FARMERS’ UNION

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1930, Page 5

FARMERS’ UNION

DOMINION CONFERENCE REMITS DISCUSSED [PEB PBESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, June 16. i The Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union met to-day, ' Mr W. J. Polson, M.P., presiding over an attendance of about thirty members. The following remit, was submitted by the Southland Association: —That this Conference recommends to the Board of Agriculture for its fullest consideration, a scheme for the provision of more adequate veterinary service for live stock owners in New Zealand as outlined by Mr William Pierson, and which provides for the appointment of fully qualified veterinarians, their services to be available at a small fee to all who agree to contribute the specified levies and salaries io be guaranteed up to £lOOO.

Dr C. J. Reakcs said the scheme was that suppliers should pay 2/6 a cow per annum into the veterinary fund to be deducted from their milk cheques. Mr P. J. Small (Palmerston North) moved that the matter be held over for twelve months.

Mr J. Fulton (Pelorous) seconded the motion, which was defeated. It was decided to forward a remit, to the Board of Agriculture. A Nelson remit asked the executive to make further representations to have fireblight legislation amended, and that the support, of the Fruitgrowers’ Conference be sought. A delegate expressed the view that it would bo monstrous injustice to compel a man to remove all the hedge affected on his property. The remit was carried.

The following remit was agreed to without discussion: That the Conference considers the time has arrived when an emphatic protest should be lodged against the growing list of questions farmers are expected to answer in the compilation of agricultural and pastoral statistics, and considers further that a great many of the questions cannot .serve any useful purpose, even if it were possible to give substantially correct answers. The executive agreed to remits concerning the pork industry, one urging that the Department of Agriculture should give more attention to the bacon and pork industry and furnish producers with all information which will assist to increase the industry with profit to the Dominion. The other was that the Department be requested to provide for reinstatement of .the pork subsidy. The executive decided on the recommendation of the South Taranaki Union to protest against the continual changing of schoolbooks, urging that all schoolbooks be standardised, and made available at the lowest possible price. When a remit was brought forward objecting to the proposed change in the Summer vacation, the delegate proposed that it be referred to the Conference for consideration. This was agreed to. An Auckland remit that the arrangements for finance of conveyance of children to school by vehicular or launch transport be applied also to horse-riding was carried.. A resolution was carried that any increase of wages of any description should be opposed, as the cost of living had materially decreased. The Wanganui branch recommended that the Now Zealand Farmers’ Union oppose the six-days’ week for dairy factory employees. A delegate said that it would cost some factories £250 a year. The remit was carried.

MR FORBES’S ADDRESS.

WELLINGTON,. June 17.

Opening the Farmers’ Union Conference to-day, Premier Forbes said that no Government could carry on unless it balanced its budget. It similarly behoved individuals to balance their budgets. There was also an allround call for thrift, as over-spending would • bring disaster on the Dominion’s credit abroad. One of the biggest difficulties was unemployment, which had in a large measure been due to the introduction of laboursaving devices. Next session the Government would bring down legislation to endeavour to place the position on a sounder footing. There was no need for pessimism. They should pay every attention to increasing production in order to answer the depressed prices.