OTAGO FARMERS' UNION

Evening Post, Volume XCIII, Issue 129, 31 May 1917, Page 3

OTAGO FARMERS' UNION

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

(II TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

DUNEDIN, 30th May. At the annual conference of the Farmers' Union, Mr. A. Fraser, Lawrence, was elected, president, and Mr. W. D. Trotter, Hampden, vice-president.

The following resolutions were carried : —"That' members be asked to purchase only British implements and trade only within the Empire" ; "that the Government be asked to leave the Noxious Weeds and Rabbits Acts in abeyance till the men return from the war" ; "that the sale of National Endowment and Crown lands be held over till after the "war for the benefit of returning eoliders" ; "that the conference approves of the formation of a Farmers and Producers' Shipping Company"; "that the Finance Act be amended and made more equitable"; "that a protest be made against the importation, of luxuries, and that a tax be placed on all places of amueement" ; "that, rural industries be excluded from the 'jurisdiction of the Arbitration Act.'"

The following were referred to the Dominion Conference :—"That enquiry be made into the method of disposing of New Zealand meat on the Home markets" ; "when farmers are drawn in the ballot and are unable to sell their farms, the Government take the properties over for returned soldiers, the price to be fixed by arbitration!'; "that Territorial camps and Cadet training be abandoned during the war" ; "that the Government be urged to consider the conservation of white pine supplies, and plant waete lands with trees ' suitable for ' butterboxes" ; "that after the war the Government be urged to proceed at the earliest possible moment with a scheme for harnessing water-power" ; "that limitation of prices for commodities such as manures, binder twine, implements, fencing wire, etc., be adopted" ; "that the conference emphatically protests against the butter-fat tax" ; "that 6 o'clock closing of hotels prevail during the war and six months after" ; "that it is necessary for farmers to federate to check the actions and demands of labour."

A motion in favour of reorganisation throughout the Dominion and the appointment of an organiser was referred to the Dominion and provincial executives.