FARMERS' UNION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 23 April 1913, Page 7

FARMERS' UNION.

WHAKATARI BRAX-CH. Tho annual meeting of the W!"! 1 •- j ta-ki branch of the Wellington Provincial Farmers' Union was held at Whakataki on Satxirdny last. Owing to bad weather several who had intimated their intention of attending were prevented from doing ,so. Tho balance-sheet, showing a cr<-d : r balance of £1 6s sd. was andited by Mr Cameron and passed. Tho secretary reported an increase of nin<> inemlKTK, Messrs P. V. Smith. Edward Pain and George Pain were also elected at the meeting, thus bringing the total membership up t> twenty-eight, the highest yet attained since the inception of the branch. He also reported having insured the chib rooms in the Farmers' Mutual at the rate of 8s per cent. A communication from Mr Hebenton, tho Masterton organiser, wns received. Mr Cameron moved tb.it Mr Hebenton be thanked for tho same and that this branch reciprocates bis good wishes for the coming year. The election of officers resulted in Mr TV. Harvey .being again elected chairman, he being thanked for his past year's services. ■Mr iMason was elected Vicechairman,, Mr A. A. Cameron auditor, Mr It. -Barton secretary. Mr G. H. In.nes delegate, and Mr R. Barton vice-delegate. Last.year's committee rema'ii, viz., Messrs K-. ,T. Baron, Brightwell, Hudson, TV. Mason, Ba.rty, Pickett. Cameron. TV. Andrews, P. A. Belliss, and R. TV. Hni-vey. The subscription also remains at 6tf. Considerable discussion took place upon tho objects of the Union and its prospects, and upon organisation,, also upon tho uniformitv of men cooks' wages, several members deprecating low pay as conducing to poor work. It wa,s suggested that cooks might reasonably claim half the fat saved as a perquisite. Mr R. Barton moved, Mr Cameron seconded, and it was carried that it be a remit to the Masterton Conference from this .branch: "That any farmer" who so wishes may be permitted to deposit a .sum or sums of money with the State Guaranteed Advances Office or a similar institution, sufficient to cover his. •prospective probate duty. The amount lodged to be interest-bearing at current rates, and he exempt from probate duty irpon maturity." In explanation, the mover suggested that it might obviate a family being forced to realise upon a mortgaged farm in "slump " years. MR COCKAYNE AT FEATHRRSTON. "The anirual meeting of the Eeather•ston centre was held in tho Town Hall Featherston, on Mondiay night. Mr G. Yule occupied the chair, and there was a good gathering of farmers. It was decided to send the following remit to the Annual Conference: "That the Railway Department be requested to provide proper insulated tracks for carrying dairy produce to the port of Wellington from the Waararapa." Mr Q. Donald was elected unopposed as. the delegate to the Conference.

Messrs Q. Donald, A. Clark, G. H. Galyer, G. Yule, A. Tait and W. G. Hodder Avere elected a local committee, and of the above, Messrs Donald .ant! Clark were elected to tho TVairarapa Executive. The chairman then introduced Mr Cockayne to tho meeting, and he addressed thorn at length on the pro- \ per selection of seed for tho various pastures. 'He strongly advocated farmers getting their seed tested as to germination and freedom from noxious weeds, before they sowed down pastures. New Zealand double ma-ehine-dressedl rye as a rule was free from noxious weeds, but Alsyke was very often tho means of spreading Califomian thistle. It would only take farmers about four days to get a , germination report from tho Govern- < ment Department if they sent down their .seed to be tested, except cocksfoot, which took about fourteen days. Tie instanced 1 the difference 'between American pastures which stuck to grass in a to the custom of the Old Country in having several grasses mixed in the same paddock, j .Several questions -\\erp asked 'him by farmers-at the close of his address. Jn hi s replies he said (1) that lie bo lioved in the top-dressing of young pastures with slag to bring on the white clover; (2) there arc about 80 species of native grass indigenous to New Zealand, but of very little use to the farmer; (3) Pennyroyal is an indication that the land wants lime or. where possible, graining; (4) grass grubs aire always present, but if the grass is weakened by unfavourable conditions the grid) «how.s up worse; (o) New Zealand double machinedressed seed is the cleanest in the world, as no other country has such efficient machinery for dressing seed;. (0) rye grass very .seldom has Californian thistle ■seed mixed among it, the cloveivs occasionally, especially seed from Europe and America, but Alsyke regularly. M. TV. H. Sadler, in proposing a vote of thanks to the lecturer, correctly summed up the address as being couched! in plain and illustrative language. .Moreover, he said, the speaker spoke so distinctly and answered the questions so readily that the farmers greatly appreciated th? lecture.