TARANAKI FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1916, Page 7

TARANAKI FARMERS' UNION.

PROVINCIAL conference; USEFUL DISCUSSIONS. We were iinab'le to give space to the discussions on the various remits' considered at Thursday's meeting of the Provincial Farmers' Union at Eltliam. We subjoin particulars of the. principal discussions:— PUR® SEED. "'That the Union strenuously urge upon the Government the necessity of compelling a thorough cleaning of all grass and grain seeds, and make sellers of seeds containing unclean seeds liable for heavy damages" (Kaponga)— The president'said all were fully alive to the need for clean seed. A lot of farmers' troubles were due to unclean seed. The only way was for farmers to have their seed tested by the Government.

Mr. Voullaire (Riverlea) said tliat there had been a good deal or bad se<;d sold in hia district, some ~{ the g'.'aiu containing a large quantify of Californian thistle and other weeds.

Mr. G. H. Buckeridge (Eltiiani) considered there would be considerable difficulty in getting the remit thmigh, Veil--4 ore would give a guarantee ,as to fertility, but would not do so us to quality, because it was almost impossible to eliminate by winnowing the seeds of Weeds. The lav.- now provided that farmers could obtain damages. The only thing was to urge on the Government the need of .getting seeds as ch;an as possible. Mr. E. Maxwell (Opunake) said the question bristled with difficulties. Compelling the am'all producer to have cleaning plant- would enormously increase the cost. Tire practical remedy was to. go to the man who made a reputation for selling the best seed. Passing the remit would prevent one farmer selling to another, and the aim of the Union was to eliminate the middle man.

Mr. (Perry (Mangatoki) said the seeds were dirtier to-day than they were two or three years ago. Mr. R. Lanibic (Pihama) thought farmers should not sell seeds that were dirty. An attempt was being made in Canterbury to grow clean seeds, and the crop'was inspected before it was cut. This should be encouraged. He also referred to the need for preventing the sale of old seed. Unless the farmer attended better to his own business, how was the Government: to help them? There was now a limit of 4 per cent., but just imagine a man sowing 4 per cent, of Californian thistle! If they did not get better seed the noxious weeds inspector would have a busy time. Mr. Maxwell advocated the compulsory grading of .all seeds sold by dealers or merchants. It was hardly possible to ensure absolutely clean seed, but the purchaser would know that by securing first-grade seed he was eliminating weeds as far as possible. After discussion, this remit, and another by the executive, "That where noxious weeds are present in grain, the grade note be endorsed to that effect," were withdrawn, and the following resolution was passed: "That the Union strenuously urge upon the Government the necessity of compelling a thorough cleansing of all agricultural seed and the attaching of grade notes to the seed." LUCERNE GROWIN&,

"That as lucerne is. becoming recognised as such a valuable milk-producing fodder, the Government be urged to grow seed- for the small dairy farmers at the most convenient State farms for the purpose" (Patea) — Mr. Washer considered this was very necessary more so now that technical instructors were advocating its growth. Before the war seed cost Is' per lb, whereas now it was up to 3s per lb. He could sec no reason for this, unless someone was exploiting the small farmer. Mr. Hodge seconded the moti&n, which was finally passed in the following form: "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 the production of seed for sale to , farmers." SOLDIERS UNDER LAND LAWS.' "That where a tenant or joint tenant under any of the Land Acts has gone to the war, the time for improvements un-. der the present Act should be extended until the end of the war" (Eltham) — Mr. Norris moved this remit, which Mr. Swindlelmrst seconded. Mr. Voullaire thought the time should be extended until such time as the tenant returned, plus the time of the war. That was to sav, if a man was away three years,,the time should be extended six years. The remit was passed, with the words, "and for a further period equal to the duration of the war" added. ALIEN OWNERSHIP OF LAND. . "That the land laws be so amended that 110 alien subject be eligible to acquire the freehold'of land in the Dominion" (Executive) — This >vns amended to read, "So as to provide that 110 alien subject or any one of full alien blood and birth be eligible to acquire the. freehold of land in the Dominion." The chairman said that no more Germans were required in New Zealand un--til the war was forgotten, which, he hoped, it would never be. The crcnin of our young men were going to the front from South Taranaki and the Swiss were coming in and jumping their places. When our men came back they would uiobably have to apply for land in the bnckblocks. Those very men were getting privileges that they did not (ret in their own country, and were making monev hand over fist, yet whenever they heard of a German success they had jubilations. Thev did not want men of this class. He . felt this remit, which was backed up by a petition signed by IK.I signatories, would be supported throughout the Dominion. Mr. tYasher seconded. Mr. E. Burke hoped that the Government would tax the men already here. Carried unanimously. BACRBLOCK ROADS. "That the Government be urged to construct, wheel traffic roads into new blocks of land before opening same for selection, and pusli 011 the work of present roads in the back-block# where loans have l"en granted" (Eltham). The mover (Mr. Norris) mentioned a bloclj at Whnngamomona which was sef / tied nine vears ago, and. though fl<) settlers had kept Up all improvement j they still had only a 4ft track . Up h | now there were 3000 acres in grass, ar 'i the settlers clipped 133 bales of woo' : which had to r be packed to the line, a 1 d'st-onia of from nine to 14 miles, n.

