FARMERS' UNION.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17633, 9 December 1922, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

Mro-CANTBRBTJBfSr BXBOTnTVE. A meeting of the Mid-Canterbury Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union was held at Ashburton yesterday, the president, Mr G. W. Leadley, being in the chair. Mr E. Benjamin, provincial secretary, wrote stating that it was intended to ask that the sitting of the Arbitration Court be adjourned to the 19th inst., and that evidence was being collected for submission to the Court regarding the cost of growing wheat and other matters. The Hon. W. Nosworthy, Minister of wroTe giving information with respect to the oat market cabled from' Home by the High Commissioner, and stating that values to-day were in the neighbourhood of 31s to 33s per 2301b, c.i.f., but as the consumption demand was not at all brisk, higher prices were not certain, thuogh on the other hand present figures should be maintained between now and the end of the year. The Ashburton Borough Council wrote stating that it had under consideration a comprehensive scheme for the private park of motor cars. A discussion took place on the question of the insurance of exported meat, and it was decided to request the Meat Control Board to proceed with their scheme for the insurance of all exported meat from the factory to the market. The Minister, of Health wrote with reference to hospital charges and the contribution by local bodies towards the maintenance of hospitals. In the discussion which followed, it was pointed out that some change towards a more equitable form of contributing towards hospital maintenance as between town and country was necessary. Messrs Lill and F. Frampton, members of the County Council, were asked to prepare a statement of the present position, and to forward it to the Dominion Executive, with a view to getting amending legislation during the next session of Parliament. Mr J. Moirer was elected a member of the Ashburton Branch of the Union.