ON THE LAND. FARMERS' PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24, 28 July 1911, Page 11

ON THE LAND. FARMERS' PARLIAMENT.

RAILWAY BATES CRITICISED The Fanners' Union Conference i*e< sumed its sittings yesterday, Mr. J. G. Wilson presiding. Hemita with reference to railway rates # atid transport by rail generally were dealt with. It was moved.:— "That this conference enters an emphatic protest against the system now in vogue on the New Zealand railways whereby two or moro farmers taking stock from one station to any one destination cannot combine together to hire a. truck or trucks, and «end them as one consignment} and would urge the Dominion Executive to bring the matter to the notice of the Minister for Railway* for his favourable consideration." (2) "That the Governmenfc be urged to give » better supply of trucks for fat stock during the months of December, January, I'cbruary, and March." (3) "That the railway author!' ties bo requested to give the exact and correct weight of «11 produce conveyed, when* possible, ami tho users will be prepared to pay a higher charge for same it' necessnry.'* Around these motions considerable <liscttssJon was woven, tt was pointed out that farmers could not combine to hire a truck, buf. must wrid stock forward on separate consignment notes, no matter what the number of the stock, no matter if four or five farmers fill a truck. ■The first remit was passed unanimously. « Complaint was made, too, of the want of trucks, afld instances were given of serious loss to sheep-owners driving fat sheep for freezing works, and having to kaep them moving for days on the road before trucks cottlrl be obtained. The second tetnit was carried. Some members seemed to think it was impossible for the railway to give exact weight as stipulated in the third remit, but the remit was adopted. It was also reFolved : -—"That as there has been great loss and inconvenience again this peason through the scarcity of trucks) tho Minister of .Railways be again urged to provide & 'arge increase in the number 1o be available- for next season, as well as covers.'' Other matters relating to the railways were dealt with. Proposals were made— (1) urging the Minister to reduce- the charge of £25 per annum for privs.f-o siding for grain sheds to a nominal sum, where there are already stations \ also suggesting a system of yard accommodation and sheep truck construe tiort. After discussion the proposals were adopted. < "He is the best Minister of Railways wo have had yet. . I have found. Mr. Millar a. most able man, a man who thoroughly understands his business," remarked Mr. Evans (Canterbury), during the diKctissiofi on the remits above referred to. - Other members also spoke in complimentary terms of Mr. Millar's railway management. There was a slight dissent, whereupon Mr. E. Campbell (vVanganui) observed : "What's the use of quibbling; about a little soft soap being applied in th© right place?" CLASSING TRACKS. Mr. Campbell moved-.— 'That where roads and tracks are cut through bush land, the Government of locai body in charge of the work_ shall cause the- road lino to be fown with good,- clean grass seed, to prevent the spread _of weeds, and as an assistance to travelling stock." This was adopted. The mover referred to the time when Taranaki settlers lived on cocksfoot ami fungus. MAILS AND TELEPHONES. Mails and telephones were nest discUflSed by the conference. It was *esolved~"(l) That all telephone charges ,be the same in each postal district, irrespective of distance} (2) that holders of private telephones be placed on tho same footing as subscribers to the Government Telephone Exchange, also that the country exchanges and telephone bureaus bts open between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., mid that the telephone bureaus bo. connected all flight with doctore, chemi(3t«, and hospitals. Telephone charges were discussed, when Mr. Makgiil pressed for a reduction of the charges The people were being "fleeced" by the Government by these high rates, compared with Denmark (JG2 10s per annum) and the United Stated, The president was opposed to reduction, as there had been a. substantial loss on the Government telephone and telegraph services. It was not fair to ask the Government to reduce the rates. The incidence of the charges vvae, he granted, sometimes unfair. Several speakers agreed with the president. Mr. Makgiil was surprised to learn that there was a loss on the telephones. A voice j Lower wages in trm country. Mr. Makgiil said the Government charged £25 a mile for a telephone, whereas lines had been constructed at a coet ot £6 to £10 a mile. The proposal was *ost on tfte voices. It was aecided to a-sk the Government to reduce charges to subscribers in, cases where more than one subscriber Was Using the same wire A proposal to subsidise erection of all rural telephoti© lines and cost oi administering attch iines wag rejected. The conference urged that connection should be made between country post offices and main lin^s, if n«ar, where | telephonic connection is not at present in existence. SCHOOL MATTERS. Mr. A. Erase: moved— "That this conference again urge upon the Government the necessity of revising the school syllabus, so as to as far as possible remove anomalies under which country school children labour." The motion was withdrawn for want of «ufficient information as to the alleged anomalies. Mr. Poster (Southland) moved— "That technical classes for primary schools be discontinued." Children, he said, were taken once a week from twenty to thirty miles, which took their minds off their work, and affected the quality of their work in fhe primary schools t Children had niiles to go tq the station, and did not get home until dark. Attendance at theee technical schools was compulsory. The President urged that more information should be put into this as in some other information. Complaints must not be put in vague language. He j suggested that this motion, as that immediately preceding it. should bo withdrawn. This was done, fuller information to be supplied to the executive. EXI'EIUMENTAL PLOTS, Experimental farms weie discussed on a. propofipl In aek the Government for a. farm in Southland. Major Ltwk said the experimental farma were costly and of wvy little uee. Mr. Sheat advecaUd experimental plots, The president said ftood work was being dons at Moumahaki and Levin farms, but they could not' easily be visited because ot Want of inducements offered by the flailway Department to visit them. ftuakorft fsrni had done excellent work too • but the difficulty wa« that, climatce and s<'ils varied, so that in some reßpecte the experiments were not of much use when applied to quite different localities. "VVaerenga. farm also had demonstrated <-lwt fiood gra.pea could be grown on Horn 1 land. He favoured experimental plot*,, which were conducted in {■Scotland Gn co-operative piincipkft \U£h great success. This, wae so to 4

>ertain extent ik linirlaiul, but much more co in Canada. Farmers, howe\er, <vere rather slow to take advantage of experimental farms oi plots. It was mast difficult to induce them to visit anything of the kind. Experimental cooperative plots were of greater value than experimental farms. They deserved the utmost encouragement from the union. Government would find the supervision and the seed, and the farmers would have the produce. The conference decided to favour the establishment ot experimental plots. The conference then went into committee.