N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

Feilding Star, 30 May 1907, Page 4

N.Z. FARMERS' UNION.

WELLINGTON PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. On Wednesday morning Mr J. G. Wilson was re-elected unanimously President of the Provincial Council. Mr J. C. Cooper was elected V icePresident, and the following were elected Provincial Executive: Messrs J. Peat, W. J. Birch, J. Morrison, J. R. McLennan, H. J. Richard, Capt. Hewitt, E. H. Crabbe (for West Coast), and Messrs J. C. McKillop, H. A. Nivens, J. 0. Bidwell, J. H. Escott, E. Whitoombe, T. Moss, and W. B. Matheson . The following motions were taken in committee: — That the provincial levy, excluding the colonial levy, be 4s, and that the attention of the Provincial Executive be drawn to the fact that again no provision has been made to provide an organisation fund for the coming year, and that this branch is strongly of opinion that some provision should be made outside of voluntary effort. — Adopted. That a uniform rate of subscription be drawn up for the province on a graduated basis. — Withdrawn. That district secretaries be appointed instead of provincial organiser and secretaries, whose duties it shall be to canvass for insurance, get subscriptions to Farmers' Union Advocate, and advertisements ; collect subscriptions and get new members within the district Tor which they are appointed, and to attend to the general interests of the Union; and that the appointments be made in such places as Pahiatua, Wanganui, Marton, Feilding, Palmerston. Masterton, and Levin, and other such places; and that a committee be set up to carry thiß into effect; and that a proportion of the monies received as provincial levies be used for this purpose. — Referred back to branch for discussion. Mr Balsillie, Palmerston North, moved: "That the Conference urge upon the Government the necessity of establishing a Veterinary College in the North Island." He said £10UU had been privately promised towards the cost. Captain Hewitt seconded, and the motion was passed. After the dinner adjournment the delegates went to see the State Farm, Levin. They were shown over the farm by Mr Drysdale, the manager, and an exhibit was made of turnips, potatoes, noions, etc., near the homestead, to save the delegates the trouble of going to the several paddocks in which these roots were grown. On resuming business, Mr Cowin, Levin, proposed: "That the sheep tax be reduced." He said it was unfair, as the dairymen got as much benefit from the Agricultural Department as the sheep farmers. — Carried. Mr Richards, Levin, moved : 'That the Government be asked to appoint assistants to the Noxious Weeds Inspector during the busy season, whose sole time should be devoted to the work, and also to assist in the clearing of Crown and native lands of noxious weeds. — Carried. Mr Stephenson, Shannon, moved: "That the Drainage Act be amended, so that the local authority may rate 011 the acreage instead of valuation, as at present." — Carried. Mr Houghfon, Marton, moved: "That the opinion expressed by the Premier in regard to the necessity for keeping up such restrictions as will prevent any increase to the number of Chinese people coming to New Zealand be endorsed, and that the Conference considers that such restrictions are necessary in order t( preserve the purity or our race in this country." The motion was seconded and adopted. Mr McGregor, Hunterville, moved : "That the attention of the Government be called to the urgent necessity for increased facilities in the telephone connection with the back country." Mr F. G. Guy, Apiti, seconded the motion, which was carried. It was resolved: "That the Post-master-General having stated at the recent Postal Conference that the N. Z. Postal Department was not a taxing machine, he be urged to reduce the rental of country letter-boxes in districts where a letter carrier does not deliver the mail." "That the system of collecting the dog tax from the Maoris be abolished and the local bodies be again empowered to collect the same?' Mr Birch moved: "That this Conference protests against any increase in duties for the protection of local industries, as such duties will raise the price of all such protected articles to the consumer, and thus detrimentally affect all other industries." — Carried. On the motion of Mr Moss it was resolved: n That the fees now paid by auctioneers to local bodies be divided fairly among adjoining local bodies. The Conference terminated with a hearty vote of thanks to the President.