FARMERS’ UNION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 25 July 1924, Page 9

FARMERS’ UNION.

DOMINION CONFERENCE. SOME RESOLUTIONS. (BY TELEGRAPH —PEESS ASSOCI ASP'ON.) WELLINGTON, July 25. At the Dominion Conference* of the Farmers’ Union to-day an address on the activities of the Dairy Division of the Department of Agriculture was delivered by Mr. IV. M. Singleton, director of the division. It was agreed that the Government be urged to establish a dairy school and laboratory, with a view' to the carrying on of research work and the tuition of dairy factory managers and assistants in connection therewith. It was also resolved that the Government he urged to have brought into force regulations which have been drafted and approved under the Dairy Industry Amendment Act, with a view to arriving at a uniform method of reading Babcock test. It was decided that the Government be requested to set aside a sum with a view to experimenting on the best and most effective means of eradicating gorse, and to offer and widely advertise a substantial reward for the discovery of some specific which can be applied at a reasonable cost whereby the spread of these and other noxious weeds may he combated and the growths already existing destroyed. The Farmers’ Union resolved that the Government he recommended to pass the Fertilisers Bill as proposed by the Agricultural Department, provided that provision is inserted' to. ensure that the purchaser is. supplied with an analysis certificate with a stateiiient of the origin of the materials as set out in section 3, sub-section 3, paragraph c, of the proposed Bill. A committee was appointed to give evidence before a committee of the House.

A motion was carried urging the Government to introduce legislation giving power for the setting up. of boards for the eradication and prevention of the spread of blackberry. It was resolved that the Government be asked to pass a Bill protecting farmers against impure and sterile seeds; also that the Agricultural Implement and Sales Act should he repealed. Professor Peran, Victoria College, outlined the course of agricultural education to be given at Victoria College. Dr. Reakes. Department of Agriculture. and Mr Cockayne, Director of the I'ields Division, outlined the assistance and information being given by the department to farmers in connection with agricultural operations.