FARMERS' UNION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8943, 31 May 1907, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

«. — PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE. The conference of representatives of the North Canterbury branches of tne New Zealand Farmers' Union resumed its sessions this morning, the president (Mr D. Jones, Templeton) in the chair. Mr A. H. Vile, editor of the Farmers' Union " Advocate," was present by invitation. GRASSING GRAZING RUNS. Mr H. T. Cooper (Oxford) moved a remit from his branch — " That surface sowing on grazing runs leased from the Crown be oiicou raged by allowing compensation at the termination of lease as ' improvement:?. 1 " He said that surface sowing was the greatest improvement that could bo made in the rough, hilly country let as grazing runs. As 'there was no incentive to sow, tenants allowed the land to be overrun by noxious weeds. In hiis own district the rains and the north-west winds carried seeds from the weeds down from the hills to the plain, and caused endless trouble. Unless some alteration was made there would be a serious loss through the fault of the grazing runs. Mr W. T. Lill (Ashburton) seconded the motion. Mr A. Meyers (Oxford) said that a tenant who sowed on a grazing run was doubly penalised. He received no reward for sowing, and after revaluation of his holding he would have to pay a higher rent because of the improvement he had made. Mr Jones said that one of the strongest recommendations of the Land Com- ' mission was that compensation should be given for grass sown. ' The motion was passed. THIRDS. Mr Cooper moved for the Oxford , branch — " That a vote of thanks be ac- ] corded to the Colonial Conference for < ite action in oqnn.ection with the ques- j tion of ' thirds, 1 and that it be present- i ed through the president of the North . Canterbury Executive, and that the Colonial Conference should urge the Got- . eminent to consider the question kindly * and pay up what was due to local bodies ] or compensate them in some way." ] Mr Meyers seconded the motion. - 1 Mr W. Hall (Hororata) said that he i hoped that the Oxford and Ashley dis- 1 tricts would obtain relief, but eo many £ districts had suffered that the Government could hardly be expected to compensate all of them. t < Mr Cooper said that the Ashley "dis- J trict had suffered very severely. Large i tracts of land had been taken from it < for the Midland Railway, and the dis- < trict would not benefit in any way from i the railway. J ] The motion was carried. '•