NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1918, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND FARMERS' UNION.

TARANAKI CONFERENCE.

SOME IMPORTANT iREMTT«. The eighteenth annual conference of the Taranaki Provincial District of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held at Hawcra yesterday. The president (MrB. Dunn) occupied the chair. There were also present: Messrs A. E. Washer (vice-president), J. Swindlchurst (hon. treasurer), H. A. Sutherland (Alton), H. Hodgo (Alton), K. Maxwell (Opunake), B. Orr (Ngaere), B. Dawes (Elthain). A. R. B. Pierce (Hawera), F. Mills (Hawere), H. H. Buxton (Auroa), R. Damibie (Pihoina). R. Hughes (Manaia), J. Cleever (Te Roti), J. A. Lncena (Stratford). T. Perry (Mangatoki), metribers of the executive, and the following delegates:— Messrf H. G- Playle (Patea), E. J. Best, E. Long (Manaia), E. Bourke (Otakeho), G. Looney, T. H- H. Sinclair (Opunake), M. Barker (Awatuna), M- A. Voullaire (Riverlea), P. DeatJh, J. H. Bentley (Karonga), D. L- A. Astlbury. C. E. M'Guinuess (Mangatoki), J. Cleaver (Te Roti), E. Marfelf (Stratford), G. T. Davidson, A. E. Burwell (Kaimata), J- H. Richards (lowgaTth), H. Woods and T. W- Owen (Eltham). OTVIC WELCOME.

Members of the conference were accorded a civic welcome by Mr. E. Dixon, Mayor of Hawera, who stated that the people of Hawera were anxious to induce conferences to be held there. They hoped to make the town so attractive as to induce farmers to retire there. He trusted that tlhe deliberations of the conference would benefit Taranaki as a whole. THE PRESIDENT'S REPORT.

The President (Mr. Robert Dunn, of Auroa) said: —

"When we held iour last conference twelve months ago, we entertained the hope that the war would be over by'this time, or at least that some signs of an honorable peace would be in sight, but the collapse of Russia has altered the position of affairs in the enemies' favor, in the releasing of many divisions that were engaged on the Russian front, to take part in the long-prepared drive which was to destroy the Allied armies. Thank God, our heroic men and the unity of the Alied armies, who have fcught as never soldiers fought before, prevented this consummation. Never have such forces been brought to bear on one another as in the present terrible conflict. *on the Western front the Allied armies are holding grimly against fearful odds and keeping in check ah enemy whose callous disregard of human life, in an endeavor to gain advancement for the mailed fist, places him on a plane witji the brute beast. The great sacrifices the British and Allied armies are making to defend the cause of liberty and justice, should spur us on to make greater efforts by un ; ty and determination and sacrifice to help to bring about the desired result—an honorable and lasting peace. Land Settlement and Assistance to Settlers —It is pleasing to note that the new Minister of Lands, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie, is reported to have said that the days of ranching in New Zealand were over. This sounds like a hopeful note on a question that is of vital importance to all who take an intelligent interest in the welfare of this Dominion. If the days of ranching are over, I sincerely hope it means that the State has awakened and will see the advantage and profit that will accrue to this Dominion of proceeding in real downright earnest with a liberal land fer settlement and assistance for settlers scheme. I think that increased production in the near future is of the first importance to reduce taxation after the war, and to help pay the war costs. To secure this all land in occupation that is not being made productive, should be resumed by the State and used for closer settlement, where suitable. I would point out that the Hon. Minister of Lands has an unique opportunity. The country is ready for an enormous increase in the number of its producers, the necessity has arisen for that increase, and the world needs the produce. At the same time while asking that land settlement be pushed forward, it does not mean just to dump men on the land and leave them there to just exist. There must be means found to assist them to develop their holdings and bring them into a productive state with the least possible delay. In order to ensure a contented and prosperous country population, good roads, telegraph, telephone and postal facilities should proceed simultaneously with settlement, and the terms of occupation should be such as to bear very lightly for the first years. If ever a Government had an opOTtunity to raise a monument to its usefnlness it is the present Government—creating a liberal and helpful lands for settlement scheme and assisting the settlers financially and sympathetically. I spoke on thene lines at our conference last year, but the importance of the subject Justifies repetition. Agricultural Education.—Technical education is receiving a good deal of attention of late, and rightly so, as in the fitting of the child for his life's work the greatest of care is very needful if a misfit is to be avoided. In the cities the' principle underlying practically all trades is taught, and the privilege should be valued very highly by tho?e who can avail themselves of the opportunities at their disposal. Compare all the advantages of the city boy or girl with the conditions of those living in the country, and one can realise why the movement of population is always toward the city. The difficulty of taking advantage of the technical schools for children in the country districts is the distance of the school from the home—a drawback which is almost unsurmountable, as very few parents are able to board their children out whiie taking courses at a technical school. Not only is the coßt a consideration, but the loss of their serl vices on the farm are a hardship. It is agreed, that for a boy to take up farming pursuits the practical part of fanning must be taught on the farmhow and when to plough, sow and reap, and also to understand the conditions | of the land under all these processes. But the farmer should know all the principles underlying these conditions, how he can beat lead nature in the direction he requires, by draining, by (lie use of manure or catch crops, the chemistry and bacteriology of the soil, and so on. These things he cannot , learn »n the ordinary farm, but they

