FARMERS' AFFAIRS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 25, 29 July 1911, Page 15

FARMERS' AFFAIRS.

CONCLUSION 01?, CONFERENCE. Tho Farmers' Union Conference con. eluded yesterday. Among the business dealt with was a proposal that those who have Government mortgage over their properties may be free to insure in any reputable office. This was agreed to. Matters affecting auctioneers' commission on eaJes of dairy stock were left for the local committees to deal \vith. It wa« decided that banks throughout the Dnfflinion bo aeked to extend closing hours on Saturday to 1 p.m. It was unanimously resolved-"" That the union appoint a day to bo called Farmers' Union Day, on which sporta, picnics, or any form of amusement* may be held in the various districts, that Willgive the farmers, their wives, and families an interest in the union, and ; thereby increase ita membership." : A MOTION MODIFIED, The conference was asked to protest against "thes wasteful expenditure of money, and consequently the degrading effect it haa upon the workers, by the wav in which the, so-called co-operative works of the Dominion are being carried out, and [that this .conference now respectfully 'desires the Dominion executive to urge upon the Minister for Public Works the desirability' of again re--v«rting to the 'contract extern of labour., i Tbis i "raised some discuesiott a« to the wisdom of including ' the words "wasteful expenditure of money" and "degrading effect," ' Air. itones (T&ranaki), 'who brought ,tke matter up, said he could prove overy word of what the motion said, ■ Several members thought the terms Jlefided modification, and this wae done ,by adopting the motion, omitting aJI words from "against" down to and in* eluding ' 'Workers. ' ' • HORSE "BORROWING.' 1 , Mr, Philip proposed— "That, owing ,to the position of the law relating to 'horse stealing, the union ->bB , asked to jtake some steps to have same amended I at as early a;date as possible, the executive considering t hat j the law, as at present is very unfair to'iioTseowners." The motion was the outcome, he eaid, of a court case in Chrietchurch. There a valuable horse had been taken by , larrikins, ridden a confiidel'able' distance, and left out on tho road. It waji understood that unless a horse was offered for «ale by the thieves the only redreas was by civil process for damages, Mr. A. L. D. Fraser said no criminal' action would lie unless the horse . were offered for sale. , Mr. Sheat ; Then anyone can borrow a horse at any time? The motion was carried. WOOL BRANDS. in moving— "That the registration of wool brands ' for owners oi flocks of 1000 and upwards be made compulsory," Major Lusk observed that it was moot desirable that this motion should be given effect to, because where a brand . of wool has found favour unscrupulous persona have' -put similar marks on inferior Wool, after a man. had worked up his flock and had made a name for himself at the saleo. The president strongly recommended that the matter of wool brande should be brought under the Tracts Marks Act. j He believed facilities would be afforded for this being done ift the interest's of woolgrowers. The motion was" adopted. THANKS. The president, in moving a vote of thanks to the press, referred to the generous amount of space which the newspapers had -accorded the conference deliberations, and also to the accuracy of the reports. It was a great pleasure to him to acknowledge the indebtedness of the union to the newspapers, for they did a real service by disseminating information about the conference and its work which could be done in no other way. The vote was carried by acclamation. Votes of thanks were also- given to the secretary, Mr, Jack, and to the president himself, and,' were duly acknowledged. Thia closed the conference.