FARMERS' CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 487, 21 April 1909, Page 5

FARMERS' CONFERENCE.

SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION. ■ Our Auckland correspondent writes: Some I important subjects aro, to bo : discussed. at l tho Auckland Provincial Conference of tho I Farmers' Union next month, including seve-1 ral remits from branches favouring the for- I .motion- of a definite political party. : Tho Wade branch desires to "protest in I the ,strangest possible manne* against ; a portfolio being allotted to a membor of the I House who is not responsible to a European i constituency."- ■■ ■ I The same branch -urges that the contract system for public , works should be 1 reverted J to as being moro satisfactory. . The Dmry branch wants the franchise for election of harbour boards amended so as to give farmers more direct representation.' ~ The Hamilton branch urges that' an injustice is caused by taxation on tho growing of flax, which should bo considered as.a,crop, equally with cereals, grasses,, etc. The branch registers a protest against the continued ..increase in the valuations oflunimproved, rural lands. ~ - Other remits from Hamilton read 1 'That .as -the continued 'unsatisfactory position with regard to the,opening up ot Native lands: .is causing serious' loss - to tho whole Dominion, and the Auckland Province in particular, the Government; be again urged to'bring down more satisfactory legislation to enable these , lands to' bo dealt with, and that tho Native",lands 'be made equally liable .witli European 'to 'contribute': to local rates; and.; that tho -various local bodies bo requested to co-oporato." "That the Dominion Executive be requested to again urge upon tho Government, the necessity of amending the law to enable every settler to havo tlio option of acquiring: the freehold on lands thrown open under, tho Lands for Settlement." v.: .. - Tho subject of meat inspection is also to be discusEed, a Waikato motion being tabled to tho effect that, "owing to the difficulty experienced in Great Britain of satisfactorily inspecting' frozen boneless'. meat,..- tongues, tails,-kidneys; etc., also frozen meat generally, and their occasional rejection on that acoount, it. would bo to tho interest of Britain and Now Zealand that all moat for export to 1 the .' United Kingdom from New Zealand bo inspected at .the freezing works by inspectors appointed by tho British authorities, NW Zealand to bear : -the cost, such inspection to be final as far as disease is concerned,' the Home .authorities .'retaining, the further-.right .of with, regard to tho condition, of meat on arrival."

Clevedon branch, urges that all stcok, especially dairy stock, be inspected periodically on ; the farm on which they are de-pasturing;-any stock found to be diseased to ;d6 destroyed, and half .value'.paid, to the owner; inspectors'to be fully qualified veterjnary surceoiis..i •'

. TTie dbiiy'-'regulations form tho -subject of. many remits. The Marua branch considers the registration 'fee. to/be 1 a class tax, "and .the Raupo. branch forwards tho following suggestions:—"(a) That Clause.9 will'act as a 1 deterrent -to .thought and action : of 'those, dairy farmers - who: desire to progress and at tno same , time.; comply with .the..spirit .of -the-dairy regulations, such men having a better ; idea.' of improvements to suit local requirements; than a stranger; .(b) ;that ttie inspectors appointed be qualified veterinary surgeons only, who will on their visits-ad-vise registered dairy fanners and . treat their stock, including horses, freo of charge. With this idea,( dairy; farmers: pay a graduated cow tax, not' sixpence per head; ,(c). that. the Railway Department endeavour' :to aid tho dairy/farmers and butter factories their, efforts to .attain a higher standard in dairy .produce by .providing at all times iproper insulated vansifor',^the., transit ter and cheese." i', - ;