AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

Waikato Argus, Volume XI, Issue 1102, 19 November 1901, Page 2

AUCKLAND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

annual conference,

The annual provincial meeting nf (lie representatives of the Auckland Agricultural Societies was hold 10-duy at the Auckland Harbour Board rooms Mr H. Dick (president of the Auckland Provincial Agricultural Association) presided, Amongst those present were Messrs W. F. Massey, R. Monk, J. Bollard, and F. W. Lang, M.H.R.’s. ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE, The following were elected as the Executive of the Council for the ensuing year Messrs E. Allen, J, Barugh, G. Ballard, J. Fisher, W. Greenwood, R. Hall, M. M. Kirkhride, J. G. Rutherford, O. Shepherd, W. VVestney, J Udy, and Armstrong. PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS.

The retiring President expressed his pleasure at the representative gathering present. They had before them the consideration of a number of very important subjects. The past year had been an eventful one. The rise in the value of stock bad been maintained, and even enhanced during the year, and this with the fall in price of wool has rather revolutionised things, and sheep were no longer a staple product of the province. Since last meeting- the Farmers’ Union had made tremendous strides, and this was as it ought to be. Some politicians deprecated this movement, as creating a hostile feeling between the and country, but this was quite inaccurate. If the town v. country cry was raised it was the fault of the town for not taking the country along with them The negotiations re the auctioneers’ charges had been carried to a successful issue, due chiefly to the Waikato members. The province had been visited by the Federation Commission, but their report presented to Parliament seemed to him to be contradictory. They were now waiting to see the effect of Federation and Federal tariff. During the year negotiations had been going on with the Government re the permanent site for a show ground, and in this connection the Auckland members had worked loyally, more particularly Mr Massey, During the year negotiations re the erection of a wharf for landing cattle at Auckland had been carried to a successful issue, and a suitable wharf would soon be erected at Orakei. The experience of onr troops in South Africa had shewn that New Zealand bred horses were second to none in the world, and this showed that there was in the breeding of remounts a most important industry for the colony. A number of Bills had come before the Council during the year, such as tire Eight Hours Bill, Rating on Unimproved Values Bill. The former he thought would be a great boon to farmers if it could be made practicable. He thought the past session was remarkable for the fruitess Bill introduced. The question of fires arising from sparks from engines had been brought before the Government’s notice, and every precaution had been taken to prevent these. In conclusion, he would nominate Mr John Massey, their vicepresident, as president for the ensuing year.

Mr Massey took the chair and briefly returned thanks, paying a warm tribute to the work of the retiring president.

AMALGAMATION WITH FARMERS’ UNION.

