AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3100, 28 May 1892, Page 2

AGRICULTURAL CONFERENCE.

[BY TELEGRAPH.— PBESS ASSOCIATION.] Chbistchdrch, Thursday. At the Agricultural Conference to-day motions in favour of a bonus for creameries and potato farming were negatived. It was resolved that the Government be asked to have the agricultural statistics published at an earlier date, that all thrashing machines should be licensed and required to furnish a record of all grain threshed, in order that more accurate, records of tlm grain of the colony might be obtained, that they should be compelled to give their total threshing twice a-year. The conference ia in favour of the appointment of an entomoliigi«t with a view to a thorough investigation into insect and parasite pests, and especially with reference to the life history and means of dealing with the enemy. It was resolved that steps be taken to introduce elementary agricultural education and farm book keeping into the State schools, such education to be .substituted for some part of the present syllabus of less general impor.ance, and not to be made an additional subject; that scholarship! gained in the primary schools be available, if desired, at Lincoln College ; that the Government should undertake the analysis of manures with a view to prevent fraudulent transactions. On the motion of Mr McLean (Timaru), seconded by MiThomas (Ashburton), it w»r resolved that the dates of the Hawke's Bay Association Shows be taken as the starting dates fnr shows in question. The fixing of dates was then discussed, and the following was decided as the order:—Metropolitan shows, Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Wellington, Ohristchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Oamaru, Timaru, Taranaki. Chmstchurch, Last Night. The Agricultural Conference has resolved that it is of opinion that the Government should next session introduce a measure to enable local bodies er private individuals to to retard the spread of noxious weeds, especially gorse and Californian thistles. It was resolved to call the attention of County Councils to the necessity of enforcing provisions of the Act affecting noxious weeds. It was resolved that the Government be asked to furnish the Agricultural Association with the return of the amount collected by the sheep tax, and how it was expended. On the motion of Mr McKenaie, M.H.R., it was resolved that in the opinion of the Conference, the sheep tax should be abolished and the cost of the maintenance of the Department in an efficient state be in the future charged against the consolidated rerenue. It was decided that the collection of the dog tax be placed in the hands of the police ; that the quarantine charges be reduced to a reasonable rate; that the present regulations are so defective that the objects of quarantine are rendered nugatory, and that the Canterbury A. and P. Association look into the matter and recommend a fair scale of charges; that in view of the statement of Mr Ritchie, that as soon as ho was assured that the Sounds district was free from scab he would take steps to have the cdony declared clean, no further discussion on the subject was necessary ; that a better system of registration of ear-marks and brands for sheep be adopted ; that the attention of the Government be called to sheep-stealing in New Zealand, and that it be asked to take measures, such as offering rewards, etc., to stop it; that the Railway Commissioners be asked to reduce the charges on stock, agricultural produce and manures, to introduco a better class of sheep and cattle tracks and insulated vans for carrying dairy produce and to provide better accommodation for trucking sheep at country stations ; that a tax of £10 should be imposed on stallions and £5 on pony stallions under fourteen hande used for stud purposes; that stallions be registered under a penalty with the Stock Department, the tax to be distributed among Agricultural and Pastoral Associations in the district where it is collected and expended in prizes in the horse classes; that no stallion be used for stud purposes unless guaranteed sound by a. qualified veterinary surgeon appointed for that purpose, and that a vote of tlnnks be accorded to the Canterbury Association, and specially to the Secretary, Mr Murphy, for compiling the herd and stud books.