NEWS AND NOTES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14987, 6 June 1914, Page 14

NEWS AND NOTES.

FARMERS' UNION.

HAWKE'S BAY PROVINCIAL UNION.

rr-RBS" ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) HASTINGS, June 5. The annual genera] meeting of the Hawke's 'Bay Provincial District Farmers' Union was held this morning, Mr. Selwvn Chambers, Provincial President, in the chair. In the course of his address, the president said farmers generally bad had a very prosperous year. Prices for | all farm produce had been very good, indeed, and those obtained for wool and mutton combined had proved the present to be an exceptionally good year. Some of thoso who sold their wool.early in the season were disaopomted. Tho alteration in the-Ameri-can tariff in the beginning of December last did not have an immediate result upon tho prices obtained. This was to a great extent accounted for by. tue tact that when the'duty was removed there was enough wool in bond to give six months' normal consumption, and this and other factors tended to retard the inevitable effect of the alteration of the tariff. The removal or the tariff was now having a tangible effect on prices, but in order to obtain the full benent, growers should bear in mind that it would be necessary to study the requirements of American buyers. The prices obtained for mutton and beef bad been very good; in fact, -the prices for the year had been a record fcr the district. Dairy produce had realised excellent "prices. Every year more and more of the best land in Hawke's Bay was beinp- turned into dairy farms. "The closer settlement of our district." said- the presia subject which is ivcii worthy of the serious consideration of tho Farmers' Union. There is not the slightest doubt that every man who owns a farm, or even a small piece of land, is a great asset to any district, and Hawke's Bay has done well in the number of settlers placed upon the land. Amongst tho lands opened up.for selection recently were the Shorendon, Waihou, Ahuaturanga, and Otawhao blocks, comprising about 53,000 acres. 'In all 1021 applications were dealt with it connexion with these lands and settlement has proceeded rapidly." Mr S. Chambers moved the following remits for tho Dominion Conference:—"That it be a recommendation to' the Government, when considering the establishment of new country schools, that tho minimum area of hind,attached to any such school shall be increased from two acres to five acres, in order that, when tho time arrives, sufficient space shall be available for practical instruction in agriculture and horticulture, besides leaving ample room for open-air physical instruction and playing ground." "That it be brought under the notice of the Government that the burning of rank grass along the railway lines is done at a timo when thero is great risk of damage to adjoining pastures, and that the Union considers that sufficient caro is. not exercised in burning the grass." Both these remits wero carried unanimously.

It was decided—"That the Farmers' Union deplore the frequent prosecutions for retailing impure and • adulterated milk, and urge the Government to take more stringent measures for milk inspection, and, if necessary, increase tbe penalty for this offence." It was also resolved that the Farmers"' Union compliment tho Government on the firm steps taken by them to preserve law and order during th« late watersiders 5 strike,' and on their efforts to keep tbe ports of tho Dominion open. Mr S. Chambers was re-elected provincial president.