WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3067, 12 March 1892, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

The following is a continuation of the business transacted at the Cambridge meeting on Monday last. Frozen Meat.—Mr Caverhill, Manager of the Freezing Co., wrote under date February 15th "We forward under separate cover copy of report on the frozen meat trade, published by Messrs Weddel and Sons, London, with table showing fluctuations in prices since the opening up of the trade, which will no doubt prove of interest to the members of your Club. Although the returns for shipments made last year compare unfavourably with previous years, we feel confident that better prices having again been established, shippers will be thoroughly satisfied with shipments made during the current year. The London quotations at present are very encouraging, and with the mutton famine in Paris, referred to in Thb Waikato Times, and the stoppage of importation of stick for the continent on account of disease, still better prices may be expected to rule for soma time to come. The S.S. Kaikoura, which loads here direct for London on 19th March offers a splendid to shippers, and we trust your members will see the advantage of relieving the local market with such a good outlook for obtaining a good price. Wo would like the stock to come forward as soon as possible." The chart referred to has been hung in the club room. Book-keeping for Farmers.—Mr W. Tucker suggested that the Club should offer a prize for the best system of keeping farm accounts. He said farmers usually kept accounts, but they were not such as they should be, and very seldom enabled them to know how they stood at the end of the year—at least he knew his did not. He thought it quite as necessary for farmers to know their true status as it was for bankers and storekeepers. Farmers wanted something that was simplo and effective, and if the Club would give a prize for the best and most effective method of keeping farm accounts at the next Waikato Show, it would prove of great use to many that now frequently found themselves fogged over the business. He thought a committee should be appointed to draw up aspeci(ic3fci<.n, and the judges should be two successful farmers, with an accountant as referee.—Mr rorrest -aid the matter was an important one to farmers, but as the show would not be held till November he would ask Mr Tucker to allow the matter to be adjourned till the next meeting.—Mr Tucker assenting the matter was accordingly adjourned. Cattle Medicines.—Mr Tucker said there was no one in Cambridge who kept cattle medicines, and if the Club would make the want known, perhaps some of the •storekeepers of the town would get in a stock of the medicines, such as red drmkp, <itc. He knew several farmers who had lost milking cows because they could not get medicine quickly.—The Chairman said if the Press would kindly mention the matter some of the storekeepers would probably keep a supply of the necessary Exchange on Cheques.—ln accordance with notice given at the previous meeting, Mr Forrest moved : That the Club respectfully ask the Bank authorities to discontinue the charging of exchange on cheques between the various Waikato townships. He thought it hard that working men should have to pay exchange on the cheques they received as wages, and as the amounts were often small, the £ was really only worth 19s 6d. Then again farmers in this district always had to pay exchange on the cheques they received from the Waikato auctioneers, as the latter kept their accounts at Hamilton. If the Bank would not abolish the charge it should be lessened 3s the registration fees had been lowered by the Postal authorities.—Mr Buttle seconded the motion which was unanimously carried. —The Chairman pointed out that a cheaue was not a legal tender, upon which Mr Forrest said farmers were too glad to get hold nf them to ever refuse them. Outstanding Subscriptions.—The secretary was authorised to send a circular to all who had not paid their subscriptions, I and a list of those owing more than one year will be presented at the next meeting, when a deputation of farmers will be appointed to wait upon the delinquents. Tailing Lambs. —Mr H. Reynolds strongly urged upon farmers the necessity -)f castrating and tailing lambs when they were young. He had lately viewed a number of frozen lambs that had not had their tails 'cut off until after they had been killed, and he certainly was disgusted with the sight. The flesh shrank from the bone, and the tails looked just as if rats had been gnawing them; whereas when the tails were docked when the lamb was young, when frozen it looked nice and plump, and an ornament to the carcase. If castration was omitted, it had an equally bad effect on the appearance of the frozen lamb. He trusted the farmers would bear these remarks in mind, for Reynolds and Co., and he believed other shippers, would refuse to purchase animals that had not been dojked and castrated when young. This closed the business.