are most essential in the training necessary to make a successful farmer. The dairyman would, under proper tuition, cease to milk a cow that did not pay, and replace her with a more profitable animal. These remarks raise another point: How would the dairyman get more profitable animals to replace the duffers in his herd? Because a great many of the men who are dairy farming do not know or are indifferent to the first principles of breeding necessary to produce profitable animals, as can be seen by any one who attends the bull fairs in the spring, and see the nondescripts that are bought to sire the calves that are reared on some fann3. ]S 7 o wonder the Fanners' Union keep on hammering away on the subject of education for farmers, or rather our future farmers, for it is recognised that many of the presentday farmers are hopeless; but we put in a plea for the fanner of the future. We sincerely and respectfully hope that the Government will see the immense profit that would accrue to the State in introducing a system of agricultural education that can bo brought right home to the farmer boy at a minimum cost and without much interference with his work on the farm. Such a system has been of immense value to the farmers of Denmark, and is worthy of a trial here. Teachers, however, are necessary, and they require training. It is worthy of note that the University Senate have decided to include agriculture as a pass subject ior the B.A. and B.Sc. degrees, marking an important step towards giving that prominence to agriculture which is due to a country so vitally interested in the cultivation of the soil. We hope it will now be found necessary to establish chairs of agriculture, so that full justice will be done to the teaching of agriculture.

Agriculture needs the boy, and the leaders of thought and the doers of deeds who would mould and guide the destinies of the business of feeding the world, must wake up to the importance of getting (heir just share of boyish enthusiasm at work upon the farms. Seed-growing in New Zealand.—A northern paper pleads for the raising of all the farm seeds required within the Dominion, "on the ground of making the Dominion independent of Germany, who has built up a great seed export business with this country, and that, New Zealand being pre-eminently suited for producing a large variety'of the English class seeds, our farmers should take the work up as a special industry. That this is a work whicli should have been stimulated and encouraged by the State through its Department of Agriculture seems plain, but so far as we can learn this department, beyond publishing a few articles on the subject, sems to have left the matter severely alone." Now this is a most important matter as regards New Zealand, for in all probability there will be a shortage during the coming year, and we look to the department to give farmers a lead in matters of this kind and show us how to set about growing the different kinds of seed required, and further that officers of the department should have been about among the farmers pointing out how to set about raising and saving the particular kind of seed required. Ido not forget that the Department of Agriculture is working at a disadvantage through shortages in the staff of officers, but a few lectures to gatherings of farmers in different localities would have done something in the way of making a start in this very necessary work. New Zealand in pre-war days was importing £1,570,000 worth of seeds, and there can be little doubt that most of these seeds could have geen grown in this country. \>e exported from £40,000 to £50,000 worth of seeds, and there is no reason why we co\ild not have grown enough for our own requirements and trebled our export of seed.

