FARMERS' UNION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8115, 10 November 1904, Page 3

FARMERS' UNION.

COLONIAL CONFERENCE.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION.?

CHRISTCUURCH, November 8. At the Aew Zealand Farmers' Union Conference to-day Mr G. W. Lead ley was elected chairman, Mr J. G. Wilson, the president, being prevented from attending owing to ill-health. Mr Lambie gave notice of motion, "That this I'urmers' Union will be glad to cooperate with the newly-formed Farm Laborers' Union,' with a view to arranging for an efficient system of classification of farmers' laborers as to competency, in order that farmers may be protected from imposition, and also to ensure efficient labor its due reward."

RESOLUTIONS.

The following resolutions were carried : That as tlTe farmers of Xew Zealand would suffer irreparable injury by the British loss of the command of the sea, this union pledges itself to use every effoit to induce Parliament to largely increase the colonj r 's contribution to the up-Keep of the navy. That the attention of the Conference be drawn to the very heavy Customs duty at present imposed on traction engines, and that the matter be brought under the notice of the Government. That if possible the organisation be made a means of collecting information on the state of crops in dnferent districts, the quantity of Agricultural produce on the market, and'' all available information as to probable prices such produce might he expected to. realise, and that the Government be asked to publish statistics, which are now being secured as soon as they are obtained. That the question of rural education bo kept prominently before the Government. That the attention of the Conference he drawn to the short course of instruction to ue provided for farmers and schoolmasters, and that the Government be urged to assist and encourage schoolmasters to take advantage of the same by free railway passes and other means.' That the confeienc-p reaffirm its previous resolution that the local bodies or ratepayers should elect one. assessor to tho Assessment Court, as it considers this is a matter of grave urgency. *- That only men with a local knowledge and agricultural experience be employed as valuers of rural land. That the undi^ length of the Parliamentary sessions is a matter which calls for pAJic reprobation, adding as it does most to the expense of government. That any alteration of the Slaughtering and Inspection Act to prevent the salo. locally of meat killed in export slaughterhouses be strenuously opposed. That each provincial district should arrange for its own organisation, and that those which undertake this should, after the close of the. current financial year, pay a lower colonial levy than those which continue to rely on the colonial ortraniser. That any proposel to extend the Parliamentary franchise to County or Road Board electors lip opposed. That it should be a recommendation to tho Colonial Council that a basis of provincial representation for branches should lip — 25 members one vote. 75 two votes, 175 three votes, 275 four votes, 376 five votes. Tlie ,i|ue«slJ<m of Government supervision of black-quarter and anthrax was referred to the next colonial conference.