FARMERS' CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 180, 1 August 1925, Page 18

FARMERS' CONFERENCE.

POST AND RAILWAY AFFAIRS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Friday. Addressing the conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union to-day, Mr. A. T. Markman, secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department, stated that for the past year the profits of the telephone branch amounted to £18,000. There were 100,000 subscribers, but the time had not arrived to revise charges. The Department was unable to remit the charge made for rural mail deliveries. This branch was becoming increasingly popular. In 1922 there "were about 8700 hoxes; this number had now increased to 13,500, and boxes were increasing at the rate of 250 a month. Dr. Chappie attended and explained the provisions of the Merchandise Marks Bill, introduced in the House of Commons. The object of the bill, he said, was to compel the marking of produce from abroad with an indelible stamp, showing the country of origin. Remits were adopted: "That the railway tariff should not be used for protective purposes, and the Minister of Railways be urged to embody this principle in the revised schedule; that the conference urges the Government to lower the rate of carriage of superphosphate, as this will assist farmers with etc., and, by greater production, the railways will reap benefit; that in every district where electricity is available" the Railway Department'be urged to instal in electric light, with a particular coloured globe to be shown at dangerous level crossings; that automatic warnings be used for the public at important railway crossings.*'