understood that a loan had been granted for a road, but it had not been pushed on with. • . t ; , Seconded by Mr. Swindleburst. • !.;• The chairman said the' principle had been affirmed time and again, The particular case mentioned should iiavd 'been brought forward by the member for the district. Mr. Maxwell considered this was one oi the most important remits before tlip conference, not only to the settlers, but to the Dominion, owing to the loss \of production through the want of roads. A committee had been formed to discuss this matter years ago; and suggested that when blocks are cut up the local body interested should ,bc; consulted with regard to the roading, : arid that no settler should be placed on land without being given access. This had been brought forward year after year, but very little progress had heen made by the "Union. The system in the past fi'ad been cruel and wasteful.

Mr. Buckeridge said the difficulties of the backblocks settlers had been talked of in and out of Parliament, but so far with very little success. Most of those present could place on record-cases of hardship that Would almost draw tears from a stone. He had urged on various occasions thai the principle outlined in this remit should be carried into effect. The cry of the backblocks settler had been a most pressing and urgent one, and deserved every possible consideration.

Aften several other members had spoken sympathetically, the remit was passed, with the deletion of the words, "where loans have been granted." AFFORESTATION. ''That in view of rthe desirability of encouraging re-afforestation, both for timber and shelter .purposes, and seeing that the Government annually raises millions of trees, the Union urges upon the Government the sale of same to those requiring them at cost price, f.o.b. at planting station" (Riverlea-Eltham)— Mr. Swindleburst pointed out . that in thirty years the available timber sup-, plies would be exhausted. It was therefore necessary to push forward with reafforestation.

The remit, on the suggestion of Mr.. .Maxwell, was modified to read —"That in view of the desirability of re-afforesta-tion, both for timber and shelter purposes, the Government be urged to encourage it in every way possible." Mr. R. Lambie suggested that the Government should be asked to give local bodies power to exempt such plantations from taxation. It was rather hard that a man should establish a plantation and that his valuation and consequently his taxation be increased. The remit as amended, was then carried, with the addition of the words, "such as exemption from taxation of all properly-planted lands." "That the conference urge thq planting of all badly-broken weed-infested land-with; pines, preferably pinus insignia, a > the most effective means of suppressing weeds of all kinds" (Executive) —

. Mr. E. Maxwell, in moving this, urged the need of planting densely growing timber for the purpose. Pimis insignis was a rapid growing timber and would smother th'e worst of weeds. It was also of general utility, being good for firewood when young and later for light eases, and when older it could be utilised for building purposes. Mr. E. Burke (Otakeho) said lie had previously looked upon pinus insignis as a curse, not, an asset. He had favored the growth of maerooarpa.

Mr. Washer considered there was a danger of planting weed-infested land in Taranaki, -where land was valuable for dairying. Unless an inspector was appointed to condemn certain land for the purpose, there was a possibility that'when more intense farming was in vogue the eradication of pinns irisignis might prove more difficult than the eradication of t'he weed.

