WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2980, 20 August 1891, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

The usual monthly meeting of the above Club was held at Cambridge im Monday evening, there being present : Messrs John Fisher (chairman), Reynolds, T. Wells, J. S. Bond, R. Fisher, Browning. Edson, Hicks, junr., G. E. Clark, tf. H. Hyatt, J. Fisher junr., Rhodes, J. Forrest, W. Grey, Hooper, \V. B. Souter, O. Garland, A Gane, H. Clark, and several others. Nkw Members.—Messrs J. S. Browne, of Lichtield, and Tlioe. A. Hicks, of Pukekura, were elected members :if the Club. Cattlk Tuucks.—The Chair-nan said the Executive Committee had drafted a letter, copies of which had been sent to the Riilway Commissioners, to the Auckland manager, and to Mr Jackson, of the locomotive department. Ha trusted tho press would give it at length if possible, as it was a matter oF considerable importance to farmers, and one which the Club has endeavoured to get remedied. This lnttsr was as follows :—By direction of the Waikato Farmers' Club, I have the honour to direct your attention to tho necessity that exists on the Auckland-Waikato railway for better accommodation in convoying fit cattle to market. At present, as you are aware, the majority of the trucks are of the size and pattern in use since the opening of the line; they are too small, and cattle of only ordinary size are unable to stand across them ; hence it is often the case that one or more animals get down, and all the oattie art) more or less bruised. To a largo uumber of graziers the bJgey truck is unsuitable, as our fat cattle market fluctuates considerably, and very few are able to fill a bogey and maiut liti a regular supply, while combination is found troublesome and unsatisfactory. It will Iμ within ymir recollectin) that when the bogey trucks were lirst placed on tin; line a number of farmers were invited by thn Traffic Manager to accompany trm train from Ohaupo to ftamuerii; sugeostions were invited from them, and it was pointed out that what is called tho converted truck—i.e., a truck the same width an the bogey—would be the most suitable for the generality of the farmers in this district, and a promise was then mark that as tho ordinary trucks came into the works for repairs they would be converted ; and this promise was renewed by the Chief Commissioner when a deputation from this Club had the honour of interviewing him at Cambridge. Mr McKerrow then stated that he thought the whole of the ordinary trucks would be converted in about five years. It is now nearly two years since that statement was made, and I believe only two trucks have been con verbid within that time, and at that rate nearer fifty years than five would be required to redeem the promise. I would alee point out that the increased accommodation these trucks would supply was looked upon by Mr McKerrow as equivalent to a large reduction in the freight. 1 would also inform you that fat cattle are being driven down by road and reach the market in good condition, with no risk of loh3 or bruises, and at 50 per cent, less charges than those railed. I have therefore to request you will be good enough to take immediate steps to place an increased supply of converted trucks on the lino. Your compliance with this request will, I believe, result in increased revenue to the railway, as fewer cattle would bo driven by road; the animal? would suffer less in transit, and the farmers would have one gnovance less to complain of.—l have, etc., M. Butlek, Secretaiy.—Messis Hudson and Jnckson had replied saying they had forwarded their letters to headquarters, and tho O immissioners stated the matter would "recoivo consideration."— Tha chairman said he supposed that would be all they would hear about it unless they continued to agitate, as they surely would. Stock Duivinu Bill.— A copy of this Bill had been forwarded to the Club.—Tho chairman gave tho gist of it, and said the committee had telegraphed Mr Bryce to get the working of it made optional, as they did uot consider it would work well in this district. Mr Bryee had replied that he would endeavour to do so ; but it appeared to him (the chairman) that the Bill would probably be dropped, judging by the reports that had aupeired ivg.irding it. FllLTl'.—Mr W. F. L'lwry, of Auckland, wrote suggesting that the Chamber of Commerce should bo asked to approach tho shipping companies and endeavour to iret thu freight upon fruit lowered. —Mr Knrrost moved: "That Mr Liwry bo askod to move in the direction indicated in his letter, and also that hn endoavon,- to gi't thn fruit stored in cool chambers."—Mr Wells seconded the motion, and M.-iid Im was afraid Wnikalo could nut do much in importing fruit until som« iiiml.lioil Imd himn adopted fur dealing with Mm n.illm moth, which had incroaeod iliirinit thu last tlinm years more than could bo put down in Inn, —The motion was agrood to. The Fabmhuh and Taxation. -Ciiculiuh were received asking tho Ohio to support tho resolutions contained therein.--Tho first

