FARMERS CONFER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3098, 31 May 1917, Page 8

FARMERS CONFER

THE WELLINGTON UNION GATHERING CONCLUDED ■By Telegraph—Special ; »' Marton, May 30. Tiio annual conference of the Wellington district of the. Now Zoaland Farmora' Union was concluded hero to-day. Mr. G. L. Marshall, of Marton, presided. ' -• ■■" The Insurance Branch. < During tho carliou part of the morning session tho delegates held tho annual • meeting of tho Wellington Farmors' Union Mutual Firo Insurance Associatiou. Tho Teport of tho directors of this body stated, that tho net premium I income during the past year was .£lßl9, I as compared with ,£1663 for tho previous year. Interest on fixed deposits amounted to ,£79 10s. Alter payment of £W for-firo claims,, there was a profit for, tho year of'£B96, New business amounted to Tho losscb totalled v£369, as against £23b9 for tho previous year. The insurances on tho books totalled .£368,(143, an increase of JJU,7«. i • Tho accident branch' was formed on January. 1, 1916, and for fifteen months' or/orations gross insurances amounting to .£25,091 wera reported. Thcso reports jvore adopted. The following directors were-elected for, tho ensuing year:—Messrs. John Balfullie, H. Booth, W. J. Birch, A. Howie, W. B. Matheson, F.- Moss, E. Law, H. A. Kevins, and Sir James Wilson. j - . The Trading Side. It was decided: "That in extension of tho Agreement entered into at tho Wanganui conference, in 19U between the ' union and the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Distributing Company, it be resolved as follows:—(1) That tho company bo hereby given full recognition as the trading branch of the union. (2) That at each annual confereneo the company presont a report on tho opern.tipns of the past year and of future plans, in the samo manner as the Mutual; Firo Association. (3) That a representative of the company be, ox-officio, a .member of tho confereJico without tho fight to vote." The Year's Officers. Officers for tho year were elected as follows:—President. Mr. G. L, Marshall (Marton); riee-president, Mr. W. B. Matheson (Eketahuna); treasurer, -Mr. W. J. Birch (Marton); executive—East Coast, Messrs. A. D, MacLeod {Martin-

borough), II uuli Jlorrison (Maslerton). D. M'Gregor (Masterton), H. A. Covins (Tinui), H. Jlorrison (Greytown), and .A. P. Whatman (Masterton); West Coast Messrs. J. 11, Perrett (Foilding), J. Balsillio (Palnicrston North), H. Booth (Feilding), Ewan Campbell (Wangaimi), »A. Home (Waverley), A. Bobinson (Waniraiiui), and ir. H. Olliver (Mansawcku); honorary members of executive Sir James Wilson and Mr. Thomas ! iU^! . d « e E ft tes to Dominion Conference -West Coast, Ml-. A. Eobinson nni); E„st Coast, Mr. A. P.' Whatman (Masterton), or if he is not available. Mr. W. B. Matheson (Ekctahunn).

Farmers' Shipping Company. U was resolved that the proposaMo lorin a farmers' shipping company bo cordially endorsed by tho conferenceana iarmers bo urged to support same Speakers said that farmers should sec that they secured to themselves adequate and reasonably cheap shipning facilities, and they expressed the opinion that the only security lav in a farmers' shipping company. A Matter of Sacks. The conference discussed the following motion at some length, and then agreed to it by a fair majority: "That tho Government arrange for sufficient shipping to ensure tho supply of the necessary wooi packs and corn sacks for the Dominion s requirements. Life Insurance. Unanimous approval met the following motion:-' That tho Government Life Insurance bo asked to allow clients Iho privilege of giving three months' notice ior rno partial repayment of mortgages instead of the present system of the payment of three months' interest. Horned Cattle. Tho following motion found tho conierenoe somewhat divided:—"That it bo illegal to truck horned cattle after a term of three years from date." Tho motion was brought forward on ' humanitarian grounds, but objections wero raised on the point of practicability. Apart from the human consideration it was urged that loss was entailed through cattle arriving at the slaughter yards in a mutilated condition. Tho opponents of the motion arguod the matter ot some length, but the motion wot carried with tho addition that show and stud cattle sk6uld bo excepted. Registered Earmarks, Conference resolved that tho Agricultural Department be Tcquestod to issue to each branch of tho Farmers'' Union a list of tho earmarks registered by tho farmers in that county. Sheep Worrying. Dogs that worry sheep provided Iho Conference with a problem, and after discussion ,it was resolved that tho Dog Registration Act ( lx> so amended that dogs must 'carry their registered collars continually. The Next Conference. It was decided that the next confereneo should bo hold at Mastei+oJi in May, 1918.