OTAGO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

Evening Star, Issue 20193, 5 June 1929, Page 2

OTAGO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL

VARIOUS REMITS DISCUSSED The Otago Provincial Council of the Neve Zealand Farmers' Union resumed its annual conference yesterday afternoon, Mr 0. M'G. Reid (Milton) presiding over a very large attendance. The major part of the business was confined to the consideration of various remits for the Dominion Conference. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. The election of office-bearers resulted as follows:—President. -Mr J. D. Revie (Crookston) ; vice-president, Mr C. It. Sheat (Milton) ; committeeMessrs J. Cockburn (Arrowtown). R. J. E. Smith (Maniototo), M. A. Kinnev .(Maniototo), James Howell (Middlc'march), J. Christie (ClutluO, R. H. Michelle (Milton), A. Craig (Greenfield), T. Han- (Ownka), A. C. Learv (Evans FlatV, F. Waitc, M.P. (Clutha), E. H. Murney (Tapauui), J. Preston' (Waikouuiti), and J. Miller (Maunfijatua) ; auditors—Messrs G. Blyth and Co.' Tim appointment of delegates io the Dominion Conference' was left to the incoming executive. PUBLIC BODY ACCOUNTS.

Remits from Lawrence and Tapanui recommended that the conference should consider it mandatory for electric power boards to publish balancesheets. The Lawrence branch requested also that the Government consider an amendment to the Electric Power Board’s Act. 1025, in this direction.— Mr A. C. Leary said he understood that the sheets were available at the offices of the boards, but they all knew it was not convenient always to go there,—The remit was earned. On the motion of Mr Murney the following remit was carried;—“ That each State or local authority trading department should be compelled to publish an annua] balance-sheet, prepared in accordance with recognised commercial principles.” WHEAT DUTIES. The following remit was moved by Mr A. Craig on behalf of the executive “ Believing that the production of our own wheat requirements is essential to our national prosperity, this conference considers the retention of the present sliding -scale, of duty desirable in the interests of both consumers am! producers.” Seconded by Mr Webb, the motion was carried unanimously. EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE. The adoption of tbe following remit was moved by Mr Waite oh behalf of the executive:—'‘That ‘the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act be so amended as to make provision for compulsory conciliation, bub also for optional arbitration following the recommendation made at the National Industrial Conference.” Tbe mover stated that for a good many years there had been a cry from the employers and the employees for a revision of tbe Arbitration Court and the Act. In different years the cry against the court had come from the employees, and in later years from the employers. Both sides had contended that the Act w as not giving either side a fair deal. Tbe farmers’ attitude was that, as they bad to sell in the open markets of the world, they should not come under the Arbitration Court. It was very unfair that the men could deregister while the employers could not do .so. He believed they ■were getting to the stage when negotiations between the parties concerned would provide the best way lo settle disputes. The employers attending the National Industrial Conference agreed that there should be compulsory conciliation, but optional arbitration, so that if both sides could not agree there would be no power for the court to force an award on them. It seemed to him that unless the employers generally stuck together and asked lor compulsory conciliation and optional arbitration they would get nowhere. The motion, which was seconded by Mr H. E. Steele (Clinton), was carlied. LIVE STOCK TRANSPORT. The following remit from the Berwick branch was moved by Mr Walker ; ‘‘That this conference draws attention to the unsatisfactory transport of live stock on railways.” Mr Walker said he wished to make it clear that his branch was not in any way antagonistic to the Railways Department. It would like questions such as this to be fixed up amicably, but the way in which stock had been transported “lately had been a menace to the tamers. A number of people who had had stock to be transported had met with a great deal of inconvenience, and the stock had suffered hardship. The Chairman stated that the executive had had a tremendous number of complaints like these, but it had always managed to get satisfaction. This was more a matter for the executive than lor the conference. The motion was seconded by Mr J. Fraser (Berwick). Mr Christie said they had been hammering away at this lor about ten years, but the difficulty was still cropping up. . . Mr Barnes (commercial agent tor the Railways Department) said he had been under tbe impression that the only question for consideration was the supply of “ decker ” trucks for sheep. He had some figures which would show that the department had done something in tin's matter in the last twelve months. The speaker went on to say that if anyone had complained about stock being delayed lie would make investigations, and would cither ds the matter up o>- let the person concerned know wbv he could not do it. He was particularly anxious that any complaints should be brought under Ins notice. When the new workshops were properly established he thought there would bo an abundance of tolling stock lo meet all reasonable requiremerits. The whole of the trains were being rescheduled, ami it was hoped, that,when tbe work was completed the services would be run up to time. The matter was referred lo the executive CONTROL BOARDS. The following remit was brought forward by the executive That tue compulsory clauses be retained in our Marketing Board’s legislation always providing that these clauses remain ineffective unless put into operation by a vote of the producers concerned. Mr Revie said he -.would _ formally move the adoption of the remit, but he was not in .sympathy with it and was going to speak against it. In Ins opinion the power? given to control boards were necessary. Jt- the men now on the boards were not fit to eseicise the powers conferred on them they should be removed, and people in whom the producers bad' confidence should be put in their place. Personally he was convinced that, tbe control boards were capable of exercising their poweis, which were essential. MV AVaito seconded (he motion, and expressed the hope that the ..remit

