Farmers' Association.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 118, 22 October 1901, Page 3

Farmers' Association.

A general meeting of the Waimate Farmerg' Association was held on Saturday, Mr J. F. Douglas presiding over a small attendance. Mr Ward gave a resume of what was done at the conference at i Ashburton. The name of the Union was altered, and several rules changed. The Waimate dolegates had carried everything they advocated except three things. The question of representation on the Timaru Harbour Board was left to the South Canterbury executive. The question of the size of cornsacks was fully discussed, and it was resolved to reduce wheat ,sacks to 200ibs, this to come into force on January Ist, 1903. The land tenure was fully considered, and it was resolved that all leaseholders of Crown lands should be allowed to purchase their holdings, the purchase money to be earmarked for further land settlement. The conference had wired the Premier, asking whether he intended to amend the Workers' Compensation Act and the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, so as both would exclude farm labourers. The Premier answered late on the second day, and his answer told nothing. Mr Ward had advocated that all estates should be purchaaed only on the authority of the whole Parliament, but the conference had not agreed with him. He had also urged that the farmers should be relieved of so much taxation for j charitable aid. The conference j had been unanimous that the rail-, way freights should be reduced as I low as possible, so as to reduce the j cost of handling grain. A number j of small measures were dealt with, including the Workers' Free Right j of Appeal, Settlers' Fire' Insurance' j and the Factories Bill. Mr Ward bad brought up the question of land valuers, urging that the valuations should be made by men having a knowledge of local conditions. He had urged that Government co-operative works should be discontinued and the work done by contract. The conference were of the opinion that customs duties should be raised merely for the purpose of revenue. It was reselved that outside Government borrowing should cease except for productive works, for which the money should be ear-marked when borrowed. Public works should be done largely out of revenue.'. It was resolved that the Government should insist on all the local bodies doing a share of the killing of 8-aall birds. The Flour-mUlers' Trust was considered and opinion was divided as to whether or not it would do harm to the farmers. It was decided that local bodies should have thfrcont'rdl of the licensing eleefciorisY Mr Corcoran had moved that the

8 Varies of M.H.R.'s should not be ncreased, but the Government seemed to have taken little notice of this. The chairman had suggested that the Union should have an information bureau, so as to circulate information on the prices of grain and other produce. The meeting elected officers pro tern for the South Canterbury district. Mr Corcoran said he had not

muoh to say after what Mr Ward had said. The conference had agreed that manure should be carried on the railways with a minimum of lOowfc. It was thought advisable that three or four davs should be set aside as sparrowpoisoning days for the whole colony. It was suggested that any other contracts received from the Imperial Government should be filled by the farmers themselves. Some delegates were of opinion that this was a rather. large order, but he had pointed out that if the Government could buy horsesex" tensively thev coiild:"*l)uy grain. (Hear, hear.) Anyone at the conference who had suggested that the Uuion should oppose the Government would have been put out of the room. As regards the members of the executive, there was n 3 choice but to elect those who were there. He offered to resign his position,, but agreed to bold oifiae until permanent officials wer6 elected. On the motion of Messrs Kelcber and Buckingham a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the delegates, and tbey returned thanks. Mr Douglas suggested that should write and ask for a copy of all Bills that, came before the House, and this was agreed to.

The chairman said that two members of the committee of the Association had bean elected to the committee of the Morven branch. They should be written to and asked what they were going to do. The secretary was instructed to write accordingly. Mr Douglas said the question of manures was one of the moat important of the present time. The question was not much considered, and he had been assured that he had on many occasions used manures which were of no particle .of use to the crop he wanted to grow. He held that the Government should appoint analytical chemists who would analyse both' soil and manure, and would thus know what manure was suited to the particular land. At present thousands of pounds were wasted on manure that did more harm than good. Mr Ward said that this analysis was being done at the Fairfield freezing works now. Mr Kelchersaid he had had that done in the past, and had reaped great benefit from the use of J manures.

Mr Corcoran agreed with the suggestion, but said that the cost of the analytical chemists should be paid by the farmers. A motion on the lines suggested by Mr Douglas was seoonded by Mr Kelcher and carried unanimously. Mr Douglas brought up the question of the analysis of seeds. At the present time absolute rubbish was sold under the name of seed. The analysis of seeds

could not be puolished now under a heavy penalty. Mr Corcoran said the Government should pass a law that with all seed sold should be given an analysis of what geimination it would have. Several speakers urged that no seed should be sold without an analysis being given. The price would be according to the test. It was resolved that representations should be made to the Government to have analyses of seeds made before being sold. The chairman said that he had been talking to one of the Government veterinary surgeons wiih reference to giving lectures on the common diseases of stock.' If such lectures were given it would mean money in their pockets. Hi moved that the Department of Agriculture should be asked to allow a veterinary surgeon to didivee a lecture i.a Waimate shortly. Mr Kelcher seconded this, which was carried. ~.. Accounts amounting tu £7 Is were passed for pavment, and the meeting ended with /T^4 thanks ia the chaiioianT" ■„'