Mr M. Kirkbride moved, ‘ That this Conference instructs the executive of the Council to take such steps as may be necessary to bring about the federation of Agricultural Societies, Farmers’ Unions, Farmers’ Clubs, and kindred Associations for the purpose of holding periodical Conferences to promote the interests of the agricultural section of the community. This Conference would also recommend federation on the lines indicated in the rules forwarded from the Waikato and revised by a committee set up for the purpose by the Waikato Farmers’ Club and Farmers’ Union and the Auckland Agricultural Association.’ In speaking to the motion, Mr Kirkbride said some of our leading politicians were urging that heavier burdens should he placed on the land, and the valuations of farms were being systematically and in many cases unjustifiably raised with a view of squeezing more taxation The exorbitant values placed on the lands on the West Coast of this is'and have given a great stimulus to the Farmers’ Union in those districts. Farm lands should be assessed on the using value, the value to let, as it served them right if they allowed any fictitious or speculation values to btr put on their farms. He believed that if the price of butter were to drop ‘2d per lb in London many of the land values would fall from 25 to 30 per cent. The artificial wages fixed by Boards of Conciliation were increasing the cost of farmers’ necessaries, and the heavy protection duties levied for the same purpose prohibited the farmers from buying as he was obl-ged to sell—in the open markets of the world. The city uuiohs could not improve the position of their own members very much without throwing the extra cost upon someone else, or, as in many cases, reducing the price of farm produce. They had the workmen in the tanneries urging that farmers be paid less for their hides and skins, and the Seamen’s Union that settlers on the coast be charged higher freights on their produce. City workmen were asking nearly double the wages, for about half the number of hours’ work, earned by men in the country. A prominent labour official recently told the Premier that there would be no industrial peace until their hours were limited to 44 per week. Fortunately, the Bill for the limitation of profits and prevention of rings and combines was amongst the slaughtered innocents. Had it passed, the farmers would have been unable to fix the price of their milk. It was fully time that they asserted themselves, and took their proper place in the counsels of the country. Mr J. Fisher seconded. Mr Glass (organising Secretary) thought farmers would never get what they wanted if they they did not act politically. Mr Massey, M.H.R., supported the motion. Mr J, Udy opposed the motion. He did not think amalgamation with the Farmers’ Union as at present constituted was advisable. Mr J. Wright (President of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union) spoke strongly in favour of amalgamation. It was no use passing resolutions and forwarding them to Wellington. The only way to make their power felt was by uniting and using their strength at the next general election. \ The motion was carried with two dissentients. SCHOOL OF AGRICULTURE. Mr J. Bollard, moved : ‘ That in the opinion of this conference the time has arrived when the Government should establish a school of agriculture iu the neighbourhood of the city of Auckland.’ He said that he had brought the question up for the last fifteen years, hut without success. The only agricultural college in the colony was in Cant rhury, and this did not appear to have been very well managed lately. This college was too faraway fiom the large Auckland population, and besides Auckland wanted a college to teach the cultivation of subtropical He thought the time had arrived when pressure should he brought to bear on the Government to Cftihlish such a college. This year they wore paying £92,000 for the-up keep of the agricultural Department, and he was confident that fully two-lhirda of this sum would he saved if they were able to send out fully Indued farmers amongst the community. He intended such a college to he attended by the eons of

merchants and tradesmen, and boys leavin the prim.iry schools, Mr T. 0. Sainsbury seconded. Mr H. Browne advocated that agriculture be taught in schools, ana suggested the addition of a clause to that effect in the resolution. Mr Dick moved : 1 That the motion be relegated to the executive of the Council with the view of their keeping it before Parliament until some practical result follows, aho that a .copy of the motion he sent to the executive of the Farmers’ Union.’ Both motions were carried unanimously. SETTLEMENT OF CROWN LANDS. MrJ. Dane moved, ‘That this Con ferciice, whilst recognising that some good work has teen done, strenuously urges the Government to adopt the most' vigourous measures towards surveying and opening up the Crown and native lands in the province of Auckland, coupled with greater expedition in offer ing the lots to the public tor settlement.’ In moving the motion Mr Gane referred hritfly to the urgent necessity for opening up the Crown lands in the province. Mr Lang, M.H.R , seconded the resolution. lie thought the matter was even more important to the Auckland people than the North Main Trunk line or the ’Frisco service, and he did not think the Auckland people realised the importance of the question. Here was an opportunity for showing the advantage of unity, and he was sure that if the Auckland people were unanimous in their demand for the opening up of the land the Government would grant their request. Messrs Kirkbride and Bollard also supported the motion, which was carried unanimously. STERILISATION OF BONES.

It was resolved 'hat a plant be erected on the Auckland wharf for the sterilisation of bones. GOVERNMENT VALUATION OF LAND. Mr M. Kirkbride moved, ‘That all lands used for agricultural and pastoral purposes should be assessed for taxes on the producing or using value—the value to let.’ lu doing so he opposed the present system of Government va'mtion, and said it seemed to him that the Government thought the valuation could he increased every year. He wanted the conference to object to the system of valuing land on the speculative value, and not on the using or producing value.

Mr W. Westney seconded and heartily supported the motion. Mr J. Wright said he had found that valuators were generally men who had failed as farmers. (Laughter). FREIGHT ON WOOL.

Mr James Taylor moved, 1 That in consideration of the abnormally low price of wool, this meeting is of opinion that to meet present requirements railway freights on wool should be very much reduced, that it be covered by actual weight, that the Secretary be insti noted to bring this matter under the notice of the Minister of Railways, and report results to the Executive, who shall then take such steps as they think expedient.’ In doing so he said it cost him per cent, of the price of his wool to get it from Waikato to Auckland. Mr Butler seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously, us was a similar motion with regard to steamship freights.