FARMERS' VIEWS. UNION CONFERENCE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24, 28 July 1911, Page 2

FARMERS' VIEWS. UNION CONFERENCE.

TO-DAY'S BUSINESS. The Farmers' Union Conference resumed its sittings to-day. Mr. J. G. Wilson (Bulls) presided. Tho following motions were discussed and carried in committee: — " That branches be urged to experiment with manures, crops, and fodders," "That the manufacturers be asked to add a distinguishing: mark on grain sacks, showing the "different sizes of sacks." "That the present system of electing representatives of the Hospital and Harbour Boards is most unsatisfactory, and that the old system of election be re* verted to." ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :— President, J. O-. Wilson, Bulls (re-elected) ; vice-president, G. W. Loadley. Ashburton (re-elected) ; treasurer, W. J. Birch, Marton (reelected) \ auditor, W. Rutherford, Palmerston North ; Advisory Conimittee, Messrs, J. C. Cooper, W. 'j Birch, F. F. Hockloy, and E. Campbell. LOCAL GOVERNMENT. 4 Mr. H. A. Nevins '(Tenui) moved-— "That the conference urge on the Gov> ernment the need of passing the longdelayed Local Government Bill." Mr. Philip (Otago) suggested that power should be sought for the' holding of the local bodies' elections in July instead of November. Tho motion was carried. DOGS AND SHEEP. ( Mr. Nevins moved—" That the registration of dogs should be in the hands of local bodies only, the present divided control between the local body and the Maori Council being detrimental to the proper registration _of tho dogs." Considerable destruction was wrought among sheep by Maori doge. It was important that all dogs should be registered^ and that by one body. Major Luck (Auckland) urged that control of dogs should be entirely in the hands of the County Council. Doge were a very great trouble. Dual control should be abolished. Mr. Lane (Hawkes Bay) suggested that local bodies should take steps to ■ destroy all unregistered dogs. Mr. , .Lane's suggestion was embodied in tho , motion, which was carried as altered. ARBITRATION. Mr. Horrell (North Canterbury) moved —"That County Councils and Road Boards be urgcd_ to submit all technical disputes to arbitration on a, petition being presented by, say, 10 per cent, of the ratepayers." The motion was ordered _to be fitibmitted to the County Councils' Conference. BOUNDARIES. Mr. Nevins moved—" That the boundaries of counties and ridings be ' adjusted to follow the lines oT communication and of interest, instead of arbitrary lines on paper, as is often the case at present." Mr. Hockley (Hunterville)' suggested that this matter might also be referred to the County Councils' Conference. Thia was done. v