was from tin: Cuti-rburv Agricultural and l'Msrorril Ass.ici.dii.n. the n'-.ilr,tion bniutr: "That the committee of 'hi association respectfully submits to tho Government that tho taxation proposals, as at present beforo the House, are against tho prosperity of the country ; that they are likely to cause widespread disaster an.) suffering to all classes; and that the committee strongly protests against t.hrse pr-innstK" Thn second was from the N.Z. Farmers' Association, ns follows: "That thu directors of this institution view with much alarm the taxation proposals now before Parliament, and offer their strongest protest against tho same. In their opinion the proposals are calculated to d-uM.-tg.j the firming interest and lo croate distrust in the country industries. That the weight of taxation will be saddled on to the country settlers, whose industry cannot bo protected by the Customs tariff, the price r>l whoso products must be regulated bv the m-irkets of the world. It is also their opinion that this is a class tax of the worst description, and they cannot too strongly condemn tho progressive clauses as unnecessary and a repudiation of tho colony's contract with the pioneer settlors."— The chairman asked how they should treat the resolutions received, and what the members thought of thn Lind and [nconw Tax?—Mr Forrest said it was re illy a case of Property Tax versus Land and Income Tax, and he felt inclined to try tho proposals of the present Government, for during the past twenty years things hud gone from bad to worse till ho was of the opinion that any change would bo acceptable.—(Mr Wells : Mr Forrest has been frizzling in the frying pan so long that ho even thinks a seat upon tho fire would be protr-rabln ! )— Mr Forrest: I never said °o ! This is not out of tho frying-pan into the fire, or I am much mistaken.—Mr Hyatt could not understand why all the bother was made about the Land Tax, as it hid previously been paid in the Property Tax. 1 fe suggested a special night should be set apart for tho discussion of the subject as it was an important one to farmers.— Mr Wells unveil that the Club concur with the resolutions received. Ho did not think they need sot aside a special evening to biing the matter prominently before the members, for he w.w afraid the Government wouid shortly brine,' it under tho notice, of the Ciuli in a he ivy and unpleasant in-inner. Too proposed change was a property tax with a land and income tax piled on to it. Everything that could be said about the Property Tax applied with equal force to the proposals of the Government. He spoke strongly upon the way in which capitalists to be treated, and referred to Messrs Grien and Co. who he believed had spent £140,000which had only paid U percent, interest— upon draining the country, and now they were to be crushed in every possible manner. He lelt certain that the contemplated legislation would drive capital from the country. What they wanted was reduced taxation instead of'.it being dressed up in a new name with three taxes instead of one. —Mr G. E. Clark seconded the motion and in doing so endorsed all Mr Wells h:id said — Mr Hyatt said Mr Wells was wrong rpgiird ing the taxation. Under the Property Tix merchants nominally paid, but they only really invested so much money with the Government. (Mr Wells: That is not correct!) So it would be with the Lind Tax which would only nominally fall upon the farmers. It would doubtless drive money out of the county, but only such as was invested in land sspecuhitions.—Mr Forrest was not surprised at the imver and seconder of tho resolution for they always supported large holdings. He had carefully studied the new Act, and ho knew his taxes would be reduc-jd ly half. The Government measures would support fanners, but not men who owned 100,000 acres. He would like to hear what tho Messn. H. and J. Fisher thought of the propose! change.Mr R. Fisher believed it wouid benefit small farmers, but not speculators.—The Chairman said he thought the original Bill would have helped small farmers, but it had been amended so much that he hardly knew how it would turn out. The big estates had done a large amount of good, especially to working men, and the proprietors had iu most cases ruined theinselvos. He did not agree, with class legislation, and he thought the man who owned only Inlf an acre and the largo proprietor should be similarly taxed, pro rat;., if the laud was cultivated ; but if the hind was lying idle more should be paid.—Mr Wells said it was the principle of the taxation that was wrong. Look at tho case of Messrs Grice, which was only one out of very iniiiiy in the district, they had reclaimed land that could not possibly havo been dealt with but by men of moans, or by a large company, and yet they were to bo taxed extra for having done the good work (Mr Hyatt: The land was not wanted; there was plenty without that), and not only were they to bo taxed for reclaiming a swamp, but because there was a competent mannger employed to look after the estate, instead of the proprietors living on it ; they were to be treated as absentees, and as such would again suffer further taxation. Ho considered such taxation infamous, and calculated to drive away those who had been the greatest benefactors to many of the working men of New Zealand. -The motion whs then put to the. meeting and lost by a majority of one, only about half of those present voting on either side.

