FARMERS MEET

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 125, 27 May 1920, Page 8

FARMERS MEET

THE CONFERENCE AT FEILDING

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

(BY TELEGRAPH.)

(HIOM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

FEILDING, This Day.

The Wellington Provincial Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was continued yesterday. The election of officers resulted as follow :—President, I\h\ W. J. Poison (Foretell) ; vice-presi-dent, Mr. G. M'Gregor (Waverley); Treasurer, Mr. John Balsillie (Palmerston North); executive, Messrs. M'Leavy (Palmerston • North), H. Vile (Palmerston North), T.. Fraetr (Waikanae), A. n Campbell and H. Booth (Feilding), G. L. Marshall (Marton), R. N. Guthrie (Rangiwahia), E. Parsons (Waitotara), W. Dalrymple (Bulls), A. Robinson (Wanganui), A. Stuart. (Marton), J. W. Whiteman (Lower Hutt), D. M'Lean (Baetihi). Messrs. Marshall (Marton), Morrison (Masterton), and Mathieson (Eketahuna) were elected representatives to the Dominion Conference. NEXT CONFERENCE. ■ It was unanimously resolved that the next conference (1921) be held at Masterton. REMITS. The following additional remits were dealth with:— "That the Farmers' Union protest that the Imperial purchase of primary products has not been backed by proper handling so as to benefit consumers."— Carried. INDUSTRIAL CONFERENCE. It was decided that the proposal of the Welfare League, as outlined by Mr. D. M'Laren, that the Government Call a National and Industrial Conference, be endorsed. ■ EASTERN MARKETS. Mr. Balsillie urged the opening up of -Eastern markets, and he instanced Singapore as one good prospective field. He moved : "That the Government be asked to appoint a representative to in- I vestigate the possibilities of opening up trade with the Eastern countries, with a. view to opening up new markets for all New Zealand produce." Mr. Hubbard seconded, and the motion was carried unanimously. OPEN MARKET. The. Wanganui remit: "That the Farmers' Union support the National Committee set up by the butter and cheese producers in-their endeavours to secure an open market for dairy produce," was carried unanimously. CATTLE TICK. "That the Government erect dips and yards for spraying cattle,- and that drastic steps be taken to fight the cattle tick," was a remit that came forward from Wanganui, but was rejected, it being mentioned that the Government was taking all precautions against the spread of the tick. RURAL MAIL SERVICE. Mr. Nevins moved on behalf of Gladstone.: —"That the Government collect direct from the farmers any subsidies necessary for rural mail service or telephone, instead of requiring guarantors as -at present." Mr. .Daysh seconded. , ' The President contended that farmers were being badly treated in regard to mail deliveries. Some years ago rural mails'were delivered' free. Then a subsidy of 10s a year was demanded, and now £25 a year had to be guaranteed. This is a striking contrast (6 towns and cities, where people had three mails delivered a day free. .It was time the j farmers entered an emphatic protest against, the difference shown by the Government between rural and town dwellers. Mr. Mathieson suggested that free mail services should be asked for, and in that -view ho was strongly supported by Mr. Moss. The latter referred .to the great disabilities settlers had to ■ encounter, and it was no wonder that people flocked to the cities. To arrive at finality, Mr. M&thewson moved as an amendment : "That this conference protest against the Post Office Department making any charge for rural mail services." ■ • This was seconded and carried. THE FARMERS' ADVOCATE. . It was announced that a strong com 1 pa-ny had been formed to strengthen the Farmers' Union Advocate, and produce a good paper entirely devoted to farming interests. . . , WORK OF THE UNION. A remit from Whakaronga : "That the work of the past season be compiled in booklet form and distributed to the members of the union," was lost. EULOGY OF THE POST. The generosity of The Post in publishing last year a series of articles in defence of the farmers' position, and showing clearly that the farming class received low prices for produce compared with the price received, was warmly commended by the president. LITERATURE. ■It was decided that the Dominion Executive arrange for the publication of articles bearing on the farmers' position and the prices of primary products. PROSPECTING FOR PETROL. Mr. Jackson moved, on behalf of Eketahuna : "That this conference wishes to urge on the Government the desirability of obtaining the best indenendent ■ expert aclvice as to the locality in which to bore for petrol, and, putting down "some purely prospective bores, ■ similar to the Queensland water bores, to a, depth of five or six thousand feet, so as to further test this important question in a. more economical way than hitherto." Mr- H. Morisen moved an amendment: That the Government be requested to obtain the services of a petroleum geologist to. make a complete geological survey to discover if the apparent trace of petrol in New Zealand justifies boring operations being undertaken."—This < was carried, and became the substantive - ; motion. . STOCK AUCTIONS. A remit from Martinborough was carried as follows:—"That auctioneers be required to give the vendor's name when selling stock. This would be a useful guide to intending purchasers, as knowing where they have been depastured they wiE be able to decide if the stock would suit their farms." MILK BY-PRODUCTS. Mr. A. Buchanan moved on behalf of Pnlmerston North : — "That the Conference consider the best means of obtaining the co-operation of .milk suppliers in fully developing the milk industry, and making the most advantageous use of the by-products, j which in .the Manawatu district alone are worth a quarter of a million pounds sterling per annum." The matter was referred back to Palmerston North to arrange iv conference, on the occasion of the Winter Show at Palmerston North. EXHIBITION. "That it be a recommendation to the Dominion Conference to organise an exhibition in the large ceutres, setting before- the general public samples of goods, showing amount of raw matrial

