A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 10 April 1926, Page 11

A. AND P. ASSOCIATION.

MEETING OF COMMITTEE. A meeting of the committee of the Timaru A. and P. Association was hekl yesterday. Present —Messrs I- R. Maekay (president), C. L. Orbell, W. J. Kelland, G. A. Macdonald, Jd. Lowry, H. B. S. Johnstone, M. O Connor, J. Irving, E. Kelland, A\. J. Bassett, It. Parry, L. J., Grant, D. Grant, J. E. P. Cameron, N. M. Orbell, T. Seaton, J. F. K. Jamieson, W. J. i?arry, 13. It. Guinness, A. "i* worthy, T. It. Rhodes, and the secretary (H. H. Fraser) . ' ■ The president said that members would have noticed that the latest London price for lamb was about lufd tor weights from 36 to So far as he was aware New Zealand buyers had not increased their price for weights over 361bs. The Furnishing Committee had mot and had purchased fourteen chairs for the Association’s new room. The Automobile Association had discussed the matter of car drivers going through mobs pf sheep on the road 1 without exercising due care. It was to be hoped that no more would be heard of such trouble. The Ram Farr had resulted in a profit of £6l iUs, which was £2l better than last year, and was very satisfactory. Mr G. L. Orbell had been appointed president ot the South Island Federation of A. and P. Associations for the ensuing yeai. This was an honour to South Canteibury, and Mr Orbell was to bo concratulated. The caretaker of the| A®ociation's show grounds had collect eel £6 9s from motorists who had parked ] their cars on the show grounds in the holiday season. . , . It was decided to give the caretakei £2 for his work in this connection. The president further said that the contractor for excavating and levelling on the show grounds, reported having finished the job. But it had not yet been passed by the engineer. As soon as the work was officially , passed, the nrass seed would bo sown. The seed had been given by the N. M. and A. Co., Dalgety and Co., and Pyne, Gould, Guinness, while the manure had been given bv the N.Z. Refrigerating Co. Tho seed would be sown under the supervision of Mr Donald Grant. A vote of thanks was passed to the four firms named. Mr Ehvorthy, for Mr W. J- Parry and himself, reported on the business done at the annual meeting of the South Island Federation of A. and 1. Associations, which they had attended! as delegates from the Timaru A. and P. Association.

CORRESPONDENCE. In reply to from tlie Association, in regard to car owners pushing their way through mobs of sheep, the secretary to the South Canterbury Automobile Association wrote that the matter would be considered by his coinmittee. Generally speaking, motorists had been favourably impressed by the courtesy shown by drovers. Mr L. B. Pearson, branch manager for the C. F. M. Cov., Timaru, wrote in reference to stock being damaged on the roads by motor cars, stating that two drovers informed him that they utilised their dogs to clear a mob of sheep for the benefit of the car driver, and the only return they got was that their dogs were run over by the car. The trouble was accentuated this year through the Exhibition traihe and the holiday-maker was asked to exercise as much care as possible in passing fat stock on the roads. Advice was received that the third annual meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand, will be held at Wellington on May 27. The .Stratford A. and P. Association advised that provision is made under section 75 of the Rating Act, 19~0, whereby exemption may bo granted on i rates on property owned by A. and P. Associations, and also under Die amendment of Land Valuation Act, 190 S, whereby provision is made that by application to '.lie Valuer-General, A. and P. Associations nwy have their grounds revalued, with the possibility of a fifty per cent, reduction on tho amount of the rateablo value. Mr Johnstone moved that the letter be received. The matter had been gone into thoroughly at the previous meeting of tho Association, when it had been, decided to take no action 5 and the latest letter opened) up no new ground. Mr O’Connor seconded the motion. Mr Johnstone said that to get a. reduction of rates on show grounds would be robbing Peter to pay Paul. If thoy got exemption the deficiency _ would have to be made up by increasing the rates on the farming comunity who supported the shows. Mr Macdonald said lie did not think the time opportune to ask for a reduction of rates, and tho motion was carried without opposition. The Pleasant Point branch of the Farmers’ Union advised that at their last meeting, a resolution protesting against the very, unsatisfactory trucking arrangements, and delay in delivery of rams, at tho recent Ram Fair in Timaru, was carried unanimously. The rams on the Fairlio line wero kept back for Saturday’s mi:d-day goods train, and then left at AVashdyko for Saturday evening’s train. Tho secretary explained tho position' the matter was discussed in detail, and it was decided to ask the president and secretary to wait upon the stationmuster and have tho matter cleared up so that there will not bo a repetition ol the trouble another year. A request from the North F.ud Golf Club for a reduction in their vent of the show grounds was not entertained, it being said that the Golf Club is on a very good wicket. A i-eport of the annual meeting of the South Island A. and P. Federation was received.