Mr. R. Lambie favored the planting of pinus insignis, even on the best of land, for shelter. We instanced a case in the Waikato where land 1 planted in pinns ■insisnis was valued at £IOO per acre. The remit was carried, and n similar remit from the Otakeho branch was withdrawn. MANURES, "That when a new manure is placed upon the market the Government should, in the interests of farmers, have experiments tarried out on the various experimental farms" (Executive) Mr. Buxton, in moving the remit, said he had made a special study of manuring und had made a success of .it. In the experimental stages he had found considerable difficulty, because one manure acted differently in different soils. He thought the remit should go further, and that the experiments should be carried out in different districts. Farmers 9IIOIIUI know what, tliey were buying and what benefit it should be to their land. Mr. E. Lambie suggested that the words ''and the results published" should be added. [Publicity would add value to the experiments. This was agreed to. Mr. Buckeridge said this opened lip a very wide question. Farmers in the past had been working very much in the dark as to the value of the manures used. At present thoy only knew its value after it had been used. This was ono of the matters he intended to undertake in his organisation. Farmers should learn to farm on scientific lines, and th's could only be done by the dissemination of knowledge in this respect. A saving of thousands of pounds would result not only through increased production, but through preventing the waste of a season, as often occurred at present. Mr. Waslier did not think that the experimental farms would be suitable He would prefer the Fields Division of the Agricultural Department to undertake the experiments. Mr. McGuinness (Mangatoki) pointed out that there were already experimental plots in various parts of Taranaki, and that, it would be advantageous to have the experiments carried out in the district.. Mr. Buckeridge said it was not generally known that experiments could he made bv farmers now on their own land under government supervision and instruction, the Government providing half the seed and half the manure, A delegate said this had now been stopped. The remit as amended was passed, and the question of taking action re the stopping of Held experiments was left to the executive. LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES. - ''That loan moneys of local bodies may be banked in the general account, IS that the credit in one account will itand against the debit in the other eeount until the particular loan is rei'"Ml for the special work for which it "Hired" (Executive)— n '' chairman said that a local body f' , ''"d to pay interest on a portion *•'; ■> '' :ni some time before, they needed

it, and also tiad to pa.y interest on an overdraft on the general account. There should be nothing to prevent this being temporarily transferred to the general account. Seconded by Mr. Norris. ■ ' Mr. Maxwell stated that it would be unwise to nllow the money to be trans- • ferred from one account to another, but legislative provision should be made whereby the bank should only be allowed to charge interest on the net debit after, all debits and credits in different accounts had been taken into account. He moved in this direction, and this was accordingly adopted. STALLION BILL. "That the Stallion Bill as drawn up by pi. Reakes anil presented to Parliament be made law" — llr. Larnbie, in moving this on behalf of the Executive, stated that though he considered motor traction would shortly take the place of the horse, breeders should use every care to eliminate defects'. Mr. T. Perry (Mangatoki), whilst in sympathy with the Bill, could not see how it could be brought into iperation. He knew of imported horses that had been passed in Scotland and here as sound and had left unsound stock, whereas sound horses that had met with some mishap would be condemned as unsound. Before passing horses, the Government should know something of their strain. The president said the Bill would be confined to hereditary defects, and although tliey might not be able to prevent an unsound horse ncing imported, the taint would gradually work out.— Carried. EXEMPTIONS PROM RENT. Mr. Orr ('Eltham) then submitted a remit that when a joint tenant on Crown land goes to the front, the remaining tenant should be exempt from the absentee'! portion of the rent. In the event, of the same being Killed, th» exemption to apply to his partner or his heirs. EXEMPTION FOR EXIPERTS. "That in view of the Compulsory Service Bill being passed, and recognising the shortage of labor, the 'Defence Department be asked' to exempt expert workers the dairying industry" LAND FOR SOLDIERS. The Executive submitted a remit suggesting that the Government be urged to acquire good dairying lands in Taranaki for returned, soldiers. The president, in moving this, remarked that to place returned soldiers on land in the backblooks was out of the question. Many of these men would return with shattered neryes, and if placed in the baekblocks their health would suffer... There was plenty of land close to the line between New Plymouth and Wanganui suitable for dairy farms that could be cut up into .10 or fiO-acre sections, and some of this should be acquired. Arrangements should also be made so that the men could be financed on very easy terms and so enabled to get a start. Seconded by Mr. Washer and carried.