FARMERS' UNION.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1920, Page 6

FARMERS' UNION.

HAWERA BRANCH. A meeting of the Hawerg, branch of lit" Funneis' Union was held in the seciciiry's o/iiee oil Saturday, Mr. Ered Mi IN presided, and the provincial president, vas also present. A i;o:..d deal of discussion took place in legal 1 to the proposal made some time ago to subsidise the salary' of an agricultural instructor for the Technical High School. Mr. Mills explained that the land which it was expected would be available for the purpose from the A. and P. Association would not now be available. An offer by Mr. A. Haseltine to provide the land required for the scheme until some more suitable property could be arranged for was accepted, and the president and secretary were appoihtod a sub-committee to in'orview Mr. Gray, of the Technical High School, and obtain information as to 'he.present position of the Bourn -. ogarding the appointment of an instructor. Mr. A, R. B. (Pierce tendered his resignation as member representing the branch on the local Repatriation Committee. Mr. Buckevidge was appointed to fill the vacancy. An offer from Mr. Burgon to give an address on "Free trade and protection," was .accepted with thanks, the address to be given at the next meeting of the branch on March G. Mr. Dunn gave a short address on "Field Experiments," particularly in respect to the operations of the Otakeho branch in connection with ths competition in lucerne growing-. At the conclusion Mr. Dunn was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.—Star. ELTHAM BRANCH.

A gc-neral meeting of the Elth'am branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held on Saturday. Mr. T. W. Owen presided. The chairman referred with pleasure to the interest displayed by settlers in the Toko and Otakeho districts, amt regret at the failure of the farmers or Eltham and district to take a keen and intelligent interest in the growing of turnips. He was convinced that experiments in this connection would be of great value to the community. Mr. J. Cocker was of opinion, after many years' experience, that the soil in this district was not suitable for turnips, and further that the best crop lie had ever had was the one about which he had taken the least preparatory care and trouble. - r ±r Mr. Cocker menlfened the spread of club root through cattle supplied with turnips thus affected and fed on other paddocks. Those paddocks became nffected, and held the infection for ten years.

Mr. Silver said many farmers could not afford to indulge in experiments and competitions in the growth of root crops. Mr. Owen had advocated early ploughing, but he (Mr. Silver) had not always found it beneficial. Members pointed out that new soils always grew better crops. Mr. Swimllehurst said the land north of Stratford would grow better root crops than that .further south. The rainfall was greater, but he was of opinion that there was something in the soil in the country around Midhirst and Tariki which was lacking further south. The chairman said the President (Sir •T. Wilson) had requested the views of the branches on various important mutters. The first of these was: "Are the 'armers in favor of the Government fixug the price of produce." Mr. Carter preferred the open market. The chairman said this was an important question, and was somewhat of a problem. He considered that the fixing of prices was a war measure. He would also prefer the open market, and thought that they should revert to the pre-war system now the -war was over. He thought the shipping difficulty would soon be solved. It used to cost Id per lb to freight wool Homo, whereas it now cost Bd. That Bd, which they might save if they had a steamship line of their ■ own, would more than pay for those steamers. Further, it was generally considered that at, the end of the present season there would bo two million carcases of meat in store in New 7 Zealand. Thus there would be further congestion and. difficulty. It was decided to hold the matter over for a month, and also the other questions -propounded -by the president.