Seed Testing—The Journal of Agriculture for England announces that on' and after January 1, 1918, a sample of all seeds sold by growers and dealers must first have heen tested in a Government station in Great Britain. The purchaser, in addition to other particulars, must be told the total percentages by weight of injurious weed seeds present where such total exceeds 1 per cent, hut in the buying of certain seeds the declaration need not be given unless demanded by the purchaser The New Zealand Farmer, in an article, sayte: *lf the war Ifc productive of nothing else, it has in this measure produced something that is worthy of every Government in the world copying." Now, while agreeing with the New Zealand Fanner that this is a step in the right direction, the allowing of w«ed seeds up to anything under lib in 1001b by weight will not fill the bill, as a sample might have only Boz of certain weed seeds, which if sown would do irreparable damage to a farm. I would suggest that the Government be asked by the Farmers' Union to take '<p this question and have some measure framed that would be acceptable to farmers generally. I know that a Pure Seeds Bill was brought under the notice of farmers some years ago, but it did not meet with favor, but something should certainly be done, as farms all over the Dominion arc being- polluted every season by the injurious weed seeds contained in the farm seeds that are sown. My attention has been drawn to farms in this district which have been contaminated by Californian thistles through sowing impure seed. Seeds should also be tested to find the percentage which will germinate. I feel sure that if some means could only bo found whereby purchasers could have a Government guarantee of purity and germination with nil seeds purchased it would be the means of effecting a considerable saving lo the farming community, even if purchasers were charged with the cost of carrying out of the tests.

Production—One sometimes hears farmers pass the remark that as arti-" ficial manures are so costly they will cut or reduce their manure bills to the minimum. Now, I consider that for a farmer to reduce the amount of manure necessary to keep his farm in good heart is to do a very foolish and unpatriotic action. In the first place the cost of manure is not so much higher than it was before the wnr when the enhanced price obtainable for the produce is taken into consideration. Secondly, a farmer who would starve his land is shirking his duty to the State, which should be to do his utmost to make his land produce all that it is capable of doing for the Dominion requires and looks to its farmer producers to increase their output in the present crisis. It is pleasing to note that in the March issue of the Journal of Agriculture Mr. Singleton points out that for the season 1916-17 the average production per head of the dairy cows in the Dominion has increased IJtfib of

butter-fat, or 13.S per cent over the average cow for 1910-11. The increase in the number of coigp in this six-year period is 143,70(1. The value of the increased yield to milk and cream suppliers at the present prices fcvould bo £1,276.000. The past season in Taranaki has been a parcel of assorted samples—a rather wet spring, and then for part of the summer ideal conditions for dairy farmers. Returns were generally good, but a rather dry spell in late summer caused a great shrinkage in the milk supply, move particularly on the coast land. Then we were favored with splendid warm rain in the autumn, which put up the supply of milk again. The last season, I should say, has been a good average one. I would have liked to have been able to quote the returns of the produce from Taranaki for the past season, but owing to the shortage of shipping space a great quantity of cheese and butter is stored in the various buildings provided by the foresight of the directors of the industry, and statistics are not available. The restrictions on shipping do not seem to improve; in fact, indications seem to point to worse conditions in the near future, so that there is no hope of the stores being cleared of dairy produce for a long time. It is to be hoped that a way out will be found before long to get all the produce away to the Homeland, where it is so badly needed. Gentlemen, I sincerely hope that before our next conference conditions all round will be much better than at present from all points of view. On the motion of Messrs E. A. Washer and B. Orr, the chairman was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for the instructive address.

REPORT AND BLANCE-6HEET. The executive reported that a very largo number of subjects were dealt wit'n during the year, including: Butter-fat levy, uniform membership subscription for Taranaki, shipping stores for butter and cheese, tare and draft, on wool, announcing names of vendors ana purchasers at auction sales, war loan, farmers' bookkeeping, amendment to Finance Bill, leaving of last man on farm, Produce Shipping Co7npany, free carriage of agricultural lime on railways, sale of dairy stock, bagging of lime and manures in 1 ewt bugs, Fanners' Fertiliser Company, payments by Imperial Sxrpyl'ieg Department to factories, purchase by fiovernment of frozen meat and combating Meat Trust, blackleg restriction?, burning of cocksfoot on railway reserve, importation of cattle from Australia, Kitchener Scholarships, purchase of slipt wool and hides by Government, educational improvements. A uniform subscription of £1 per annum had 'been agreed to by all the branches, and with the increased finance they hoped to he aide to still further prosecute the work of organisation during the coming year. The secretary has devoted a considerable amount of time and energy to organisation and to instructing farmers in Maxwell's system of bookkeeping, and this has resulted in the re-opening of several good, strong branches of the union in places where the branches have been extinct for some years. Tile finances of the' Union were in a satisfactory state, and thanks are due to all the secretaries of branches for their assistance in this respect. The executive took occasion during the year to mark its appreciation of the good work done by the secretary by making him a presentation and by arranging to pay him to act as secretary and organiser.

