WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2679, 12 September 1889, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Club was held in the Piako County offices on Monday at 7 p.m. Present, Messrs G. E. Clark (chairman), J. Fisher, (vice-chair-man), Wolls, Neal, Forrest, K. Fisher, Roberts, Anderson, Park, McNieol, Bond, Walker, Crickett, Richardson, Williams, Caley (2), Wallace, Allen, Vosper and several afterwards elected.

P>efore proceeding with the business, the chairman referred in feeling terms to the untimely death of two members of the Club which had occurred since the last meeting, and a vote of sympathy was tendered to the relatives of deceased.

New Members.'—'The following gentlemen were clected members of the Club: — E. Rhodes, R. R. Hunt, K. H. Grey, H. Reynolds, J. Hunt, H. Buttle, Jno. Parr, 13. JS. Booth, T. W. Di prose, Neal Dougherty, F. Hicks, W. T. Carr, and T. Walker.

CoiutEsroNDENCE.—'The secretary having advised the Auckland millers that 20,000 sacks of wheat were represented at the Corn Exchange, the manager of the Xorthera Roller Mill replied that he should shortly be a buyer of Waikato wheat, but that only prime samples would suit him. Mr Hunt, the manager of the Auckland Roller Mills replied that it would not suit him at all to go to Cambridge to buy wheat, lie continued "In the previous year, we were invited to send a representative of ours to purchase wheat at Hamilton, and that our representative would meet farmers at Hamilton on a certain day, which ho did. His experience was very unhappy; because he did not agree with the owners of wheat as to its quality, he was abused, and came back fully determined that nothing would ever induce him to go o such an expedition again, and I now feal that it would be a fruitless journey also to send anybody up to purchase wheat in Cambridge." He offered to quote for samples forwarded, or, if they were not buyers, would reply to that effect. Mr Forrest said Mr Hunt's statement was hardly correct. Many of the farmers rodo a considerable distance to meet the Roller Mills representative at Hamilton, and when they got there, they found he only wanted to buy winter wheat. The farmers felt they had been tooled, and someone did mention tar and feathers as a fitting reward for the manner in which they had been had. If the advertisement had been to buy winter wheat only, no one would have troubled to go.

The Auckland Stock Sales.—Mr J. Fisher handed in a numerously signed petition from the graziers of Waikato praying the Auckland auctioneers to have only a one day's cattle sale per week. The whole of the signatures, (upwards of 30) were those of farmers who had forwarded stock for sale. Tho chairman thought it would bo well to feel the pulse of the West Const consignors of stock to Auckland before pushing the matter with the auctioneers. Tho latter appeared determined not to accede to the request, and stated that Mr Hudson, the railway manager, had thrown the onus upon them as tho shortest way out of tho difficulty. If the West Coast people were opposed to the one day's sale, it would be useless attempting to get it. He believed there was a Farmers' Union at Hawera that should be communicated with.—Mr McNicol thought the shippers and stock agents should also be asked to join in tno undertaking.—The following resolution was then carried, on the motion of Mr Forrest, seconded by Mr Allen: —"That the Farmers' Union at Hawera, Messrs Nolan and Tonks, J. Winks, A. Hastie, and A. Mnir be informed what action has been taken by this Club in the matter, with the object of ascertaining the feeling of those persons on the West Coast interested in shipping fat stock to the Auckland market."—The Chairman said the two firms of Auckland auctioneers seemed to think the farmers were .intagonistic to them, but it was not so. All they wanted was better accommodation. Tho idea that .other auctioneers would spring into existence to sell shipped cattle was all bunkum. Whose yards would they use? and they certainly would

not be allowed to sell in tho street.—lt was resolved to withhold the petition until a reply had been received from tho West Coast shippers. Railway Freights.— The committee appointed to consider tho railway tariff submitted their report.—Mr J. Anderson pointed out an anomaly that existed. A short tiino since he had a ton of bonedust from Auckland, and had to pay £L Gs 8d for carriage, and the stationmastcr told hiin ho could have had two tons brought for £1 (is, or 8d loss than the one ton.—The Chairman said the railway tariff was, like the laws of the Modes and Persians, unalterable, as most of tho farmers wore aware, as they had paid dearly for experience.—Mr Allen thought they should have the option of sending a mixed truck load (say five tons) of produce of any description to Auckland for £2 or 50s. They were charged exorbitant prices upon corn, because they could not drive it to market as they did cattle. — Mr Wells thought allocating the rate pro rata to the value of the consignment would be a better plan ; of course, taking into consideration the liability to damage from exposure, etc. He then referred to fencing wire, the freight upon it being .£2 per ton, which he characterised as absurd, as there is no risk of its being damaged.—The Chairman thought the Auckland merchants at last appeared to think the country was of soir.e use to them, and now was the time to strike. Farming produce and requisites should be carried at as low a charge as possible, as it meant thesettlementof the country, at the present time they were producing more than they could consume, and yet not enough to ship away. They wanted to increase their output tenfold, and then they could build up an export trade that would always render thein independent. When that time arrived they would receive different treatment from the Auckland millers. The report was referred back to the committee, with the request that it be extended so as to embody suggestions made at this meeting, and any other matters that may be considered advisable: The Secretary was instructed to call a committee meeting for Saturday, 14th inst., at 3 p.m.