Grain-, WonL and Meat.—Mr Wells placed upon the table three chart*, showing the fluctuations in the English market during the past six yearn of grain, wool and frozen meat. He stated that the manager of the bank had kindly otfereu to find room for them, tn he exhibited in the otlice of that institution.— I They will prove oE interest to farmer?, and Mr Wells was thanked for having obtained them. Auction Walks.—ln accordance '.villi notice Riven at the previous meetinir, Mr Forrest brought forward the desirableness of considering the best means of establishing more confidence between buyers and sellers at the special horse sales of Wnikato.—The secretary of the Club had written to tho loc.il auctioneers, asking for suggestions re this matter.—Mr W. J. Hunter wrote replying that he had no su""estions to make. —Mr J. MeNieol wrote : " Referring to Mr Forrest's motion, t think the only way to establish more confidence between btiyors and sailors is for the sellers to describe'accurately' to the auctioneers the stock placed in their hands (or sale bv auction, only givo a trial with horses they know will tako trials, and then offer them for sale without reserve. When a buyer is bidding for anything for unreserved sale, he knows that he is being opposed by bona fide and not fictitious bidding, and as a rule stock offered unreservedly at a speci-il sale realises more than if a reserve is placed on it. I think the above will suit both buyer and seller lntU:r than anything else." —Mr lorrest s.iid that if a sale was satisfactory to both buyer and seller, that was what he considered a successful sale. At tlm present date it was customary for the auctioneers to start at a big figure and gradually lower until they got a bid ; then they started upwards again, and when a certain point had beet) reached there was ex pause while the owner was consulted. If that individual said sell, the lust bidder felt he had been 44 had, and if a reserve was declared the bidders tried to got it lowered. He believed in unreserved sales, and quoted Sylvia Park as an example. Tho buyers t at that sale did noL expect anything uufuir, hence a grand result. He believed that had a reserve been placed upon tho horses, the sale would have been thousands less than it was. He once sold a lot of dairy cows at Ohaupo by unreserved sale. The best was put up first and it fetched a most unsatisfactory price ; but when the buyers were thoroughly C( ?"* vineed that there was no reserve, the bidding increased, and the average price for the lot more than realised hisexpectations. Thev would shortly have a big special sale in Cambridge, at which buyers from all over tho colony would be present, and he would urge the farmers to offer their horses at that sale without reserve. He thought the auctioneers should be asked to place the unreserved stock in special pens, and that such pens should be well placarded so that everyone would kuow who it was offered unreservedly.—He made a tuotiou in ac* cordance with his ideas, which was seconded by Mr Clark.—The chairman said they should be careful iu what they did* sellers were not ill members of the club. He had seen a sugsrestiou in one of the papers that owners should be allowed to bid us much as they liked, but in that case full commission would have to be paid. Considerable discussion ensued, and upon Mr Forrest's motion boing put it was carried unanimously. Several pther important matters came up for consideration, which we will h.wo to hold over for next ipsue.