The chairman hoped that as the result of the great work done bv Mr. Buckeridge branches would shortly be formed all over Nortih Taranaki.

The report and balance-sheet was then adopted On tho motion of Messrs Mills and Vbullaire, it was resolved to allow movers of remits five minutes to speak and other speakers two minutes. The following remits were dealt with: ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS. Awatuna: That all resolutions of branches should 1)8 forwarded to the Provincial Executive for filing and consideration.—Carried-

Ifawera: The rules be so amendedas to permit of a representative of each branch being on ttie exceutive.—Lost, after some discussion.

Kaponga: That the executive issue a schedule of dates of meetings of executive each year and supply each branch with a copy.—Carried.

LAND SETTLEMENT. The chairman moved that the Government be again urged to promote land settlement.—CarriedASSISTANCE TO FARMERS. Mr. Voullaire moved the Riverlea remit.

Riverlea: That the time has come for the union to formulate some scheme, or to get the Government to do so, by when farmers on partly-improved land will be able to obtain money at a reasonable rate of interest, for five or ten years, for the purpose of enabling them to immediately complete the improvement of their lands, thus 'bringing them into full production at once. All moneys so advanced to bo earmarked and to be used solely an improving tho producing capacity of the land by draining, stumping, and clearing work only.

The chairman seconded, eonsidenjng it was a right and .proper thing. Mr. Davidson (Kaimate) suggested a limit

Mr. Maxwell thought that an amendment to the Advances to Settlers' schedule bv statins; that the money was to he utilised for specified improvements would overcome the difficulty. This had heen adopted to a certain extent already, loans having heen granted and a certain amount withheld until the improvements were completed. The remit was carried.

NATIONAL ENDOWMENTS. The chairman moved—"That the Government bo asked to legislate that the occupiers of national endowment lands hp granted the opt/ion of purchasing the freehold of the holdings, and full to be thrown open on thpse terms as required." He stated that, all national endowment lands were on lease, and had been going bsck since the time of their occupation. The funds accruing from the sale could be invested by the State as was thought best.

Mr. Maxwell said that though this looked like d-iing away with endowments, the main issue—the giving of the freehold—had been debated over and over asrain, and had been adopted as one of Hie executive's platforms; but there was divergence of opinion as to what should br> done witli the monev. The Farmers' Union had no desire to do awav wit 1 ' the endowment system, but they considered that the holdinp on lease of

these poor lands was disastrous to th* country, and that the funds from the sale of the freehold could ibe invested to much better advantage to the fund- He considered that the holding oi {ht lands under the present system would soon extinguish the endowment, simply because they were becoming weed wastes and a curse to the Dominion. It was stated that there were s>etw»en six and nine million acres.

Mr. Astbury said this land had been set aside for old age pensions and education, and it seemed to him t/hat if they were going to alter that position they should say how they were going to provide the funds for those purposes. If they agreed to this remit, they should also see that frhe holders of education leases obtained the freehold.

Mr. Orr said that the New Plymouth Borough had some endowments near Stratford, which were all leasehold, and had been allowed to go badly to weeds. Soon no one would care to take them up, and, if left alone, they would quickly become valueless. He knew tlhat jeople would bo ruined if they were compelled to eradicate the weeds.

Mr. Davidson thought the boards holding the endowments should have to keep them clear of noxious weeds. Mr. Marfell said that on some leases in Taranaki the occupier was better off than if he'owned tlhe freehold. There were some ox-eye daisies in the New Plymouth Borough endowments, but very little blackberry, and considerable sums were being given for the goodwill of the farms which were farmed, as well as many of the adjoining freeholds. Mr. Maxwell suggested the addition of the words "The union being of opinion Dbat the proceeds can be invested to much better advantage for the purpose of the endowment," and this was agreed to. The motion was carried.

EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS. The Executive submitted a remit "that this conference is in full sympathy with the efforts of the Educational Institute in trying to effect improvements in oufc educational system, and is of opinion that, in order to produce the desired improvements in our educational system, special attention should be paid to the following points in the order named: (a) The development of the characters of the children on the right lines, the first essential being the securing of the right class of teachers by improving the status and general conditions, including remuneration, under which teachers are at present expected to work; (b) the training of the bodies under thoroughly hygienio conditions and the training of the brain."

Mr. Mills strongly supported the remit, giving very cogent reasons for its adoption. Mr. Maxwell considered the whole system required reorganisation, but if they could gain what they had outlined it would be a grand thing. He thought it was unjust to the nation to place a child under an unqualified teacher. Mr. Owen considered that sufficient inducement was not being offered to the best brains of the country to take up the teaching profession. Mr. Mills was of opinion that the whole of the industrial unrest might be placed at the doors of the faulty system of education throughout the world. The remit was carried.

EXEMPTION OF A. AND P. GROUNDS,

Mr. Betts moved that all A. and P. grounds be exempt from rates and taxation.—The remit was carried

IMPURE SEEDS. Mr. -.ng moved that the attention of the Government he drawn to the spreading of noxious weeds in Taranaki through the importation of weedinfested seeds, and that more drastic action should he taken to prevent the sale of impure seeds.

Mr. Maxwell thought the difficulty might be overcome by increasing the growing of seeds in the Dominion, no seeds to be sold unless the crop had first been inspected After the seed had heen sold it was difficult to detect the weeds, and to allow one per cent, of weeds in the seeds before declaring the seeds unclean was useless.

Mr. Deem, Government Fields Inspector, said that unclean seed was at the root of the business, but it was impossible to get to guarantee absolute purity. He favored the grow, ing of seeds in the Dominion, as was done in Canterbury and Sandon, where the seed was inspected before being cut. He thought that more Californian thistle came up to the North Island in chaff than in seed. Probably clover seed was the only one in which Californian thistle was introduced. There was no Pure Seeds Bill in New Zealand at present, though one had been before the House some time ago. Before seed could be condemned it had to contain more than half noxious weeds, when it could be condemned as noxious weeds.

At Mr. Maxwell's suggestion the following amendment was substituted and carried: "The conference suggests that the best solution of the matter would be the raising within the Dominion of as much seed as is required, under legislation prohibiting the sale of any seed other than that which is from a crop which has been inspected and passed by a Government inspector prior to saving."

OTHER REMITS. The following remits were carried: That land agents should be proficient in drawing up agreements for sale and purchase before being granted a license. That the time has arrived when, In the interests of the Dominion, agricultural co-operative banks should be established in the Dominion.

That it is advisable in the interests of just, taxation that the present system of collecting graduated land tax' from mortgages be amended in the following manner, i.e., that moneys invested in mortgages upon lands be apportioned upon the 0 unimproved and improved value, pro rata, the part apportioned upon the improvements to be exempted from taxation, as under the land tax, and the part apportioned on the unimproved value to pay the same rate of tax in the £ as is paid upon the unimproved value free of mortgage. That the land and income tax be amended in the direction of allowing farmers to charge against their income returns sums to bo fixed by Parliament for the labor done upon farms by wife or children, outside domestic duty. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr. ■Maxwell, that the Dominion Executive bo asked to set up an essay competition on how to prevent the influx of population to the towns.

It was decided to alter Rule 3 by add. ing a new clause between b and c to read as follows: Persons engaged in any pursuit which is essential to the primary

production of the Dominion may become members of the Association.

ELECTION OP OFFICEES. Officers were elected as follows i President, Mr. E. Dunn; vice-president, Mr. A. E. Washer; treasurer, Mr. J. Swindlehurst; executive, Messrs J. S. Barrow, E. Maxwell, E. Latnbie, F. Mills, T. W. Owen, H. Hodge, J. L. Lucena, B. Dawes, E. Long, R. Hughes, D. L. Astbury, J. Cleaver, B. Orr, H. H. Buxton, H. A. Sutherland, A. E. P. Peoroe, and T. Perry; auditor, M. A. Voullaire; delegate to conference, E. Maxwell; substitute, E. A. Washer. At 5.45 p.m. the conference adjourned for tea. The members of the conference were entertained at dinner in the Central Tea Rooms by the Farmers' Co-operative Organisation Society, Mr. A. Hunter, chairman of directors, presiding and welcoming the members.