That Acclimatisation Societies be debarred from introducing any birds or animals without first obtaining the consent of the Board of Agriculture, and that the Board be asked to submit any such proposals to the Farmers' Tin.on in the district concerned —Carried. Two other remits had yet to be discussed ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr. R. Dunn (re-elected); vice-president, Mr. A. E. Washer (reelected) ; lion, treasurer, Mr. J. Swindlehurst (re-elected); auditor, Mr. AI. A. Voullaire (re-elected); executive, Messrs 0. M, Young (Otakehol. E. Maxwell

(Opu'nake), R. Lambie (Pihama). F. M. Mills (Tokaora), B. Orr (Ngaere), H. ■flodge (Patea), S. Norris (Eltham), T. Perry (Mangatoki), 11. A. Sutherland (Patea), 0. 11. Biickeridge (Eltham), J. S. Harrow (Te lioti), Geo. Mackie (Kaiuiata), and \V. Dull (Auroa) It was resolved to oljtain advice from the Dominion executive as to whether the conference hud power to elect a live member to the executive, with the object of conferring this honor on Mr. James Davidson, whose services to the Union in the past were h'ghly eulogised. The (President and Mr. E.< Maxwell were elected delegates to the Dominion conference. The President, in returning thanks for his re-election, asked the support of every branch and of every individual farmer. There would be considerable trouble after the war was over, and organisation would be nedeed then, biit now was the time to set their house in order.