FARMERS' UNION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

ANNUAL CENTRAL CONFERENCE. FOURTH DAY. The annual Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was continued at the National Mutual Buildings yesterday, the president (Mr. J. G. Wilson), of Bulls, in the chair. SHEARERS' ACCOMMODATION. The President said that in referring to tho matter of shearers' accommodation on tho previous day he stated incorrectly that the Act did not apply to sheds with less than six stands. He found sinco that the word "shearer" in the Act applied to all hands engaged about a shod. Therefore, a man with three shearing stands, employing threo shearers, and three other hands, would como under the Act. • Mr. Jones (North Canterbury) moved:— "That the ' Conference \ strongly protests against the proposed Shearers' Accommodation Bill as being harassing, impracticable, and unnecessary; and that representations in that direction be made to tho Minister." Mr. Birch' (Marton) seconded. The motion was carried. . CORN SACKS. Mr. Leadley (Ashburton) moved:—"That this Conference of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union is not in favour of any alteration being •made in the size of corn sacks." . ] . He said the sack favoured was one 48in. by 26£ in., holding 2001b. of^ ■wheat. That was the final: and definite decision in North Canterbury.' , , : . Carried. , ' ' STOCK SALES. Mr. Matheson (Wellington) moved: —"That the names'of vendors and buyers of stock be announced when stock is sold at public auction." Mr. H. J. Richards (Levin) seconded. Mr. Clothier said he frequently bid for the sheep of other fanners, and consequently incurred the enmity of tho regular buyers, because it broke up thoir rings, and often raised the price a shilling a head. As a result of this'hostility toward himself the auctioneers were careful, when sheop of his own were on offer, not to let them know tho owner, lest the dealers should boycott him. Mr.' M'Queen said sheep offered for salo by dealers were often "trotted up" by the dealers themselves. In addition to this, the announcement of the owner's name would help to deter tho sale of stolen sheep. Mr. Eyans (North; Canterbury), who observed that a few farmers on a little bit of ground down Canterbury was carried a quarter of New Zealand's sheep, said the remit was unsuitable to his district. The chief trouble was the'rings among the dealers. . Mr. Leadley agreed • with Mr. Evans. There had .not been a case of sheep stealing in his district for'over twenty years. The dealers were a necessity, and the proposed system'.would be resented by them. Mr. M'Laren (Nelson), formerly chairman of a saleyards company in Southland, supported the motion. The/motion was carried-by eight votes to seven. ; SELLING BY WEIGHT. Mr. Matheson (Wellington) moved :—"That it be a recommendation to. the Farmers' Union to consider tho advisability of selling beef ty weight,'-instead of at per head, as at present.". . /. ' ' ~ . Mr. H. J. Richards (Levin) strongly supported,-, and said he considered there ought to be a weighbridge at Johnsonville. -Tho motion was carried. . TRIMMINC SKINS BEFORE SALE. Mr. H. J. Richards (Levin) moved:—"That the practice of trimming skins before offering, them-for salo bo , objected to, and the practice of deducting tare from hides and wool be discontinued." He justified the the. grounds of loss of 1 weight and theft dotection, it'being in his opinion illegal to remove the. earmarks of sheep before they reach the fellmongery.' ~ : Mr. M'Queen (Invercargill) opposed, and said local buyers had to conform, to- tho requirements'of the foreign firms to whom their purchases were focwarded. Even tho Now Zealand Farmers' Union could not hope to abolish a custom; which had obtained in the markets of the world for ages. Mr. Richards: Let' them 'buy accordingly. Mr. M'Queen. said if local buyers had to conform to the present resolution they would make such a reduction in their prices that the farmers would be the losers. The motion was lost. WOOL,TARE. Mr. Forsyth (Taranakij moved:—"That the • wool brokers be approached with a view to abolishing any deduction as tare, in excess of the actual weight of the bale packing.'.' The President seconded pro forma, and said the Agent-General, had communicated with-the London brokerSj who discountenanced the proposed change. The . motion was withdrawn. TREE PLANTING. Mr. H. J- Richards (Levin) moved:—"That in order to, encourage the planting of forest trees, all land oW one acre in extent planted with forest trees should be exempt from land tax and local rates." , ', Mr;. Matheson thought timber growing had , boen shown by the Forester to be so profitable that it required "no help. • \ The President: Profitable on paper. He pointed "-out that if the planting cost £10 per acre and the rates and taxes amounted to 2s. per.acre, the wliolo cost, at compound interest, became very great before the trees ■were mature. : Mr. Leadley (Ashburton) supported tho' motion. • ' Mr. Matheson (Ekotahuna) asked whether it would not encourago' speculators to take up land, plant it in forest, and hold it freo of rates. - Mr. Russell (Palmorston North) ■ thought there was no fear of speculators putting money into property they could not realise on for twenty or thirty years. Mr. Richards (Levin): It would be all the better if they did. (Hear, hear.) Mr. M'Queen said it would help to avert a timber famine.. ' Major Bell (Auckland) said ho would favour. oven a bonus for trees planted on, poor land, and said the poor, lands of Auckland grew trees bettor than any other land'in the country. On that poor land tho remission of taxes would be insignificant. . The motion was .carried. POSTAL BOXES.

