AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2362, 28 May 1892, Page 4

AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Tht! conference of delegates from the various .Agricultural and Pastoral Associations in the colony commenced itt sittings on Thursday morning. The chair was occupied by Mr H. Overton. President of the Canterbury Association. Delegates were present from Ashlrartou, Dunedin, Ellesmere, Hawkes Bay, Taraiiaki, Invercargill, North Otago, irJawera. North Canterbury, Olutha, Thmiru, T .komairiro, Wellington, Wairarapa, and Canterbury. The chairman, in opening the proC Hidings, welcomed the delegates. Fie b ;id it was a source of satisfaction that t vi vxoverimient had assisted the Con-fj.-.-ence by grauting free passes to the d.-legates, and Mr .Ritchie would represent the Government at the Conference. He regretted the absence of Sir John Hall. who took great interest in all matters pertaining to agriculture. He then spoke at longth on the advantages of the Ooninreuce, which would prove of benefit to ercvv person in the colony. He referred tithe various matters to be discussed, aud koped no question of a political character would be introduced. While altogether excluding politics, their hands were in no way tied in making demands on the Government of the day for the general and better development of agrieultural and pastoral interests of the colony, of even ask for a fully-equipped Agricultural Department. The chairman concluded by exi>kining the order of the business. The first question discussed was show dates., as they affect judges and exhibitors. On the motion of Mr McLaren (Timaru), seconded by Mr Thomas (Ashburton), it was resolved that the dates of the Hawkes Bay Association be taken as the starting dates for shows. The following were decided on as Metropolitan #hows: —Auckland, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, luvercargill, OamarM, Timaru, and Taramaki-

It was resolved that the dates of shows accepted by the Conference as Metropolitan Shows be within a week of the dates fixed last year. The Agricultural Conference fixed the dateti of "shows as follows : For October —Hinvkes Bay, 9th and 10th ; Tijtnarn, 27th and 28th. November—Auckland, sth ; Canterbury, 22th and 13th ; Wellington, 18th and JLOih; Oaraaru, 19th aud 20th; Dunediii, 20th and 27th. December—Tarauaki, Ist', .Southland, 10th aud 11th.

MrE. T. Pvhodes moved—" That all societies be requested to arrange their aiiowa as much as possible without interfering with the shows already specified or with one another."

MrT. Mackenzie sscondwi th& motion, which was carried.

It was resolved by 16 to 12:-—"*fbat each society be left free to adopt its own sj,-■•tein and number of judges." It was further resolved to recommend the societies to publish the names oi the judges uppo'ncted in the various classes; that the classes for housed and sheep be d.'uo »wav with, but that clothing be allowed during the transit of sheep to and .from their homes, and that no sheep be waived for show except with a declaration fiat they have not been housed or clothed s we during transit; that the Government be asked to grant free railway passes to judges travelling to all agricultural shews; tfiai the establishment of a properly equipped expert Agricultural Department js required in tH& colony, and that a petition to ParUaiueJtfc in favor thereof be signed by the presidenfe .of the Agnriand Pastoral Ascewations, the Horticultural Societies, and the Cli&inibei's of CommeL'ce. The ConferfJ'ice decided to recommend the Government to establish two or more ' peripatetic dairies' in the colony. The motions in favor of bonmws for creameries and potato farina were negatived. It was resolved that the Government be asked to iiave the agricultural statistics published at an early date, and that all threshing machines should bo licensed and required to furnish, a record of all the grain threshed in order that * more accurate record of the «raiu yield in tlia colony might be obtained, and thai they should be compelled, to give their total threshings twice a year. The Conference *as in favor of the appointment of an entomologist, with a view to a thorough investigation of insect and parasite pests, especially with reference to the life history aud means of dealing with the bot %. It was resolved j th»t etopa U tajsea to jatroduca

elementary agricultural education and farm book-keeping into the State schools, such education to be substiuted for some part of the present syllabus of less general importance and not to be made an additional subject; that the scholarships gained in the primary schools be available, if desired, at Lincoln College; that the Government should nuclei tike the aua'ysis of manures with a view to prevent fraudulent transactions.