Alteration oe Hour oe Meeting.—ln the absence of Mr Gane, Mr John Fisher moved "That the future meetings of the Club be held at 7.30 p.m., and that rule 7 be amended accordingly.'' —Seconded by Mr Caley, and carried.

Sacks.—ln accordance with notice given, Mr Jas. Anderson moved, "That this Club is of opinion that sacks containing produce should be paid for by the buyer, instead of being weighed in ; also that copies of this resolution be sent to the Chamber of Commerce, Auckland, and to the several Farmer's Clubs within the Auckland district, inviting their co-operation." He said this plan had been adopted in Chiistchurch, and lie did not see why the Waikato farmeig should lose 4d or 5d on each sack of grain sent away.—Mr Forrest seconded the resolution, and in doing so remarked that it was a question of great importance to the Waikato, for if the bags were charged it meant £1100 to the farmers, but if weighed in they would only got £330. Why should they lie fleeced to the extent of £7"io per annum? Merely because the Auckland merchants had established a .soi t of rule! But if the members of the Club would stick firm the merchants' rulo would soon be broken, and theirs be established. Never again let the buyers get the thin end of the wedge in, but rather sell their oats at a trifle loss, and charge the bags. The millers had agreed to pay, and it wss only the merchants they had to tight.— Mr Wells said it was the Auckland and not the country merchants that caused the trouble, the latter always paying for the bags in which he forwarded corn or chaff. Potato and carrot bags were not worth charging, and, indeed, they were sometimes well got rid of.—The resolution was then carried, as was also the following proposal liy Mr Foirest, and seconded by Mr R. Fisher, " That the members of this Club pledge themselves, when selling either corn or chaff, to insist upon being paid for the sacks. 1 '

Superphosphates.— Mr John Fisherread a paper upon experiments that he had been carrying out with various manures, and especially with the Freezing Company's superphosphates. The results wore most astounding, as on his land the superbhosphates that by analysis only contained 10 percent, gave an equally good result as that which was said to contain 32 per cent. He gavo a detailed account of how ho had tried tho condemned manure of the Freezing Company against that of other manufacturers, and also against their own 32 per cent superphosphate, and the result in each case was about equal. He had asked friends if they could see any difference in the crops, and they could not. He always sowed bonedust avid guano with the su| erphosphate, and the conclusion that he arrived at was that they were the manures that had done his crops good, and that the Pukerimu land did not requite any superphosphate.—Mr Allen said he had used Lawes' superphosphates and the Freezing Company's bad stuff upon a crop of oat*, and the one gave quite as good a result as the other. —Mr Forrest asked if analysis was really any good, after the st dements made by these gentlemen.—Mr Williams asked if anyone had used the Freezing Company's root manure.—Mr Walker said ho had, and did not get a return sufficient to pay for ploughing the land.—Mr McNicol advocated the using of bonedust only, which he had found paid Viest.— After a desultory discussion, of a conversational character, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Fisher for the information he had imparted, and the secretary was instructed to write to Mr Galbraith, of Auckland, asking him to quote terms for analysing manures and soil.

The Skchktaby.—On the motion of Mr Forre.it, seconded by Mr Allen, Mr Chas. Tuck was appointed secretary at a salary of £1010-? per annum, the appointment to date from the formation of the Club. Several members spoke of Mr Tuck in eulogistic terms, and thought the Club very fortunate in obtaining his services.

Thanks. —The Chairman stated that at the previous meeting when proposing a vote of thanks to the gentleman who had been instrumental in exposing the bad artificial manures, he had inadvertantly omitted to thank The Waikato Times fur the consistent Action taken by it, and for the manner m which it had upheld the farmers' interests. He trusted the representatives of the press who were present would make a special note of this. Notice ot' Motion.-—The following notice of motion was given by Mr Forrest: —" That at tho next meeting he will take the feeling of the Club as to whether it is desirable to establish an Agricultural College in the Waikato at present." Meat Fueezing.—Mr Francis Ilicks intimated that he would read a paper on meat freezing in Auckland, at the next meeting. lit.iuHT.— Mr Wells introduced the subject of non-poisonous blight specilic. This closed the business.