WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3082, 16 April 1892, Page 2

WAIKATO FARMERS' CLUB.

The above Club met at Cambridge on Monday last, when there were present: Messrs John Fisher (chairman), G. E. Clark, H. Buttle, W. Tucker, C. Roberts, R. C. Dyer, J. Fisher, jun., H. R. Hyatt, W. Souter, J. Forrest), R. Fisher, T. Hannon and T. Hartly. Tho vice-chairman (Mr R. Reynolds) wroto apologising for his nonattendance.

Thk Exchange on' Cheques.— Mr Jas Hume wrote, replying to an application of the Club that the bank would discontinue the charge for exchange on cheques passing between its Waikato branches, that the charge was made throughout tho colony, and that the authorities could not see their way to mako an exception in favour of Waikato.—The Chairman said the reply was just what they anticipated; they had entered their protest, and he supposed that was all they could do in the matter. Farm Accounts.—-Tn accordance with notice given at the previo.is meeting, Mr Tucker moved: "That this Club invites competition for tho best and most effective method of book-keeping at the forthcoming agricultural show, and that tho judges bo two successful Waikato farmers, with an accountant as umpire." He hoped tho Club would offer a substantial prize, as it was a question that would not recur year by year, as many did, for once settled it would do at any rate for the present generation, and probably for the next. Ha knew that some individuals scoffed at his proposal, and said he wanted to make the farmers appear bigger fools than they are ; for if a farmer could pay his accounts he was all right, but if not he was all wrong. Of course, the veriest idiot knew that, but he wanted something further, and would like to be able to ascertain his position at any time by turning to his books, and he believed that could be clone if the right method was adopted.—Mr Buttle, in seconding the motion, said ho was in sympathy with the mover. He did not know how many of the farmers kept their accounts, but he had an impression they were not what they should be. He was not one to pooh pooh the subject because it was a difficult one to deal with, and he thought a small committee should he appointed to consider and report upon the matter. If they 3ould arrive at a simple and effective method of keeping farm accounts, it would be of great use, especially to the young men who were embarking in agricultural pursuits.—Mr Forrest sympathised with the undertaking. He kept accounts, but in a rough form. He looked how he .ftood once a year, but he would like to bo able to do so weekly if a simple method of keeping accounts could be devised that would give him the information.—The Chairman said lie was taught book-keeping when a boy at school, but he did not keep his farm accounts in the way he then learned ; in fact he was afraid it would puzale anyone to understand his accounts. When he went round his farm'in the spring and saw the crops looking well his accounts swelled out greatly; but when the harvest was over, and the yield of grain small, and the cotton moth playing havoc with the turnips, his accounts went almost on the wroog side. He would like to see Mr Tucker's suggestion carried out, but was afraid the accounts would be too complicated for farmers, and would be cast aside. Like Mr Forrest, he once a year made a rough estimate of his position ; not that he thought that wis enough, for if a farmer went bankrupt ho must have sufficient accounts to satisfy the Official Assignee, or go to gaol.—Mr W. Souter thought a committee should fix upon the method to be adopted, and the Club judge as to its suitability.— Mr Buttle pointed out a great defect of the Education Act, viz., that lads did not learn anything about book-keeping when at school. He trusted the matter would not be allowed to drop becaiiEe of the difficulties that beset it.—The Chairman said many farmers kept diaries which proved very useful, and in some instances took the place of accounts.— Mr R. Fisher : A man's bank balance will tell him how he stands. —Mr Clark : Yes ! I am afraid the bank does most of the bookkeeping for many of the farmers, but it is not to our credit that it is so.—Mr Buttle : It the bank keeps our accounts we can't grumble at them charging exchanges. —Mr Dyer :If a farmer wants to know what each crop has cost him in the shape of labour, manure, seed, etc., and what it returns, I am afraid his accounts will be very complicated, indeed much more so than in any ordinary business.—Mr Clark : In that case not one in a hundred fanners would do it. The young people should keep the accounts, but I find when their day's work is over, instead of doing accounts they like to go to bed. —Mr Tucker : I have a friend in Canterbury—a farmer—who has offered a prize of £10 for tho best system of farm book-keeping, hot unfortunately he has reserved to himself the right to publish or withold it. If it is worth £10 to one man it is surely worth something to the farmers of Waikato.—Mr Forrest: If we are to put the cost of labour spent upon crops into book-keeping, we shall have to give it up. We labour just to keep us in health (laughter), at least, that is about all we get from it. I never dare keep accounts of bad crops.—Mr Buttle suggested the matter should stand over till next meeting. —This suggestion was adopted, the Chairman, Messrs R. Reynolds, W. Souter. W. Tucker, H. Buttle, R. C. Dyer, and H. R. Hyatt being appointed a committee to cmsider the matter and report to the next meeting. Arrears —In accordance with notice given, Mr Forrest moved : That a list of all members in arrears with subscriptions to the Club and to the late horse show, be laid upon the fable at next meeting.— Seconded by Mr Clark and agreed to. The Horticultural Show.—Mr Forrest said the late show held at Cambridge was one of the best ever held in the Waikato, and was worthy of notice in the papers. It must not be thought that he had any fault to find with The Waikato Times, or even with the Auckland daily papers; tho one he referred to was the New Zealand Farmer. There were a large number of subscribers in tho district, and yet not one word had appeared in that paper regarding the show. Was it because the Waikato correspondent lived at Hamilton? If so, he thought they should endeavour to get a Cambridge correspondent appointed. If it lay within the province of the Club, he would ask that the secretary be instructed to write the editor of The Farmer calling his attention to the neglect.—The Chairman thought the Horticultural Society would be the proper body to investigate the matter. The show was an excellent one and worthy of notice. He regretted the Farmers' Club had not been asked to contribute towards the prize fund, for tho Society deserved every encouragement.—Mr Forrest, jokingly: We were afraid to make it too good or Hamilton would want to hypothecate it.

The Local Mills.—Several farmers referred to the fact that wheat was being sent by rail to Auckland, when the proprietors of the local mills were prepared to give an advance on Auckland prices. It was pointed out that it the local mills were closed the Waikato farmers would be at the mercy of the Auckland millers, and the treatment they would then receive would be very different from what they now received The National Association'. —Numerous pamphlets were receivod from this Association.—The Chairman was pleased to find the platform of the Association was in'icl) broader than was anticipated, judging by the speeches made by the deputation that waited upon the Club some months ago.

Several minor matters regarding the root show to he held in June were discussed, and the mooting then closed,