would not be thrown out. If they threw it out their opponents would say they were against control. _ The 1928 committee was going to_ insist on all the compulsory clauses being taken out of the control legislation. It seemed to him that they should advocate the retention of the compulsory clauses. He moved as an amendment that all the words alter legislation be omitted. The amendment was seconded by Mr Preston, - who said they wanted to retain all the powers in connection with control. He thought it would be very unwise to limit the powers of the boards in any w T ay. They should hare confidence in the men they had put on the boards. The amendment was then carried, and, with the deletion of the words referred to, the remit was adopted. SETTLERS’ ADVANCES. Mr 0. Throp moved as follows on behalf of the Te Honka branch “This conference would urge that the Government initiate some suitable scheme through the Advances to Settlers’ Department or otherwise for financing the building of suitable accommodation on farm properties to encourage the employment of married workers.” 'The mover slated that the trouble on the farms to-day was that there was no accommodation for married people. If. they took boys on the farms at the age of eighteen years and gave them five years’ training, the chances were that they would want to get married at the end of that period. In the towns the Government made advances to workers, and ho thought these should also apply to the farms. The motion was seconded by Mr M'Kenzie. Mr W aite moved as an amendment that the matter be referred to the incoming executive for further consideration. Mr Leary seconded the amendment, which was carried. FURTHER REMITS, The following remits were carried: — “ That _it be a recommendation to the Dominion Executive that a move be made towards the setting up of a committee of experts to take evidence and submit recommendations for a uniform and equitable basis of valuation of rural lands.” “That in the opinion of this branch the indenture of boys under apprenticeship contracts is not desirable.” “That an endeavour be made to obtain separate rosters for each island for the season’s wool sales.” “That the Government be asked to renew negotiations commenced at the industrial Conference last year.” “That this conference deprecates the action of the Prime Minister in increasing the rate of wages foi* relief work, thereby making it more attractive to unskilled labour, with the result that it is drawing men from other occupations and accentuating the unemployment problem.” “That tbe Stock Act be amended making it compulsory to dip all sheep.” “That protection be lifted from all deer, including moose and wapiti, as wherever deer have been protected in New Zealand they have become a menace both to farmers and to native bush.” “That this conference lakes exception to the present constitution of fbo Transport Board, for the reason that the primary industries have practically no direct representation thereon.” “That section 47, sub-section 2, clause (b) of the Stock Act be amended to read—'That all sheep shall bo dipped, elsewhere than in the North Island, between December 1 and April 90.”