Mr. Matheson (Eketahuna) moved: —"That the annual rental of post office boxes and bags, where letter carriers do not-exist, he reduced• to cost - of initial outlay of such, boxes, etc." Carried. BANSC CHARGES. Mr. S. Forsyth (Taranaki) moved:—"That the Union use its best endeavours to get the banks to do away with their charge for keeping current accounts." ' Ho said the charge camo heavily pn . small' accounts such as those of Domain (Boards. jlr. M'Queen humorously suggested they should demand interest. • He said the banks kept his trust accounts cheaper than he could keep'them, The' President said the charge brought in •£ 100,000 per annum to the banks. Formercly there wero anomalies in tho exchange rate, "but these had been removed. The exchange rate was now 6d. up to £20 and l-Bth per cent, over that sum all over New Zealand, although somo banks incorrectly charged more. ■ • UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING. Mr.- W. J. Birch " (Marion) moved:— "That this Conference supports compulsory universal military training." ■ Major Bell (Hamilton) seconded, and made a strong advocacy of the system. . Ho 'mentioned that an average volunteer officer in charge of a mounted company spent about

£150 a year out of his own pocket. The present volunteer system was not extensive enough to meet our needs. Mr. D'Arcy Chaytor (Blenheim) favoured a fortnight's training per annum for youths between 14 and 20 .years of age in barracks. Mr.' Matheson (Eketahuna) favoured only qualified compulsion. Mr. H. J. Richards (Levin) supported the motion. Mr. McLaren (Nelson) thought it was not tho'.' province of the Farmers' Union to pose as .military experts'. Mr. ■ Evans (North Canterbury) spoke in favour, of the scheme and advocated the general use of tho boxing gloves among boys. The motion was carried. DOMINION OR COLONIAL? A vote took placo on tho question of changing the designation of tho Conference from "Colonial" to "Dominion." On a division tho term "Dominion" was adopted. RIFLE CLUBS. A Southland remit was carried: —That in the opinion of this Conference tho time has arrived when greater encouragement should be offered . for "tho establishment of riflo clubs." MOTOR TRAFFIC. Mr. Richards (Levin) moved: —"That this Conference respectfully urge the Government to incorporate clauses dealing with motor traffic.in tho proposed Model By-Laws Bill." Carried. ; MACHINERY INSPECTION; Mr. Matheson (Eketahuna) moved: —" That as far as possible tho inspection of dairy and agricultural machinery bo carried out during the slack season." Carried. COLONIAL EXECUTIVE. , Mr. Leadley (Ashburton) moved:—"That this Conference desires to placo on • record their appreciation of the work done by the Colonial Executive in carrying out the resolutions of the Colonial Conference." Mr. Jones (North Canterbury) seconded. Carried. MINING TAILINGS IN RIVERS. Major Bell (Auckland) moved:—"That the Government be requested to adopt such measures as are necessary to protect the properties now being ruined by tho mining tailings being deposited in rivers." Tho motion was carried. TELEPHONES. Major Bell (Auckland) moved:—"That the Government be urged to take into consideration tho need for increased facilities for telephone communication with tho back country." Carried. ELECTORAL SYSTEM. Mr. Forsyth (Taranaki) moved: —."That this Executive is in favour of an Absoluto Majority Bill, and opposed to a Second, Ballot." ; ' An amendment of Mr. Jones (North Canterbury), " that tho Conference is opposed to any alteration of the .electoral law," was carried. 1 . • • ARBITRATION WITHOUT COMPULSION. Mr. Jones "(North Canterbury) moved:—. "That an Act be approved on the lines of tho Canadian Conciliation Act;' 1