S A statement of receipts and expenditure in connection with the Ram Fair —Yardage and railage £lO3 3s 4d, refreshments £23 Is 7d, logues £2 16s 3d. Expenditure.— Printing and adveitising £l6 ss, rail ago £'3 ( Is lid, refreshments £l3 2s lid, balance £6l 11s. This was considered very satisfactory. It was decided that all who entered trance fees whether their ranvrs were trance fees whether there rams we re , sent forward for sale or- not.

NOT iWANTED. . The Otago A. and P. Society invited the Timaru A. and P. Association to send a delegate to a conference to be held on June 2, to consider matters portaining to A. and P. Associations. Mr C. L. Orbell said that the Otago A. and P. Society had done their best to prevent the-Federation of Agncultural and Pastoral Associations from coming into being, and they were now doing their best to kill it. It was owing to the Otago Society that the Federation was not stronger than it is. Everything the Otago Society proposed to deal with at the conference, was dealt with by the Federation, and this being so there was no necessity for the conference. He moved that the 1> rnaru Association do not send a delegate, as matters of interest to A. and P. Associations are dealt with by the Federation. , Several members said that the conferences held by the Otago Society in the past had been a farce, and had served no useful purpose. FARM SCHOOL. . . . Mr F. E. Ward, instructor m agriculture, Christchurch, wrote that tho Department proposed to bold a series of farm schools this winter. The dates suggested for South Canterbury were about the second week in May, and the duration of the school about two days. The support of the Association was invited, and it was asked that two representatives should l be appointed to act on tho committee of management or the school. , , ~, . Mr N. M. Orbell and Mr D. Grant were appointed. „ , Mr C. L. Orbell said that last year s school was most successful, and the school CQuldi be thoroughly rocommendedWith this opinion other members agreed.

. HERD TESTINGr. The president said it was time that something was done in the, mai/ar of herd testing, and he suggested that a committee be- appointed to confer with the Jersev Cattle Club on the subject. The committee .he. proposed was: Messrs' A. S. Elworthy, N. M. Orbell, W. J. Bassett, H. B. S. Johnstone. The president will be an ex-officio member.. Mi- Elworthy said- it would be an excellent thing for tho district if a. Herd Testing Association were formed, and with this all inorubers agreed, it being said that the Government’s scheme of testing.is too expensive. The motion was carriedi unanimously.

SIZE OF CORN SACKS. Mr C. L. Orbell introduced the matter of the size of corn sacks. He referred to the movement in South Canterbury to get a uniform 48in. sack, the same as obtained in North Canterbury, and said he thought the Association should give this its whole-hearted support. At the present time there were three sizes of corn sacks, and this | caused a lot of trouble. _ Other members spoke in support, a,nd it was decided that the Association should support the movement for the importation of a uniform 48in sack. The president said he thought they could also, with advantage, move in the matter of getting a standard size wool pack, instead of the four sizes which they had at present. It was decided to ask the bheepowners’ Union to take this matter in hand, Mr Guinness, as president of the Union, stating that he felt confident the Union would support tho request. Mr Mackay mentioned that a. representative of a jute mill in India, who was in Timaru recently, had expressed surprise that different sized packs are ordered; said he could not understand the reason for it, and that if only one size were ordered, the price would be less than when the machines had to be altered to make several sizes.