and its cost as supplied by the farmers, and alongside, the finished article with the cost to the consumer. The general public has a wrong idea that the mii creased cost of living is due to the excessive prices obtained by farmers,and an exhibition on above lines would lead, to less public criticism of the farming community." This was a remit moved by G. M'Whiteman (Lower Hutt). He contended that such an exhibition would be illuminating to the general public as to the huge prices people, had to pay for woollen goods compared with the price the farmer received. Traders blamed the farmer for exploiting hi wool and hides, and that they were responsible for the high cost of 'living. Mr. Mathieson suggested showing a series of pictures on the screen. It would attract attention and stimulate interest in the matter. The remit was carried unanimously. REFLECTORS ON MOTOR VEHICLES. "That motor-cars and motor lorries be required to have reflectors attached, so as to show the driver when traffic is be-'' hind wishing to pass," was moved en behalf of Tinui by Mr. H. B. Maunsell, but the following from Feildins was substituted : "That the motor regulation be amended to compel owners of motor-cars' ar(H lorries to have reflectors attached, so aB to show the driver when traffic is .behind and wishing to pass." RIFLE COMPETITIONS. "That the annual rifle competition for the Fanners' Union Shield be fired for during the first week in -April, instead of late in May as at present. The short days, bad light, and probable bad weather late in May have deterred teams from .competing in the past, and the . change of date to* early in April will help to swell the number of teams entering. for the competition," was moved by Mr. Petersen. on behalf of Nireaha and car- j rie.d .unanimously. DIPPING SEASON. Mr. G. M'Gregor moved on behalf of Wanganui : "That the dipping season be altered to February, March, and April," but the remit found a good deal of opposition, April being considered too late. It was eventually rejected. TAXATION. "Whereas wages paid for labour can be I deducted from gross income in the assessment of income tax, the conference con- ' aiders that an injustice is done farmers' wives engaged in actual farm work by refusing to allow deductions for such ser-. vices, and therefore urges the Minister of Finance -to allow a reasonable deduction to be made in such cases," was a remit moved on behalf of Hukanui. It was earned. EDUCATION. Three important remits from Marton were discussed : (1) In view of the advantage of scientific, farming in the pre- i sent day of closer settlement and intenser cultivating of the land, it be a. | recommendation' to all branches of the. union to further the establishment of technical high schools. by assisting whew necessary in the purchase of suit: able and adequate sites.—Carried. The fallowing., were also earned ::— That the Conference urge upon the Government the great . necessity for re- i form in the national system: of education in regard to : \1) The extension of the school age and reduction of the size of classes; (2) the securing of more trained teachers, and to this end the paying of much better salaries. .