Ho explained'that tho chief features of this Act wero'that parties had to give twenty-ono days' notice of aii intention' to strike, •in ordor that,both parties could'be brought together",in an effort to come to an agreement. During theso three'weeks the public also had a chance to.decide the merits of the case. The recommendation of the conciliation authorities was not compulsory, and the workers, if they desired, could afterwards strike. Mr. Matheson (Eketahuna) seconded, and said that, having decided on pulling down tho oxisting arbitration machinery, the Union should show that it was in favour of facilitating, by better moans,-, settlement of disputes. • Tho Canadian Act had been working for over a yoar, and out of 22 cases dealt with, 20 were settled in accordance with tho recommendation of the President. Mr. M'Queen wished to sec a copy of tho Canadian Act beforo deciding. It was possible they might be misled by the favourablo reports; circulated concerning tho Canadian system, just as all tho world,had been misled, concerning the success of the New Zealand system.: - _ Mr. Forsyth (Taranaki) said injthe Cana-' dian system chief reliarico was placed upon the power of public opinion. t Several members desired not to advocate the Canadian system without having fuller information concerning it. Finally it was resolved:—"That in the . opinion of this conference, some systom of voluntary conciliation in tho settlement of disputes is necessary, and- that the .executive take , steps to -securo information from such countries as have adopted that form." FLOUR IMPORTS. , It. was resolved to ask the Colonial Secretary to publish information of the quantity of flour imported into New Zealand during the last three months, and the names of, the consignees. CONTRIBUTION TO .NAVY. A motion was passed expressing satisfaction that the Government had shown approval of,,a, course first inaugurated by the Farmers' Union in favour,of an increased naval contribution, as shown in tho proposal to contribute, £100,000 per annum toward the Navy; OFFIGERB. On the motion of Mr. Leadley (Ashburton), after eulogistic remarks on the President's services to the farming community, Mr. J. G. Wilson (Bulls) was, with acclamation, reelected as President for tho sixth time. Other officers were olcctcd as. follow :— Vice-president, Mr. G. W. Leadley (Ashburton); treasurer, 'Mr. A. E. Russell (Palmerston North); auditors, Messrs. Rutherford and Council; in place of the old advisory board an executive (under a new rule) : was elected, consisting, of Messrs. J. C.-Cooper (Tane), W. J. Birch (Marton), H. J. Richards (Levin), and D.- M'Gregor, junr. (Master ton). - ■

VOTES OF THANKS. Very cordial votes of thanks were passed, ivith grateful references, concerning tho' work done by Messrs. Jones and Evans,'as. farmers'. representatives at the Arbitration Court in Canterbury. . ' The secretary (Mr. E. C. Jack) was voted thanks for the excellent work done by him, with a very small staff, and, on the motion of the President, a bonus was authorised. Other votes of thanks were passed. <, RIFLE SHOOTING. The outime, of a scheme for the rifle shooting competitions for cups was submitted and approved'as follows:— farmers' Union Rifle Clubs: with .303 riflo for tlio Colonial Ammunition Co.'s £20 cup, to be competed for annually. Farmers' Union. £10 Cup for competition among country school cadet corps, with miniaturo rifles. ■ 1 . , CONCLUSION. With the exception of an interview with tho Premier at 9.30 last night, to lay certain decisions before him, this concluded tho Confcrenco at about 4 p.m.