NEW.ZEALAND NEWS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 178, 22 April 1908, Page 8

NEW.ZEALAND NEWS.

(DV TELEGRAni—rRKSS ASSOCIATION.) '. FARMERS' UNION. .. ATTITUDE TOWARDS POLITICS. Auckland, April 21. The annual conference of the Now Zealand Farmers' Union is to bo held in Auckland on May 21 .and 22. Many .new questions • will bo dealt with,'and due deliberation will take place upon political matters, while the Arbitration Act is likely ;to arouse a keen. , discussion. ' "The Act will bo the cause! of a. considerable amount of'debate," the Provincial, Secretary, explained to-day,. "but. not argument, since the farmers are of one opinion that the Act should not apply to farm labour, and they . contend, that they wore certainly led to believe as'much by the late Premier (the Hon. R. .J; Soddon). Likewise..the question of the desirability of tbo Union taking an activo part in politics, and making its voice felt, at the coming 1 will, bo discussed, but upon this subject also the farmers in the Nortii, aro almost unanimous." NATIVE, LANDS. FURTHER LEGISLATION. Auckland, April 21. •The Hon. J. Carroll;., Minister; for Nativi Affairs, leaves for Wellington by,, the s.o. Rotoiti to-morrow,. in order to bo present at the forthcoming Cabinet,-meeting. • ' lii conversation this morning, regarding. the statement that the Government intends to introduce next session, further legislation with .tho object of facilitating the work of the Native Land Commission, tho Minister said that this would be nccessary K so far ashe could see, to complete what' had already been so well begun. ' It' was iprobable' thai provision' would be niado for 'empowering /the - Maori Land Board to carrv on the work at prosont .being done by tho Native''Lands' .Commission. .Something -of ' ■ might be-considered necessary ; v to ! " carrj things-to. the desired fulfilment aimed'at by . the legislation of last' session! •' 'y ' ' THE " RAILWAY REVIEW!"' .Nelson, April '21: : : ■ At a special general meeting of the-Nelson, branpli. of. the Railway Servants'' A'ss6cia-' % tion, . it.: wasresolved" That' this branch-, • disapprove of the ■ late conference voting- a year's, 'salary'.'-to. the; late ' general secretary,'i as the- voting: for- the position showed waul of confidence in him. ' The branch calls •on the executive to resign. The branch, feela that the work of editing and-publishing the' ' Review' should ■bo placed in 1 tho hands of Mr. •Hornsby." • , CHARGE OF FALSE PRETENCES. i - Nelson,' April 21.' At the Magistrate's Court to-day, RobertYoung Ferguson,-a new settler at Tadmor, who has taken a prominent part in'the formation of the local' Scottish Society, and a robont "entertainment by tho- Ashburton Pipers, was charged with having, at Geraldino, on' January 29,. obtained £5 from William Baitorj. by . means of false -• to wit, a valueless .cheque. . Accused . was arrested, at Tadmor yesterday.,. Ho said- ho could not .understand- why - the 'warrant had' not been served earlier. It had been issued in February, yet ..the. local, police, knew ;no- s thing of-it till yesterday. Accused wasironiaridod'to Geraldine^on.bail.' .

= ' , RABBIT FREEZING. ' J .. ' Auckland, April 21. f ; 'Rabbits / are ' increasing'' iii numbers', so i 1 rapidly in' various: parts of southern Auck- . land at present.";that .they arc • becoming/a • serious' nuisance; Noticing.this fact,, and with a vi&w'.to' 'turning the'' rabbits.to.profitable account,; tho,VAucldand Farmers' Freez- ' ing' Company is ' making' inquiries with the idea; of establishing .a rabbit 'freezing .do. partment at the Auckland _works. .'Should the inducement appear. • sufficient', ..the industry will .be commenced in Auckland in time for ; this winter. v c ' ACCIDENT TO THE SOUTHERN ' . • EXPRESS. : • " Oamaru, April 21. • ; .As.the late express train was crossing over Thames Street, this evening, drawn by. two . engines, the bogie wheels' of the leading engine left the metals and ploughed over tbo street, and on to the sleepers on the', other side. • Tho train was pulled~up; and the engine detached and' run intoa siding. The ■ train' was ■ do-. layed 50 minutes."' The. street crossing is a dangerous place, at .any time, arid it. is; fortunate that the accident .was no worse., The train had just started from th'c station and was'going slowV, It,is said that road meta! had becomc jammed, in tho rails; and lifted the bogie wheels off. The. engine sustained . little damage, but the passengers received ' a fright. ■■; ■• . '■ ■ •