WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Argus, Volume V, Issue 362, 3 November 1898, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

An adjourned meeting of the above club was held in the Borough Chambers at Cambridge on Monday evening. There were present: Messrs E. Alien (President, whom everyone was glad to see had recovered from his late accident), N. I. Hunt. R. Fisher, J. Gatio, T. Wells, W. F. Bucklanrl, J. Barugh, G. Keeley, G. E. Clark, J. It. S. Richardson, G. Empson. R. Reynolds, J Fisher, S. B. G. Smith, J. Forrest, H. Gillet, J Taylor, J. Matson, Jas. Hally, C. Hunter, T. Weatherill, J. C. Potts, T. W. Hicks, T. A. Hicks, T. Hartly and several others. A number of visitors were also present, includiug M. J Allen, of Waingaro, Messrs Hill, Ash win and others ; indeed it was one of the largest meetings that has been held for some time. New Member.—On the motion of Mr Wells, seconded by Mr J. Fisher, Mr It. R. Hunt was tlected a member of the Club. The mover said Mr Hunt was an old settler who had come to cast his lot in with the farmers of Waikato. Sugar-Beet.—A letter was received from the Sugar-beet Syndicate, signed by Messrs Lewenberg and Harvey, stating that as the Club had failed in getting the Government to pass the Sugar-beet Bill, the syndicate would now take the matter up and do its best to get satisfactory legislation passed.—The letter was received. Cruelty to Animals —Mr H. Wilding, Chairman of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and for the Protection of Women and Children, wrote the Secretary on 19th October : " Lately my attention has been frequently called to the unnecessary suffering caused to cattle and sheep in transit by the railway, and the consequent serious loss entailed upon farmers and consignors. There can be no doubt whatever that the Department would readily give attention to any suggestion likely to remedy the evil complained of. Recognising the great influence of your Club, it would afford me sincere pleasure to attend one of your meetings in order to confer as to any possible recommendation that might be agreed upon ; when, I think our united action might bring about some improvement. It is perhaps needless to say that my Society's action would in no way be any charge to your Club. Awaiting the favour of your reply.—lam, etc., H. Wilding.—P.S. Mr Salmon, who is Chairman of the Butchers' Association, would like to meet with us also."—The President moved that the Club will be pleased to see both Messrs Wilding and Salmon at the next meeting.—Mr Gillett seconded the motion, and said if the trucks of cattle were examined at two or three of the principal stations ou the road to Auckland, much loss of life aud buffering would be avoided. The trouble arose when the animals tumbled down and could not get up again.—Mr Wells said Mr Grant told him that in the South Island the cattle trains ran at night, and if it was the wish of the settlers of Waikato a similar arrangement could doubtless also be made for this district.—Mr Empson said the reason Mr Wilding had taken action was because of a truck load of eight bullocks that lately were sent by rail, from Broadmeadows ; one had the whole of the ribs broken and another one had a broken leg. Some had their horns embedded so firmly in the others that the platelayers, who went to the rescue, had to drive them back with axes. —Mr Buckland stated that in Australia the guard of a traiu was fined if he allowed animals to remain down in the truck after passing a station.—Mr J. Fisher thought the guards and ollicials all did their best, and in no case that he had heard of had trucks been allowed to pass stations where the cattle could be re-shipped, if any of them were down.—The President said a case had lately occurred in which two bullocks were nearly killed ; indeed, one was dead aud the other very near it ; the dead and injured animals were hauled out of the truck with ropes aud put into another, and the consignor was charged for the two trucks.—Mr Reynolds quoted a case in which he had called the attention of a guard to animals being down in a truck, but that official declined to do anything until he (Mr Reynolds) undertook to be responsible for the cost of re-shipping the animals ; then the matter was remedied.—The motion was then put and unanimously agreed to.—lt was also resolved to ask the District Manager, Mr Grant, to be present at the meeting. Auckland Agricultural Conference. —The following were appointed to attend the Conference that will be held iu Auckland on the 14th inst. : Messrs E. Allen, J. Cane, J. Forrest, R.Reynolds, and 11. Gillett.— Mr Forrest thought the subjects the Club would like brought under the notice of the Conference should be decided upon. For instance, the cruelty to stock being sent by rail should certainly be discussed, and the matter of analysing manures was another matter that needed attention. They would, perhaps, have noticed that the Waikato County Council had taken action in the matter, but it turned out that nearly all the sellers of manures resided iu Boroughs, and, consequently, the County Inspector could not touch them. He suggested that the inspectors of weights and measures should do the work, for he was certain it they depended on farmers to do it, it would never be done.—Mr Barugh thought it was a matter of the utmost importance to farmers, and " The Adulteration of Manures Act" should certainly be carried out to the letter. He did not see that it was necessary to have strangers to do the work, and he moved that the Executive Committee of the Club (four to form a quorum) be appointed to take samples of manures and have the same analysed for the benefit of the community generally.—Mr Forrest seconded the motion, which was then carried. —Mr Fisher said they must not lose sight of Mr Forrest's recommendation, and it was then agreed that the subjects he had mentioned should be disussed at the Auckland Conference,