WAIKATO FARMERS, CLUB

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2971, 30 July 1891, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS , CLUB

Til 15 usual monthly meeting of tlio Hamilton Branch of tho'abovo fjhib was held in Tub Waikato Times liuildmg* on Monday c.votiitic when there worn present : Messrs A. Primrose (chairman). .1. Kuncauiin, A. Swarbrick, IC. C. Shepherd, R. W. Dyer, I) Henry, Harugli (2), Hopkins l'illini?, Ceo. Kdgecumbe, Sandes (2), and C. J. W. Barton (Secretary). The minute of tlie last nicotine; were rend and confirmed.

Xkw Mkmiieh.—Mr O. l'\ Pilling w.is elected a. member of the Club.

Vruit ClKCiJiiAlw. —Tlio circular on (he general subject of fruit for export from the Xew Zealand Irian and Mercantile Agency Company,Ld, as published in our Nine of the 14i,h inst., was read ; also one as published on the 28th, and a reply was ordered to be sent to the latter that it was quite in accord with the view.s of the Club.

Stock Circulau.— A circular was received from tlio Chief Inspector of Stock, re the advisablenessof having a Stud book (as published in our issue of 2:Srd June), was read and received.

Small Hums.—A cnnnnunicaticn wan received from the Waipa County Council, saving that they had been asked to supply poisoned grain, and asking tho Club's opinion from a purely farmer's point of view.—Mr Barugh was of opinion that all that could be poisoned tlmuld, and even then there would be plenty left.—Mr Shepherd said that it was an important letter, and raised an important subject. A great deal of damage was dono by sparrows, but thpy should not overlook the wonderful increase of caterpillars which the sparrows kept down. He bad no doubt that the use of poisoned grain at the proper time would be of benefit, but he would bo very sorry to advocite tho wholesale destruction of birds.—Mr Henry did not think tho sparrows had the least effect on the caterpillars. —Mr Swarbrick said the question was: Where did the caterpillar grub go in the winter?—Mr Shepherd in answer said that tie had been ploughing that day, and as soon as the furrow was turned, sparrows were, picking up tho grubs, which clearly showed that they did not live on grain all the year round. —Mr Shepherd said he was not supporting the sparrows, but ho was reminded, amidst laughter, that he and many others had to support them. —Mr Edgecumbo said all old settlers must admit that before the small birds were introdnced they could not grow grain or grass, us the caterpillars swept away the whole of the crop.—Mr Henry thought they were as bad last season as they wero 25 years ago.—Captain Runciman was also of the same opinion.—After furthur desultory discussion, Mr Barugh moved, "That in the opinion of the Club, tho Council might supply poisoned wheat to anyone who wanted it, with a view of keeping a check on the .small birds."— Seconded by Captain Kunciinan and carried. Am'LTKitATioN oi , Manukks.— The dratt of a Bill dealing with tho adulteration of manures was read, and caused considerable discussion. —The general opinion was that the Bill tr.ive the farmer no red r e-s from the nvinutaelurer. The agent ran pnteut himself, but the farmer could not.—The Chairman said that the Bill no doubt arose from the action of this Club, and from the able paper road by Mr Banish, and he thought they should see that the Bill protected the farmer in eveiy way. —After further discussion, Messrs Primrose, Dynr and Swarbrick wero appointed a emmnittoo to suggest improvements, ;md to forward them to Mr Bryce. Stocik-di'.iving Bii.i,.—The provisions of this Bill were discussed, and the general opinion was that it was utterly uncalled for in tlrs part of the colony, and unnecessary in the Waikato district, and a resolution was passed to this effect. Explanation —Captain Kunciman said that about the beginning of the mouth he was in Auckland, and had boon requested by tho members of the Railway Reform League to take immediate action, re obtaining a trial on the Auckiand section of Vailo's. railway system, in order to strongthen Mr Rees' hands, who was moving in the House for railway reform. He had wired to the secretary of the Club, but he had been unable to call a meeting together. Hβ had, however, attended a meeting of the ICirikiriroa Road Board, at which a majority of the committee wero present, and tho result was that a telegram had been sent to Mr Rees cordially endorsing his action in trying to obtain a trial of Viiile'.s system. He would ask (ho meeting to express an opinion of their conduct. —Mr Primrose said a telegram ,'iad been sent to Mr Bryce, informing him of the action of the League.—Mr Baiugh quite agreed with Captain Runcitnan's explanation.—Mr Shepherd thought Captain Runciman was quite justified, and was of opinion that the scheme would have to be introduced before the inland districts could improve.—Mr Swarbrick said that he should not oppose the motion, because his doing si) might appear to reflect upon the action of their chairman, and would serve no good purpose; but at tho same time, as he objected to a trial of Mr Vaiie's scheme, he should not vote on the question.—At the request of the meeting, Mr Swarbrick stated his objections, as follows :—Mr Vaile for a trial of his passenger scheme, alleging that it would produce an additional £200,000 of profit a year, and with this a reduced goods tariff could be made. Mr Swarbrick said he objected to the question being approached from this point of view. The problem wa.s not to make a socalled profit, but to open up the country. Mr Vaile made reduction in goods rates contingent on the success of a passenger scheme, whereas the question of goods freights was of far mure importance than the passenger rates. Mr Vailo's scheme involved what was called the stage system, and also exceedingly low farus. The stage system was cr.mbersomo and unnecessary and involved ondless anomalies—for instance, a man who went twenty miles from Ohaujio or Cambridge had to pay twice as much a3 a man who went the same distance from Hamilton. These anomalies would bo found unbearable, especially in the residential traffic noar Auckland. If they wanted low fares they could be made on a logical system. Again, the fares are unnecessarily low, and would cause a heavy loss instead of the profit Mr Vaile promises. It is a mistake to imagine traffic can ba increased pro rata by reducing fares. Practical experience has shown that reductions below a cp.rtain (icure cause loss of revenue withontacorrpspondinßincrease in traffic. Mr Vaiie's scheme would, in the speaker's opinion, ruin the country towns, because the nominal fares would be made a constant excuse for persons to shop in Auckland, where the shops contain a> far larger choice of goods than a, country storekeeper can keep, and thus all the ready money would be drained to Auckland, and they must remember the small farmers dependod largely on tin: small towns for their living. Ito objected to a trial of Mr Vailo's scheme because Mr Vaile had raised the issue of making an increased profit. Mr Vailo's l promises of profit would not be realised, and in the failure of his scheme railway reform would bo damaged and put back ten years. Mr Vaiie's friends are in the habit of saying that no one else had a plan, but the fact is that when anyone ventured to dilfer from Mr Vailo they are at

once assailed with gross personal abuse, and retire in disgust. He (Mr SwtirbricU) had for many years advocated a plan which would serve tho real object of our railway system—namely, to place the farmer at a distance froii) the great centres on an equality with those near to such centres. The plan ho advocated was to make tho faros say Id a niilo for the lirst twenty miles, *d a mile for the next thirty miles, and \d a mile over that. The goods rates should be on the same system, but including in each rr.te a fixed sum for terminals, which would be the same whatever the distance. Under such a system the fanner 100 miles from town would pay only slightly more for the carriage of his goods than a man 30 miles fr.mi town, and there would be none of the anomalies of Mr Vaile's system.—After a warm Hiscuision on tl.e merits of Vaile's scheme, Mr Barugh moved that the action of the Chairman and Captain Riinoiman in telegraphing to Messes Hees and Bryce re a trial of Vaile's scheme be confirmed.—Seconded by Mr Shepherd and carried.